Amber Todd, CPDT-KA, UW-AAB, FDM
Owner, Behavior Coach of Embarking Dogs
Training dogs professionally since 2006; Amber has gained plenty of hands-on experience with various breeds and behavior challenges. While dog to dog reactivity has been considered one of her specialties, puppy training has always been at the forefront and is currently her primary focus. Amber takes an overall behavior wellness approach, including diet, physical exercise, mental enrichment, and life skills. She believes that clear communication is the key to success and that training should be fun for both the human and the dog.
“When I learn, you learn.”- Amber Todd
Always striving to learn more, Amber values education greatly. Through experience and self-study, she earned her CPDT-KA title from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in 2012. Since then, she has attended many dog training seminars, expos, and conferences. In 2017, she completed the University of Washington‘s Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior program, earning her UW-AAB title. Amber continues to learn more by listening to weekly podcasts, attending regular webinars, and taking online courses. (Interested in learning more about these? Scroll to the bottom of the page!)
Along with educating herself, Amber also enjoys teaching others interested in the field of dog training. She has been a mentor for the Animal Behavior College for many years overseeing several students’ hands-on education. She has recently begun taking on private apprentices and finds the task just as rewarding as teaching her clients.
Amber enjoys working with local rescue organizations and has fostered puppies for both Rescued Hearts Northwest and Happy Tails Happy Homes. For the past few summers with her dog Jude, Amber has been teaching kids through the Whatcom Humane Society‘s Critter Camp for Kids.
Meet my dogs
(click a name to learn more)
Lucy, Prudence & Jude
Recent & Current Education
University of Washington:
- Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior
Conferences, Camps, & Seminars:
- APDT Conference 2013
- Clicker Expo 2015
- Synergy Sports Camp 2018
- Synergy Sports Camp 2019
- Clicker Expo 2020
- Lemonade Conference 2020
- Lemonade Conference 2021
- Clicker Expo 2022
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Courses:
- Hidden Potential: Tapping your reluctant dog’s talents- Sarah Stremming
- Relationship Building Through Play- Denise Fenzi
- Toys: Developing Cooperation and Play- Shade Whitesel
- Crucial Concepts of Competition-Shaping/Luring/Capturing and More!-Shade Whitesel
- Arousal Layering Games-Sarah Stremming
- Dealing with the Bogeyman- Helping Fearful Reactive and Stressed Dogs- Amy Cook, PhD
- Normal or Not? Common Behavior Disorders- Jennifer Summerfield, DVM
- The Melting Pot: Genes, Environment, Personality- Jessica Heckman, DVM
- Canine Fitness Trainer 1- Debbie (Gross) Torraca
- Teenage Tyrants: Surviving Your Dog’s Adolescence- Sarah Stremming
- Anatomy of a Workout: Plan a Specific Fitness Program for Your Dog- Leslie Eide, DVM
- Baby Genius- Julie Daniels
- Yes Please! Cooperative Canine Care- Deb Jones
- Management for Reactive Dogs- Amy Cook, PhD
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Workshops:
- Stop! Drop! and…Stay! Reliable distance downs for herding- Helene Lawler
- 7 Days to Super Focused- Deb Jones
- 7 Days to a More Confident Dog- Julie Daniels
- Get Ready to Sniff! Fenzi TEAM Nosework- Stacy Barnett
Fenzi Pet Professional Program Workshops:
- Happy Crating! Crating as a Life Skill- Sarah Stremming
- The Developmental Stages of Puppies- Eve Laforest
- Help! I’ve got the wrong dog!- Amanda Boyd
- Show Don’t Tell- Games for Teaching Complex Ideas- Melissa Breau
- No Kennel? No Problem! Making Day Training Work for You!- Sarah Dixon
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Webinars:
- To Spay or Not to Spay, Part 1- Jessica Heckman, DVM
- To Spay or Not to Spay, Part 2- Sue Yanoff, DVM
- Not Just Another Trick- Sara Brueske
- Genetics of Dog Personality- Jessica Heckman, DVM
- Consent Matters- Sarah Stremming
- Happy Hiking- Deb Jones
- Dogs That Guard Their Owners- Michael Shikashio
- Vaccine Issues- Dr. Jean Dodds
- Terrific Teeth- Deb Jones
- Fitness for Pre Seniors- Lori Stevens
- Wait! All About When To Go- Julie Daniels
- Fence Fight- Nancy Tucker
- Happy Crating- Sarah Stremming
- Fancy Fold Back Downs- Hannah Branigan
- Feeding Dogs to Meet Their Needs- Linda P. Case
- Dog Aggression Part 1 & 2- Michael Shikashio
- What you need to know about CBD and your dog- Leni Kaplan, DVM
- Worked Up: Assessing and Soothing Arousal- Sarah Stremming
- Cue Tips- Kathy Sdao
- Adolescent Behavior and Development- Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB
- Happier Crating- Sarah Stremming
School of Canine Science:
- 30 Days of Canine Science
- Nutrition & Behavior
- The Puppy Lab
Family Dog Mediation: Beyond Dog Training:
- L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course
Dog-ibox Webinars:
- Leash Aggression- Kathy Sdao
- What a Cue Can Do and What it Can’t Do- Kathy Sdao
Coursera:
- Dog Emotion and Cognition- Duke University
- Introduction to Genetics and Evolution-Duke University (current)
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare- The University of Edinburgh (upcoming)
- The Truth About Cats and Dogs- The University of Edinburgh (upcoming)
