Meet The Trainers

Barb & Snowy

Photo by Chris Brehmer

Barb Raab, CPDT-KA: Pawsitive Partners Prison Program 2008 - present

Barb started her dog training career in the late 1990's attending a puppy classwith her golden retriever Monty. She has titled numerous dogs in AKC Obedience Competition and Rally sport competition over the years. Barb had her own dog training business, Ringtime Training Center, for over a decade before founding Monty's Home. She earned CPDT through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in 2010 and maintains required continuing education credits to remain current in training techniques.

Dale, Audrey, Jordon, Dewey

Dale Frederiksen, ABCDT: Pawsitive Partners Prison Program 2018 - present

Dale is a certified dog trainer through Animal Behavior College since 2018. She has been working with the Pawsitive Partners Prison Program since 2014 assisting in conducting classes at Pender County Prison as well as dog handling duties at Meet and Greets. Dale has also been certified in Pet First Aid and CPR since 2016. Dale has served as a Monty's Home Board Member since 2014.

Amanda & JJ

Amanda Gandolf, ABCDT: Pawsitive Partners Prison Program 2017 - present

Amanda has been a certified dog trainer through the Animal Behavior College since 2009. She began her career as a trainer in dog daycares before progressing to training and socialization of puppies for a breeder of Labrador Retriever Service Dogs. She started a dog training business providing private lessons, often dealing with behavioral issues. Amanda belongs to various dog training organizations and attends dog training conferences and webinars. She has contributed to a curriculum in a new dog training course. Rally Obedience is her sport of choice where she competes with her certified therapy labrador retriever, JJ. Amanda assists in conducting temperament testing at shelter pulls. She is committed to the philosophy of force free/positive reinforcement training.

Pooling more than 100 years' combined experience in training and behavior modification, this team of multi-faceted, experienced trainers in 2007 provided the foundation for the overwhelming success of the Pawsitive Partners Prison Program.

Whitney Doremus, CPDT: Whitney owns Dogs at Play - doggie daycare and brings more than a decade of canine behavior and training experience and expertise to the PPP program. She earned Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) credentials through the Association of Pet Dog trainers and started Dogs at Play in 2001.

Barbara Eagles: Barbara started training dogs professionally in 1978. After moving to Wilmington in 1987, she founded the first dog training facility in Wilmington. Barbara specialized in training and behavioral counseling for more than 25 years and agreed to come out of retirement to help create this outstanding program.

Kathleen Moyer: Kathleen was a former regional representative for Australian Shepherd Rescue she committed hundreds of hours to supporting this noble breed. She possesses many years’ experience as an instructor at a local training center and is an avid AKC obedience competitor with her Aussie family. Kathleen coordinated adoptions and developed protocols and procedures for PPPP.

Barb McNinch: Barb co-founded Ringtime Training Center in Burgaw, NC with Monty’s Home founder Barb Raab prior to a move to the mid-west. With more than 25 years experience in instruction, competition and behavior training, she specializes in behavior management and modification. We were thrilled to learn Barb was moving back to the area – just in time for the inaugural PPPP class – and agreed to come on board. She’s an award winning author of Training Your Rottweiler – 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon!

Vicky Wilcox: Vicky was the head trainer for service dogs at Carolina Canines for more than 10 years. She’s participated for more than 25 years in obedience competitions winning two top-level Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH) awards in AKC obedience – considered the PhD for dogs; it’s the highest obedience honor a dog can receive. Additionally, she’s attained numerous titles and awards in herding and belongs to several national and local dog clubs.

Join Our Team

Contact Barb Raab - 910.259.7911

or email info@montyshome.org