PetSafe Pet Author
Toni Mark, KPA-CTP, MA
Toni is the Training & Behavior Education Specialist for the PetSafe® brand. She is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and has a Masters degree in Communication. She is an accredited Petsmart trainer and is a professional member in the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
Her real passion lies with shelter dogs. She has completed the Karen Pryor Academy Shelter Training and Enrichment Program and is a shelter volunteer and foster parent. Toni’s other passion is education. She travels nationally and receives hundreds of hours of continuing education in animal welfare, nutrition, shelter work, learning theory, and the training and veterinary industry.
Toni’s work at PetSafe Brand includes bringing expertise to the company for the purpose of new product development and training. She provides educational opportunities to fellow associates, retail partners, tradeshows, veterinary clinics and schools, animal shelters, and community groups. She also runs the Shelter Enrichment Program, which provides animal rescues with products to ensure that their animals waiting for a home have a mentally and physically stimulating environment.
Always a trainer at heart, Toni’s favorite types of training include training shelter dogs and trick training. Her goal is simply to make this world a better place for pets. She believes that building a common language between pets and their people is where we start. Positive reinforcement training is that common language.
Toni has 2 rescue dogs, a collie mix who she claims is her soulmate and a beagle mix. Her collie mix has a brain that never ceases to amaze her, and her beagle has a sense of goofiness that always keeps her laughing. She enjoys teaching them both tricks, and to keep her collie mix busy and entertained, they attend agility classes.
Outside of her professional life, Toni and her husband are parents to a wonderful dog-savvy son. She enjoys reading, spending time outside, and spending time with her family, including the 15+ family dogs.
Articles by This Author
Over 26,000 dogs suffer collar-related injuries each year. Prevent playtime, yard, and everyday choking hazards with a safety collar.
I was once a (childless) dog trainer that didn't completely understand how families found it difficult to squeeze in time and training for their pets. Now, as I chase a toddler and carry a newborn, I can understand how our pets can sometimes fall further down on the priority list, even if it isn't fair to them. The good news? There ARE ways to create an enriching environment, work on behavior problems AND provide the life your dog deserves--even with sticky peanut butter hands chasing you while you trip over trucks, dolls, and plastic figurines.
If you ask the staff here at PetSafe® brand what their favorite part of their job is, you’ll find that just about everyone incorporates their passion for dogs and cats. The desire to help the pet population runs deep within the company—even on a global level! PetSafe brand runs several programs where the sole mission is to help those pets that aren’t yet in their forever home.
Taking the time to fit the Easy Walk® Harness properly in the beginning is time worth spending.
Out of ideas for fun summer events to do with your dog? Check out our top 7 dog-friendly activities for outdoor fun with your furry pal.
Have you ever heard that saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” or “You shouldn’t teach a new dog old tricks”? Well, that’s hogwash, and here's why.
Michelle Mullins and I are in the process of doing some continuing education to hone our clicker training skills. Filled with more enthusiasm and excitement than we have on Christmas morning, we jumped right in.
Dogisgood.com describes Dogvergnügen as “The unique joy you feel in the presence of Dog”. So this is how I will introduce myself. “Hello, my name is Toni, and I have Dogvergnügen.” My dog and I have a connection better than most people have with their significant other. She’s honestly my favorite thing about life. All that time spent together has allowed Sadie and me to develop a trusting, committed, and confident relationship. That relationship is the very basis of my training with her.
