Our Trainers

Kristie Swan, BAA, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP

Kristie was the first trainer in Grand Rapids to be certified through CCPDT. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers has become the most recognized and respected certifying organization for trainers. She is also a Certified Training Partner with the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy. Kristie is also an evaluator for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog. Through fostering rescued dogs and raising puppies she has gained insight and experience. Dedicated to pursuing the knowledge and skills needed to help dogs and owners live happy lives together, Kristie continues to expand and update her education. Kristie has over fifteen years of experience and trained at Whiskers University for 7 years before starting A Dog's Life.

Nikki Koning, KPA CTP, FPPE

Nikki got her start teaching basic obedience classes at Petco. Soon after, she began fostering dogs for a local rescue and found great joy in helping her fosters find their forever homes. This led to her learning more about canine behavior and positive training techniques. As a mother Nikki is aware of the challenges that can arise when raising children with dogs, so she became a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator, along with being a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, and now specializes in dog and baby/toddler dynamics and raising the next Dog Aware™ generations.

Nikki is owned by three dogs: Nelly, a shepherd mix from Lebanon; Sherman, a Rat Terrier mix; and Bruno, a Pitbull mix. All of Nikki’s dogs were adopted, or came into her life by accident, and some are special needs so they’ve earned the loving moniker of “foster fails”. Nikki also shares her life with her husband and three young children, and a handful of other animals including cats and parrots.

Rachael VanDyke LVT, KPA-CPT, Fear Free Certified

Rachael graduated from Baker College in 2011 with her degree in veterinary technology. She works in small animal practice with a focus on reactive wellness care, pain management and behavior concerns. She is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a Fear Free certified trainer. Her area of interests are cooperative veterinary care training, group dog training classes and feline behavior and enrichment.

Rachael volunteers and fosters through a local animal rescue and spends her remaining free time with her family and pets.

Amy TOwnsend, LVT, LMT

Amy is a licensed veterinary technician and manual therapist who has loved training animals since elementary school. Her veterinary nursing career spanned spay & neuter clinics, shelter medicine, emergency/ICU nursing, and day practice before she found her niches in behavioral and physical rehabilitation. She enjoys working with pets and their owners to restore physical and emotional well-being, and open communication using positive, force-free training, science, and mindfulness. Amy is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America & the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. She has handled two therapy dogs and her favorite dog sports are agility and rally obedience. Amy also volunteers with 4-H, helping kids learn how to train their dogs.

Amy shares her full house with Trevor, an Australian Cattle Dog; Simone, a pit bull-coonhound mix; Fern, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; three kitties, and a revolving door for small animals in need of a home, along with her husband and two children.

Erika Gregorian, CPDT-KA, VSA-CDT

Our friend at The Well Read Dog

Erika is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and graduate of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior. She specializes in herding breeds and dogs with special needs. Erika also teaches Nosework classes (Scent-ology). After managing a very successful dog walking company she sought education and certification to further her service to dogs and those who love them. Through her studies at the academy and with the many dogs she has worked with, Erika has become fluent in canine body language. She is also well practiced in treating fear and anxiety and their resulting behaviors.

Erika shares her life with a military husband and their dog Matilda, an Australian Shepherd mix who is deaf and has limited vision. She has a passion for helping dogs, using positive training methods, lead more fulfilling, happy and enriched lives. Erika is currently living in Kansas, but continues to provide virtual appointments.