Biographical Information
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Clarissa Bergeman, CPDT-KA — Rally and basic manners instruction ARCHEX UCD URO1 Wakefield Adventure Anny CD TD RL1X3 RL2X2 RL3X RLVX RE Schutzhund BH TDIA CGC — DVD demos George Bergeman — DVD video production Contact: |
Clarissa Bergeman —
Clarissa is an enthusiastic rally competitor and instructor. She and her corgi, Anny, have earned numerous rally titles in APDT, AKC, and UKC including the ARCHEX from APDT and the RE from the AKC. Clarissa and Anny have also earned traditional obedience titles, a tracking title, a therapy dog title, and Shutzhund BH title.
As a retired special-education teacher, Clarissa does not come to her approach to dog-and-handler instruction by accident. For over twenty years she taught students with moderate retardation using a variety of positive reinforcement techniques. Her dedication and creative approach resulted in her being named Virginia Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Association for Retarded Citizens.
Prior to teaching special education in Virginia, Clarissa taught special education in Iowa, taught elementary school for two fascinating years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, West Africa, and taught English as a second language in Virginia.
Clarissa was honored to receive the 2006 Good Sportsman award from her training club. National recognition includes an article profiling her in the September/October, 2009 issue of The Chronicle of the Dog published by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
Clarissa is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
Private Obedience and Rally Training in the Northern Virginia/Loudoun/Clarke County Area
Clarissa Bergeman, CPDT-KA
In Canine Company, LLC
Since her retirement from special education teaching in 1997, Clarissa has focused on dog training and has enjoyed teaching rally and basic obedience.
Clarissa has earned the CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer--Knowledge Assessed) endorsement from the Council For Professional Dog Trainers. She regularly participates in seminars and conferences to stay abreast of current training methodologies and is an honors graduate of the Trainer Intern Academy conducted by foremost author and trainer Pat Miller, CPDT-KA, CDBC-KA.
Through in-home training, Clarissa provides instruction in basic manners as well as changing undersirable behaviors such as jumping up, excessive barking, and destructive chewing. She also offers private and group instruction in Rally Obedience.
Clarissa is committed to teaching people how to train their dogs using gentle, stress-free positive reinforcement techniques that are effective and enjoyable for both themselves and their canine companions.
Here are some comments from people with whom Clarissa has worked:
“You are amazing! It was great how you geared the lesson to the goals and special needs of our family, and most especially how respectful and positive you were with {our young daughter}. We thought {she} did great, too, and she now has lots of positive work to do with Cookie, as do the rest of us. I learned many helpful tips, especially about not scolding Cookie for growling, how to offer him a trade, and a strategy to help him overcome his fear of big dogs. We all feel enthusiastic about getting going with clicker training, and the house rules you wrote were most helpful, too. ...
“We feel extremely lucky to have you on our team!”
- Mary C., Great Falls, VA
"I can't begin to tell you how thrilled Tom and I are with the individual training you did for us with Jake. Even though he had passed Puppy Kindergarten with flying colors, there were still some behaviors we felt could be best addressed with individual attention in our home. Calling you was the best decision we could have made. ...
"Jake wouldn't walk on a leash when you met him. He now LOVES going on walks, even when on a leash. I had never heard of clicker training before, but I would highly recommend that to every new dog owner now. Jake responded incredibly well to you and learned more from you in three sessions than he could possibly have learned in another 6-week class. ... You were always extremely well organized, very clear with your explanations, and always fun to have around! In addition to showing us new ways to use things like the tug Jake had received in his group class, you also introduced us to new toys Jake now thoroughly enjoys. It's so helpful to have professional guidance when there are so many training tools and puppy toys on the market. ...
"Thanks again, Clarissa, for bringing your expertise and your love for dogs into our home and working with Jake, Tom and me. We are all better for our time spent with you."
- Bobbie Wilkinson, Hamilton, VA
“Our dog came from a rescue with significant behavioral issues. In just a few short sessions, Clarissa was able to identify our dog's issues and train us on positive techniques that we could use. Thanks to Clarissa, we've been able to make our dog and our home compatible and happy.”
- Rich and Denise, Round Hill, VA
Clarissa is licensed and insured. To inquire about training, please call 540.554.8738 or e-mail Clarissa at clarissa@bergeman.com.
Anny Bergeman —
ARCHEX UCD URO1 Wakefield Adventure Anny CD TD RL1X3 RL2X2 RL3X RLVX RE Schutzhund BH TDIA CGC.
Anny is a thirteen-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who has been a wonderful rally partner. She enjoys working on her rally skills both for the reinforcement (especially treats) and for the opportunity to be a working, active dog sharing and communicating with her human collaborator.
In 2006 Anny and Clarissa were the 14th ranked team nationally in overall points in APDT Rally competition, and in 2007 they were ranked in the top 20 for teams earning the ARCHEX title.
In addition to competition, Anny has also partnered with Clarissa to give volunteer trick shows at senior-citizen venues, the local animal shelter, town events and in other settings. Her website (www.annyb.com) provides a look at her competition and trick-show endeavors and also shows one of her paintings. Sales of her paintings have gone to benefit corgi rescue efforts.
George Bergeman —
George is a frequent member of the pit crew in support of Clarissa and Anny at their various performance events, and he handled the video taping, editing and production on this project as well as creation of the Ready to Rally! website.
Like Clarissa, his professional career began in instruction. As a Peace Corps volunteer, he taught math and physics at a small college in West Africa from 1973 to 1975, and he continued teaching at a community college outside of Washington, D.C. after he and Clarissa returned to the states.
In the early 1980s, George began developing instructional software for collegiate mathematics and eventually transitioned to full-time software development as an independent developer/author.
Happily, some of these software projects also involved video and editing components, and, thus, the collaboration with Clarissa and Anny on the Ready to Rally! project was a natural extension of both professional and (more importantly!) family interests.
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clarissa@bergeman.com — Ready to Rally! video content, rally instruction and workshops, basic dog training
george@bergeman.com — Video production and this website
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