With over 20 years experience, C.C. has developed and lead programs in shelter and rescue organization internationally, including being an originating member of the Turks & Caicos Islands  RSPCA and the Behavior & Training Manager at the  Charleston Animal Society shelter. She created WDU to ease the learning process, making it simple, engaging and fun, while adhering to the latest concrete science of how animals learn.
As one of Charleston’s most sought after expert speakers and evaluators in dog behavior, C.C. and her team provide training for shelters and rescues, veterinarians, groomers, daycares and even fellow trainers.

Her passions and specialty training are in modifying reactive behaviors and separation anxiety in dogs.

C.C. has earned several highly regarded professional dog training certifications from some of the world's most respected, leading experts.

CSAT - Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer
Earning this designation, gives her the highest qualification available to treat the heart-breaking disorder of Separation Anxiety. Only a small number of highly experienced trainers are accepted into this certification  program each year. Currently, there are only 148 CSATs worldwide, including 12 CSAT Staff Members. Upon completion, C.C. was selected by her mentor, Malena DeMartini, as one of her CSAT Staff Members. A role she was honored to accept and has served in since 2017.

"If I weren't a dog trainer, I'd be a back-up dancer for singer, Pink! In my prior careers, I earned my theatre degree, worked on a hit tv show and was was hired as "Fly Girl" for a popular tv show (that was then cancelled). In yet another life I lived in the Turks & Caicos Islands where I played  on their premier women's national soccer team."

On the flip side, she also has extensive experience with animals ranging from the large and exotic to the tiny and domesticated! She is excited to learn more as a training assistant at WDU.

Jessica carries her knowledge of positive training practices home when working with her 5 dogs and three cats. She has moved three of her own dogs through CGC training and has competed in agility trials with her Dachshund, Enzo. In per free time, you can find Jessica kayaking with her dachshunds, biking with her Dutch Shepherd, Alekos, or enjoying the beach with her Cat, Link!

Holds a BS in Animal Sciences from Penn State University, a Post Baccalaureate Teaching Certification in Elementary Education from Drexel University and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Drexel University.

Jessica is also certified to teach in South Carolina with a certification in Elementary and Early Childhood as well as Special Education Multi Categorical.

“If I wasn’t working with dogs, I would be a zookeeper! I once was a zoo keeper with the Baltimore Zoo in Maryland where I worked with giraffes, okapi, lions, cheetahs and a variety of other hoof stock! I’ve also worked at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Riverbanks Zoo and loved training animals, providing enrichment, and engaging the public!”

Sara has been training her own animals from the day she brought her rescue lab home almost 3 years ago! He was a bit of a handful at first, only being about 10 weeks old and having gone through three homes already, he had extensive separation anxiety she combated with training and the help of her elderly lab, Buddy! He now does dock diving for fun, hoping to get him into competitions in the future! With Sara’s younger lab, she worked through some reactivity issues, and now does agility. They absolutely love training together! She also has experience working with exotics like rabbits and chinchillas! Sailor and she are working on socialization as she was also a rescue and was not handled or socialized with humans. Sara has been working with her own animals since she can remember, learning together as they went! When she was about seven or eight, her grandparents got her a dog training kit, with videos and clickers and Sara would work with their labs.

Sara is both Animal and Human CPR Certified. When not assisting in group classes with WDU, Sara is a Vet Tech at Charleston Harbor Veterinary Clinic, and used to work in emergency medicine at Charleston Veterinary Referral Center.

In their free time, you will find Sara and her pack traveling to NC or VA for hiking, boating, kayaking, etc! They love the outdoors and exploring.

While working with dogs in her daycare role, she gained a love for animal behavior.

Carson has since become Fear Free -  Shelter Program Core Modules certified as well as attending multiple seminars and retreats relating to animal behavior, such as the Kelley Bollen Shelter Behavior seminar and the ASPCA BRC Specialist retreat.

“Carson is a Charleston local who enjoys spending time with her personal dog, Cleo as well as seeing live music, hiking, and finding the best new restaurants in town. She loves to travel and explore new places and would love to move to the mountains one day!”

When she's not assisting with training classes, you can find her pet sitting or hanging out with her cats and chinchillas.

Bachelors in Environmental Studies.

Melissa learned to step out of her comfort zone and quickly fell in love with rock climbing in her twenties, but an injury forced her to find a new hobby. A friend convinced her to try ballroom and Latin dancing, and she learned to love the entirely different challenge of remembering choreography while dancing backwards and in heels!

In her free time, she volunteers with Carolina Boxer Rescue, and serves as a behavioral resource for fosters and adopters. She also serves as their Vet Coordinator and Area Coordinator for the Lowcountry, and almost always has at least one foster in her house.

Courtney has a B.A. in Education, a M.Ed. in Literacy, and is a National Board Certified teacher.

Courtney lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for ten years and really prefers the Charleston weather over frigid winter temps!  In her free time you will find her at the beach, the gym, or taking her dogs for walks or runs around the owcountry.

Marielle was a music teacher for over 10 years before quitting her teaching job in 2020 to go full time in her virtual assistant business.  Teaching was draining her and she realized that life is too short to wake up miserable about going to work. In March 2020, Marielle rescued her dog, Maggie, who is Marielle's daily reminder not to give up and to keep working on her dreams. Marielle helps clients all over the country with administrative tasks in their business.

Marielle has her Bachelors degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and her Masters degree in Music Education from SUNY University at Buffalo.

Marielle loves going for walks with her dog and especially loves walking near the beautiful Niagara River and Lake Erie in Buffalo, NY.