Rising Stars: Meet Peter Zuppardo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Zuppardo.

Hi Peter, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2016, I moved back to Atlanta, where I grew up, and started a dog-walking business. I love to be outside, and I’ve always wanted to work with dogs. One day as I was walking a dog, I found in a little free library Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Alexandra Horowitz conducts behavior research on dogs at Barnard College and Columbia University. Before reading this book, I never knew that scientists had studied dog behavior in academic settings. I felt I had discovered a secret world! From there, I read and continue to read as many books as I can about animal behavior.

After that, I was accepted to Virginia Tech’s Master’s in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare, one of the only graduate degree programs in which you can study the behavior of domesticated animals. As a result, I have had the opportunity to work with the best canine scientists in the world.

When I started Pete the Dog Trainer in 2017, I wanted to apply a humane and evidence-based approach to teaching dogs new skills. I tell many of my clients that I learn as much or more from their dogs than their dogs learn from me. Every dog, just like every person, is an individual with his or her own personality. One of the joys of my work is discovering what each dog needs to feel safe and succeed. Like us, dogs have a language, and I learn to understand that language a little more with each dog that I meet.

I’m so grateful to do what I love for a living!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As anyone who starts his or her own business knows, being an entrepreneur nearly always has its struggles. I love working with dogs and studying behavior, but I am not a marketer, still have very little idea what SEO is, can’t build a website, and don’t particularly enjoy selling my services. But these are all necessary to operating a successful business. And so, I continue to learn what it takes to promote and run my business, and I reach out for help when I need it (which is often!).

Although I am a positive reinforcement-only dog trainer, I work primarily with people, and teaching people new skills isn’t easy! But I love that part of my work. I enjoy breaking down a skill until it’s easy for me to explain and for a client to understand. I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to simplify what I want clients to take away from a training session with me.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work with dogs who display all kinds of behavior, including leash reactivity, aggression, and anxiety. I also work with people who have recently brought home a puppy. I want to help anyone who is struggling to live the life they want with their dog.

Of all the behaviors I work with, I most enjoy working with leash reactivity. Leash reactivity is when a dog on a walk sees another dog, person, or object and begins reacting strongly. This reaction may include barking, lunging, and/or walking on two legs. I enjoy working with dogs showing these behaviors because they are so common in Atlanta/Decatur, and I have had dogs of my own who struggle with this. Another reason I love working with reactivity is that there are so many different reasons why a dog shows these behaviors. Getting to the bottom of why a dog is showing a behavior is thrilling for me.

One thing that sets me apart is my education. Dog training is an unregulated industry, meaning anyone can call him or herself a dog trainer. There is no certifying board or exam like the LSAT or MCAT one must take in order to be a licensed practitioner. I have a Master’s in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare from Virginia Tech, which means I have worked with some of the top canine scientists in the world, read the latest scientific literature, and am always learning and modifying my approaches to changing behavior.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have had so many mentors and teachers who continue to provide me with guidance and support. Dr. Susan Friedman, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, Dr. Lisa Gunter, and Dr. Gina Fisher have all helped in reducing my ego and reminding me that we are forever students and constantly learning. My wife Shivani is always cheering me on and providing support. On those darker days when I’m filled with worry, my mom and her partner, Jennifer, remind me where I came from and how far I’ve come.

Pricing:

• $125 for a single in-home session
• $350 for a three-session package
• $700 for a six-session package

Contact Info:

• Website: www.petethedogtrainer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petethedogtrainer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeteTheDogTrainerAtl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-zuppardo-5582607a/

Image Credits
Shivani Kapoor