Meet Our Team
All of the Puppy Professor's trainers are highly knowledgeable and educated in dog and animal behavior from highly respected institutions such as the Karen Pryor Academy and Shedd Aquarium. Read more about each of our trainers below, and we look forward to meeting you soon.
Amy Saletta, KPA CTP
Owner & Training Director
Amy Saletta, aka "The Puppy Professor", has been helping families train their puppies and adult dogs for 20 years. Her private in home sessions and small group classes have resulted in hundreds of dogs becoming solid household citizens.
Her passion is puppies…of all ages! By introducing families to the science of positive training, she insures that clients develop a better understanding of their dog, increasing trust and cooperation at both ends of the leash. To Amy, positive reinforcement is both a mechanical skill and a philosophy. She says, “It’s about looking for the positive in people and animals and reinforcing that positive in my daily interactions. I strive to notice and reinforce when others succeed in their learning; even the tiniest step toward
success is worth celebrating.”
Amy also manages a team of excellent trainers who together create a safe, inclusive and fun atmosphere of learning. All of the “Professors” are committed to continually topping off their education to stay abreast of the most modern and effective techniques in positive training.
Professional Certifications & Memberships
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Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
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Knowledge Assessed with Living and Learning With Animals -Dr. Susan Friedman
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Absolute Dogs Pro Dog Trainer
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Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
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Program Manager, A Sound Beginning Program
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2021 Clicker Expo Live
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2020 Clicker Expo Live
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2020 Absolute Dogs Super Trainer Live
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2020 Controlled Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt
Julie Benson, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
Lead Instructor , Curriculum Development
Julie Benson began her teaching career as a K-12 art teacher. After reading Reaching the Animal Mind by Karen Pryor, she decided to follow her dream of working with the animals that she's loved dearly ever since her childhood and traded in her crayons for a clicker. She brings all the organizational skills, patience and creativity from teaching art to teaching classes with The Puppy Professor. Julie is both a talented dog trainer, earning several trick titles with her own dogs, and a compassionate and articulate people trainer.
In addition to leading classes and developing curriculum at the Puppy Professor, Julie works as a Behavior Evaluator and Animal Trainer at A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter in Naperville, IL. She and her husband live with their two dogs, Scout and River, and several feline friends.
Julie strives to stay up-to-date with the latest methodologies in animal behavior and dog
training by taking classes and attending conferences and webinars.
Professional Certifications & Memberships
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Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
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Certified Pet Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
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Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
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Certified Canine Fitness Coach
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Stunt Dog Judge
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AKC CGC Evaluator
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Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
Maggie Fahner, MS
Lead Instructor, Private In-home trainer
Maggie Fahner joined The Puppy Professor in 2014 and currently leads group classes and provides private in-home consults. As a mom of three young children and two challenging dogs, Maggie is well qualified to assist families as they bring puppies into their homes. Her realistic and efficient application of positive training methods provides practical solutions for busy families.
Prior to joining The Puppy Professor, Maggie's animal training talents were developed at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL where she spent 15 years training marine mammals, birds of prey, primates, and many other exotic animals. She honed her excellent interpersonal communication skills as manager of Shedd’s Animal Programs Department and then as lead trainer at Unleashed in Evanston, IL.
In addition to her work at the Puppy Professor, Maggie teaches for A Sound Beginning Program (a rescue-based training organization) and volunteers her time at the Wildlife Discovery Center working with animals such as foxes, coyotes and birds of prey. She also keeps busy with her three children, her husband, two Australian Shepherds, a “foster failure” cat and a bunch of fish.
Maggie strives to stay up-to-date with the latest methodologies in animal behavior and dog training by taking classes and attending conferences and webinars.
Professional Certifications & Memberships
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Master of Science in Biology - Western Illinois University, Chicago Museum Campus
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Lead Trainer, A Sound Beginning Program
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Former administrator and training consultant (2017-2020) - Chicagoland Veterinary
Behavior Consultants -
Absolute Dogs Pro Dog Trainer Program
Liz Mishima KPA CTP
Lead Instructor
Liz joined the Puppy Professor with 20 years of experience training dogs and has participated in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tricks, Noseworks and Free Style with her own dogs. Her greatest passion is working with rescue organizations and families with newly adopted dogs; helping to ensure happy long-term relationships. She is committed to using fear free positive training methods. After 15 years of attending therapy dog visits with 3 of her dogs, Liz also enjoys teaching therapy dog readiness classes. Liz shares her home with her patient husband Stan and her German Shepherd / Husky mix, Duke.
She also shares her life with 3 adorable granddaughters.
Liz strives to stay educated in the latest methodologies in animal behavior
Professional Certifications & Memberships
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AKC S.T.A.R. and CGC, CGCA, CGCU Evaluator
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AKC Trick Dog Evaluator
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Karen Pryor Clicker Training Academy Certified Partner
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Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
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Member of Pet Professional Guild
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Knowledge Assessed with Living and Learning with Animals – Dr Susan Friedman
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Member of International Association of Animal Behavior
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Program Manager, A Sound Beginning Program
Continuing Education
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Relationship Centered Training with Suzanne Clothier
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Controlled Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt
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Aggression in Dogs with Michael Shikashio
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Separation Anxiety with Moira Hechenleitner DVM, CSAT
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2022 Clicker Expo
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2021 Clicker Expo
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2021 IAABC and FDSA Lemonade Conference
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2021 VSA Dog Behavior Conference
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2021 The Aggression in Dogs Conference
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2021 PPG Geek Week
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2021 Clean Run Conference Unleashed
Cheri Nicholas KPA CTP
Lead Instructor, Private In-Home Trainer
More than 30 years ago, Cheri adopted a puppy whose contract read “must put two titles on the dog.” Not sure where to begin, she took the advice of a friend and enrolled in a PUPPY KINDERGARTEN class and WAS HOOKED! From there she took the next BEGINNER class, and some DROP IN classes. Looking for more, she and her pup began pursuing those “titles” in a variety of arenas. Sure enough, Cheri’s curiosity and passion for working with dogs led her to participate in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tricks, Therapy Dogs International, Water Rescue and Draft (Carting) Work. Her dedication and talent has resulted in earning multiple titles with her dogs over the years. What an incredible journey it has been!
In addition to developing her own skills, having fun, and making friends along the way, Cheri discovered she could help others on their journey and began teaching classes. With teaching, she found her greatest joy is helping to build the connection between the puppy and the puppy parent. To best serve her students, Cheri is committed to pursuing continuing education in animal behavior and dog training. She has multiple certifications (below) including earning her KPA CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy.
Whether on sandy surf or shady turf, she enjoys spending as much time as she can with her husband and three Newfoundlands.
We are thrilled to have Cheri on the Puppy Professor team!
Professional Certifications & Memberships
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Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner
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AKC S.T.A.R. and CGC, CGCA, CGCU Evaluator
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AKC Tricks Evaluator
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Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
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Member of International Association of Animal Behavior
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Member of Association of Professional Dog Trainers
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Member of the Pet Professional Guild
Continuing education in animal behavior and dog training through classes, conferences and webinars is of utmost importance to Cheri.