Positive Reinforcement, FORCE/FEAR FREE Training, Socialization & Behavior Consulting in Montgomery & Frederick Counties. Kelly Citrin, CPDT-KA, FDM, MBA
Member APDT & PPG
Secretary, National Capital Therapy Dogs
Steering Committee, Animal Positive Coalition
FEAR FREE. Always passionate about animals, Kelly Citrin fell in love with her first pit bull in 2006. She began to volunteer at MCHS, and t
hen MCASAC shelters, working with difficult to handle dogs, studying behavior – attending classes every Sunday - and training specific dogs to make them more adoptable. She also joined OPH rescue and was the lead for developing the rescue in Montgomery County, MD. In 2008, she began to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls and still does today. Kelly began teaching obedience and agility at Zoom Room in 2012, and also became the “Pit Bull Mentor” for students struggling with their (mostly rescued) pit bulls. Brutus, her certified, actively working therapy dog, passed his CGC and they joined NCTD in 2014, attaining additional READ Certification immediately and began working with middle school aged children with behavioral problems in alternative education schools/programs. Kelly was elected to the NCTD Board in 2016 as an officer and still serves as Secretary. Kelly’s training philosophy is “Patience, Persistence, Positive Reinforcement, Praise & Play”. She believes an integration of these concepts is key to a successful and happy human and pup. In addition to serving as the trainer for Capitol Canines Animal Rescue and Forever Changed Animal Rescue, she volunteers for and works with several other rescues. She has attended many seminars and two day workshops with internationally known trainers, including Suzanne Clothier, Sue Sternberg, and Bob Bailey. Her areas of concentration include working with reactive dogs, preparing pups for their CGC & Training Therapy Dogs/coaching them for their test, and providing proper training for puppies & rescued dogs right from the start, including a focus on supplying family training, non-competitive agility and more. Kelly lives in Bethesda with her three rescued pit bulls, Ayla, Brutus and Sadie. All three had been tossed away and are now living as one, big, happy family.
