Laura Monaco Torelli - Animal Behavior Training Concepts

04/17/2025

Thank you to Colette Kase, and the American Animal Hospital Association, for their generous article that features our group collaboration with Team Dash.

It’s a honor to be a part of Dash’s care team. The continuing education opportunities provided while I learn from this talented veterinary team is priceless.

Juliet and Sylvia’s thoughtful questions stage valuable opportunities to expand my education.

Dash is a brilliant canine teacher, too!

https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/less-stress-and-better-outcomes-with-cooperative-care/

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Cooperative care in veterinary medicine can help create lower-stress experience for pets, leading to better patient outcomes.

04/02/2025

Congratulations to Team Lottie for earning their AKC Novice Trick Dog title!

It’s so much fun to observe enriching activities you enjoy together. Thanks for including me.
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03/28/2025

And that’s a wrap! 🐾 🎉

Congratulations to our Karen Pryor Academy Excel teams. They did an extraordinary job the past seven weeks in my husbandry at home online course.

I’m truly grateful to learn from and alongside them. From excellent questions, to inspired video submissions that showcase their talents coupled with problem-solving. Thank you for the special opportunity to offer live coaching during the Zoom meetups, with a few tips that hopefully resonate as you continue to put these principles into practice.

To honoring progress as a process as we embrace collaboration.

The group camaraderie demonstrated between the Excel working teams with our Engage guests is another highlight for me.

A special shoutout to our fantastic group moderators and teaching assistants, Brie Blakeman, Kathy Ihlenfeldt, and Annie Chastain.

I’m going to miss this group!

Until next time… 🤓
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03/21/2025

Special thanks to our ClickerExpo Chicago guests for choosing to sit at the Saturday luncheon table that had my name on it.

I appreciate not only that you each chose to hang out with me, but for your excellent questions about a wide range of topics.

And yes, I took the sign with my name on it home to remember our time together by!
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03/18/2025

We are grateful to be surrounded by kindness.

A few days ago, with the help of a dear friend and mentor, we shared more of Vito’s dog attack recovery journey.

It was an emotional ninety minutes that I was able to navigate through for a variety of reasons. Friends, colleagues, and conference guests in the audience provided the safe place to land. 🧡

We shared photos and videos of our recovery journey, while I did my best to help advocate for why leash laws should be followed.

I have so much more to say beyond this update. Vito was such a sweet pup and beloved family member through it all.

We also did our best to included notes of gratitude to the many hands that joined Team Vito through the years with veterinary expertise. With behavior support. Through podcast, webinar, and media support. Through family and friendships. Through those that showed up when I went under the radar to help us navigate the long road back.

Part of me wants to tag all those that had, and have, continue to support us.

But, some folks may prefer to remain under the radar. So, I chose to send follow up private emails, texts, and phone calls to each of you over the next month. To let you know the caring impact you have in our lives.

In the meantime, to folks here on social media that continue to offer words and actions of ongoing support, please know how grateful we are.

And to our darling Vito, I hope our dedication to you during ClickerExpo, did you justice.
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03/14/2025

A special thank you to .london.dog.behavior for their generous mention, and ongoing support toward Vito’s journey.

We miss him everyday. Our hope is that through sharing our recovery journey, we can help advocate for leash laws to be followed so no one else endures the fallout as we did over five years to help him.

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03/13/2025

Thank you to the PAWS Chicago team for generously hosting our Karen Pryor Academy alumni event. We truly appreciate the special day of feline and canine tours that feature your fantastic adoption plus foster programs.

You helped start ClickerExpo Chicago in the best way!
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03/12/2025

Bruno votes that sun spots are the best spots.

A new friend from today!
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03/09/2025

My dear friend Grace is helping her family’s new foster pup learn the ropes of how easy it is to get snuggles, treats, playtime along with sniff walks.

Welcome to your loving foster home, Billy. I’m so glad to help out and offer a few tips for all!
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03/09/2025

Congratulations Team Dash! Thank you for including me to your care team, and to help evaluate your Novice Trick Dog title behaviors. I’m honored to help with your cooperative care goals, and for us to integrate fun tricks into our overall plans.
Keep up with your amazing journey alongside your supportive veterinary team, too.
Progress is a process, and I’m all in for it!

via below
⬇️🐾🎉

Posted • Sis and I are very excited to introduce you to Dashiell’s Secret Agent, AKC Novice Trick Dog! We’ve been on quite the behavioral training journey with Dash and can only think about what’s now possible. 🐕🥇 Thank you, .monaco.torelli for evaluating Dash’s trick work and teaching us about cooperative care, and Dr. Ballantyne for helping us better understand the love bug that is Dash.

03/08/2025

Powered by the sun = recharging his batteries.

A new handsome friend. Thanks for helping us today with your excellent guidance, Gus.
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03/08/2025

Hello, adorable Elara. Thank you for a fun session today.
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03/07/2025

Connected with a dear canine friend today.

Adorable Grace celebrates her 13 years young birthday tomorrow. I’m so lucky to know this beautiful soul.

We had quality snuggle, snack, and playtime.

The perfect day!
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03/02/2025

Navigating deep grief from losing both Vito and Santino last year is an ongoing journey. One form of solace are my hikes from our home to the Chicago river. Since I no longer have our pups to explore with, I talk to them as I walk.

Three months ago, as I left Marshall Fields to enjoy the Walnut Room holiday decorations, my route headed north at the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Randolph Street.

That’s when I heard someone call my name.

I turned to see friend Steve Dale. His warm smile coupled with laughter were the perfect antidote to the sadness I felt as we headed into the first holiday season without our boys.

We chatted about our families, joy for Chicago holiday decorations, and love of animal family members. I mentioned how hard it’s been without our pups, and how well Vito had been doing within the scope of his dog attack recovery journey.

As we stood near a busy Chicago intersection, I realized that bumping into a friend at that exact moment was meant to be. Steve listened, and was truly present as we both lean into the loss of our respective canine family members.

Later that week, Steve reached out to ask if I’d be willing to share our story about leash laws here in Chicago. After all these years, I STILL well up recounting events for a traumatic event Vito and I never asked for.

So, if anyone here is interested, here’s the WGN Radio link.

Live radio time slots are brief, yet I truly appreciate Steve’s media platform to share a small part of our story.

Vito’s journey will hopefully live on in various forms as we unfold it together.

Thank you for being a thoughtful, caring radio host, Steve. Our community is lucky to have your support and advocacy toward animal welfare.

Many thanks to those here that provide a safe space to post this personal update.

https://wgnradio.com/steve-dales-pet-world/animal-behavior-training-concepts-and-the-importance-or-adhering-to-leash-laws/

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Laura Monaco Torelli is the owner and founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts and she is an internationally celebrated dog trainer, and based in Chicago where an awful event occurred. If the t…

02/22/2025

Congratulations to our Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional teams!

Thank you for including KPA in your continuing education journey. It’s been an honor and joy to serve as your faculty instructor.

Keep celebrating with your brilliant pups and second species!

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02/03/2025

I look forward to learning with our Excel dog teams and Engage guests.

Interested to learn more? Please visit:

https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/cooperative-care-with-laura-monaco-torelli/

Cannot wait to get started!
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01/02/2025

More New Year cheer. I’m truly grateful that the EXCEL spots are full. Thanks for choosing to join us, folks.

ENGAGE availability is open for registration until the four-week online course begins.

I cannot wait to learn together with our new teams!

Learn more at:

https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/cooperative-care-with-laura-monaco-torelli/

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12/21/2024

Thanks to my new friend, Marlowe, for the winter cheer. He’s showing me the ropes around his neighborhood. And I’m falling head over paws with a crush on him.

Thanks to for the biothane line I use to safely secure pups on fun adventures.

Lots of sniff time, his favorite treats, and play had us on our way!

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