Meet your trainer - Jamie McConnell, VSA-CDT, FDM

I found my passion for working with dogs in 2010 when we took in the sweetest stray, Jake. We had just seven short years with him before losing him to cancer, and afterward, quickly realized our home needed a dog to feel complete. We adopted two rescue dogs over the next year, then the following year began fostering for K9 Freekz Rescue. We were able to foster many dogs over the next few years, but when my dogs began showing signs of stress from the revolving door of foster dogs, I leaned into training for the rescue instead, allowing me to continue to help save dogs without adding stress to my own.

I graduated from the Victoria Stilwell Academy (VSA) in July 2022, becoming a credentialed, certified dog trainer. I've since been dedicated to fostering strong bonds between humans and dogs through fun, effective, and humane training. In 2023, I became an Enrollment Coordinator at VSA, helping aspiring trainers begin their dreams. I am now a panelist on Victoria Stilwell’s free monthly webinar (More information on this below) and a co-collaborator for a monthly continuing education webinar we host exclusively for VSA graduates.

After K9 Freekz dissolved, I began volunteering with another rescue, Voice For Companion Animals. We’ve been working together to make small adjustments where we can, helping to ensure each rescued dog has the best chance for success. I consider myself quite lucky to get to participate in any small way with such an amazing group of people.

It is paramount to me that my clients receive excellent advice and effective positive training methods to use not only with their current dogs, but with every dog they bring into their lives.
I prioritize continuing to learn and am nearly always taking a course, reading a book, or attending a webinar or conference to broaden my training knowledge and skill.

Courses and Conferences

Graduated from Victoria Stilwell Academy in 2022 - Earning the Certification of VSA-CDT (Victoria Stilwell Academy - Certified Dog Trainer)

Attended the annual DBC hosted by Victoria Stilwell and Positively.com ( A 3-day, multi-speaker event called the ‘Dog Behavior Conference’) in 2022, 2023, and 2024

Completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course -Certificate of Completion in 2022

Completed Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S course (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) - Earning the certification of FDM (Family Dog Mediator) in 2023

As of September 2024 - I am actively working on both my TAGteach certification and Fear Free Trainer’s certification, as well as attending the In-Person add-on course for the Victoria Stilwell Academy. I expect to have all of those completed before 2025 arrives.