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Meet Our Staff:

Paula Curran
Paula has over 14 years of experience in field of dog training and is the owner of The Curious Canine. Paula is a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, APDT and is certified by the American Kennel Club as an evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program. Paula brings her knowledge of positive training techniques, animal behavior, and the importance of having fun into all of The Curious Canine's Training Programs. Kids and dogs have an important relationship that Paula feels strongly about, and she offers Dog Safety Workshops throughout the year so children will learn to be safe in the company of dogs. Paula has owned and bred English Springer Spaniels and currently owns 2 English Setters and a Bichon Mix that compete in AKC Events. Paula is currently a member of The English Setter Association of America as well as The English Setter Club of New England. Paula has also done rescue work for English Springer Spaniel Rescue. Paula is currently resident of Leominster, Massachusetts.

Karen Ferrante
Karen Ferrante has over 10 years of experience with training dogs. She is a member of the APDT, completed The Instructor Training Course and is certified by the AKC to administer the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test. Over the years Karen has attended numerous seminars on dog behavior and canine learning theory. Karen has a passion for the sporting breeds. She has owned an Irish Setter and a Welch Springer Spaniel and currently she shares her home with 3 very active Pointers, all of who have obtained their CGC. Her oldest Pointer "Rookie" was a welcomed visitor at a local nursing home for many years and "Brandi" was her first dog she introduced Clicker Training to. Her youngest Pointer "Sunny" is a certified Therapy Dog and is only the second solid colored Pointer in the US to have achieved the AKC Jr, Hunting Title. The Curious Canine is fortunate to have Karen as a member of our staff, she teaches our Puppy, Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Novice and CGC Prep Classes. Karen is currently a resident of Acton, Massachusetts.

Kris Sweet
Kris Sweet is a part of the training staff at The Curious Canine as well as Manilow's Canine Playground Doggie Daycare. Kris has several years of experience with training dogs and is experienced in the care of dogs while in doggie daycare. Kris has attended the APDT Training Conference, 3 Sue Sternberg Seminars on temperament testing of aggressive dogs, Patricia McConnell on aggressive behavior, Gary Wilkes on clicker training, and a T-Touch Seminar. Kris has been assisting in the CGC program since 1998 and is now a certified evaluator for the AKC, CGC Program. Kris has also been very supportive in canine rescue work, and has rescued and rehabilitated 3 rescue dogs that have been placed in loving homes. Kris lives with her 1st rescue dog, a Rottie that does carting for Fun, a black lab cross who has done agility, therapy dog work and obedience, a Boxer Mix that is currently working in obedience. Besides her dogs, Kris has 3 children. Kris also adopted a rescue horse that she has been very busy rehabilitating fro the past year. The Curious Canine is fortunate to have Kris on staff and you can always find Kris helping out a student in need. Kris is currently a resident of Winchendon, Massachusetts.

Linda Sallee is our Senior Assistant
Linda Sallee has been an assistant with The Curious Canine for the past year and a half for our Wednesday Evening Classes. Linda is a wonderful addition to our staff and has great feel for helping students work through the exercises and gain confidence in their own training. Linda has a 2-year-old German Shepherd Dog named Cody and she also shares her home with her daughter’s 1-year-old Hound Mix named Rylee as well as a black Lab named Hudson. This past year Rylee obtained his Canine Good Citizen Certification. If you take classes on Wednesday evenings you will be lucky to have Linda assisting in your class. Linda is currently a resident of Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

Michael Santasieri is our Apprentice Assistant
Michael Santasieri has been recently added to out staff to assist in the Friday evening Puppy and Beginner Classes. Michael has been training his 1 1/2-year-old Dalmatian named Solaris from the Puppy class to the present. He has completed the Puppy Class, Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Novice, and obtained a CGC on Solaris. He also completed our Tricks Class as well as our Agility Class during this past year so he knows our programs very well. Michael enjoys all aspects of working with dogs and watching them succeed as they progress through our programs. You may also see Michael at times helping at the breed ring with Spotted Gems Dalmatians, Paula’s English Setters and his uncle's Irish Setters. He has been a great help with getting the dogs relaxed and ready to enter the ring.