Kari Bastyr, MS, VSPDT, CDBC 

Kari Bastyr, M.S., VSPDT, CDBC owner and operator of Wag & Train Animal Behavior Specialists, specializes in animal behavior and dogs with severe behavioral problems. She is a certified VSPDT trainer with Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, a member of the Animal Behavior Society, certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers,. She volunteers many hours of behavioral consultations and treatment to multiple rescue organizations including Safe Harbor Lab Rescue, Big Dogs Huge Paws, Colorado Pug Rescue, Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue, Snow-Capped German Shepherd Rescue, and Western Border Collie Rescue.

In 1993, Kari received a B.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis, and earned a Masters Degree in Animal Behavior in 1995, both from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. While in the graduate program at St. Cloud State University, she studied several species of animals including humans, cats, dogs, monkeys, pigeons, rabbits, rats, and wolves.

After receiving her Master’s Degree, she began working with Dr. R.K. Anderson and Ruth Foster, co-inventors of the Gentle Leader © at Alpha Academy for Behavior and Obedience Training. Dr. Anderson designed a ‘new’ style of Gentle Leader © and tested the prototype in her class during Kari’s last year with Alpha Academy. She worked enthusiastically with Dr. Anderson to expand her knowledge and techniques for rehabilitating anxious and aggressive dogs. While at Alpha Academy, Kari also worked with Dr. Keith Hedges, a veterinary behaviorist.

At Wag & Train, Kari conducts private behavior sessions and creates individual treatment plans for dogs with severe aggression and other behavior problems. She also teaches group obedience classes that are geared towards teaching owners how to communicate with their canine family members..

Ms. Bastyr has appeared frequently on Denver’s 9News as an animal behavior expert.  She has also been cited in multiple newspaper and magazine articles as an expert in animal behavior, including the Denver Business Journal and Rocky Mountain News. In the November 2005 and the April 2006 issues of Dog Fancy, Kari was cited for her expertise on general dog behavior.

Kari lives in Central Denver with her two dogs: Paisley, a 1-year old Chocolate Lab, and Jasper, a 4-year old Great Dane… and Duckie, an orange tabby cat. 

Mindy Jarvis, VSPDT, ABCDT, Vice President of Wag & Train, Director of Training Operations, met Kari Bastyr while finishing up her Certification with Animal Behavior College four years ago.  One of the requirements for graduation was to volunteer time with a rescue or a shelter.  At that time Kari was the Behavior Director for a local giant breed rescue, and upon testing Mindy’s commitment and skills, Kari accepted Mindy as a volunteer.  A bond was made and Kari played a very important role in Mindy’s success as a trainer.

As a little girl, Mindy competed in 4H programs for dog handling and horsemanship. It was evident to her family and friends that she had a unique and special relationship with animals, especially with dogs. She took her first obedience class with her Newfoundland Tina when she was 7 years old. She continued to train her dogs, not because she felt it was necessary, but because she loved connecting with dogs.  She started training dogs for friends and family, and then throughout life, by word of mouth, she trained dogs part-time.

In 2008, she combined her dog training knowledge and experience, with her people skills to start a company that would improve the human/pet relationship – Noble Beast Pet Services.  Mindy felt that if she could help humans and dogs live harmoniously together by assisting pet owners in communicating and understanding the thought process of their canine companions through interaction, learning, and leadership activities, less dogs would be turned into shelters and more people could fully experience the therapeutic benefits of having a rewarding relationship with their pups.

After meeting Kari and receiving her ABC Certification, Mindy successfully grew her own company, developing training programs, and positively training hundreds of dogs. She has also received her certification as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and is Co-founder of the Colorado Dog Trainers Network.  

In August of 2011, Mindy and Kari decided to join forces.  On January 1st, 2012, Noble Beast’s Training Services officially merged with Wag & Train.  The merger combines Kari’s extensive knowledge and experience, with Mindy’s talent for developing training programs and business building, to expand and grow Wag & Train as Colorado’s Premier Positive Training Company. 

Mindy currently lives in Denver with her husband Terrill, her kids Rejina and Diezel, and their two dogs Sugar Ray & Joker.

Mariah Raymond, VSPDT 

Mariah met Kari Bastyr in 2006, when she adopted two terriers who had a nasty case of sibling rivalry. After incorporating Wag & Train's positive leadership and behavioral modification methods and witnessing the drastic improvement between her two dogs, Mariah began an internship with Wag & Train. She soon became an instructor for Super Puppy and Good Behavior & Manners Level 1 and 2, as well a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and is currently working towards her CPDT.

Mariah lives with Jake, her 7-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, who recently received his first two titles in AKC agility (go Jake!). She is an artist, painting contemporary dog portraits and building furniture in her Santa Fe Arts District studio. She received her bachelor's degree in fine art from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her website at dogtrotportraits.com. 

Libby Ross, VSPDT

Libby began as a client of Wag & Train in early 2010, when she sought Kari's expertise for rehabilitating her Border  Collie mix, Jax, who suffered from fear-based dog aggression. Having been a passionate dog lover since the time she could say her first words, Libby was thrilled with Kari's positive reinforcement, no punishment approach to dog training. After being amazed by how quickly and effectively Kari's confidence building techniques helped Jax learn new behaviors, Libby became fascinated by Wag & Train's loving and feel-good approach to dog training.

Libby began at Wag & Train by volunteering and observing classes. She joined the team in September 2010 as an instructor teaching Super Puppy and Good Behavior & Manners 1. She is the proud mama of three wonderful rescue dogs:  a Karelian Bear Dog mix, Dakota; a Border Collie mix, Jax; and a new addition, a Miniature Schnauzer, Izzy (not pictured). Libby also fosters and rehabilitates dogs with Safe Harbor Lab Rescue, and her efforts contribute to a growing list of successful adoptions. Libby holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas and is practicing in environmental remediation. She is working toward her CPDT and hopes to take the test in the near future! 

Margo Suzuki, VSPDT

Margo Suzuki, VSPDT received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Colorado in 2001.  After enrolling her rescued dog into training Margo discovered her love and interest in dog training.  She adopted another dog which had many behavioral problems including being highly reactive to people and other dogs.  Margo began researching training methods on her own on how to address these issues.  In 2009 Margo was lucky enough to find a wonderful organization called Dog Scouts of America, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy bonds between people and dogs and enriching both dogs and people’s lives through education.  Dog Scouts was immensely helpful in finding ways of correcting her dogs’ behavioral problems.  After seeing the results from positive training methods in her own dog Margo found herself giving advice and suggestions to her friends and other dog owners.  She started her professional career as a dog trainer with a big box store in 2010; this afforded her the opportunity to help many dogs learn basic manners and become excellent companions to their human families.  She is now the troop leader for the Denver metro area Dog Scout Troop #213.  She is excited to be teaching a new set of students with Wag & Train.

Harrie Kukowski, VSPDT, ABCDT

Harrie discovered her passion for training, and the means to gain a better understanding of her four-footed friends, after enrolling her dog, Torrey, in training. She decided to pursue that passion and enrolled in Animal Behavior College to study both canine training and general veterinary care. Harrie did her externship with Mindy Jarvis, while volunteering at a local shelter. After completing her externship, she continued working with Mindy in her day training facility, providing individual and group training for dogs whose parents wanted more personalized care. Harrie honed her basic training skills in a big box store but found that day training was better suited for what she really loves, learning about and working with different behaviors.  Harrie is proud to be a member of the Wag & Train family and is looking forward to working in, and continuing her education in, the field she loves. She currently lives in Denver with her two rescue girls, Torrey the 4 yr. Lab/Blue Heeler mix and Sara, the 4 ½ yr. Border Collie mix.

Carie Grant, KPA-CTP
Katy Potter, Intern and Day Training Assistant
Anne Ross, Director of Marketing and Training Intern
Cheryl Romero, ABCDT Intern

The staff at Wag & Train pride themselves on helping people learn how to communicate with their animals. We take continuing education very seriously and have attended several behavior workshops and seminars. Most recently, we attended the APDT Conference in San Diego. We also attended Victoria’s presentation in Aspen, the IAABC Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, and Dr. Ian Dunbar’s seminar in Denver in 2011, plus Dr. Nicholas Dodman’s 3-day conference in Boulder in 2010.