First and foremost, I am a mother. I am also a pet lover. From the time I became pregnant, I developed methods to incorporate my pets into the start of our family’s soon-to-be new daily lives. This was not an easy task, but I did cultivate many ways to teach our son to help raise our own pets.
I have always loved and studied animal behavior since I can remember, starting with training our dog as a small child all the way to working at two prestigious zoological institutions in their animal behavior programs. Since then, I have ventured into the veterinary medicine field where I have learned to incorporate the best of both worlds: Behavioral training and health care.
Not only a graduate in Zoology from Michigan State University and a graduate from the Animal Behavior College for Canine Obedience, I also take pride in my most recent achievement: Becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician. These accomplishments and experiences nurtured the creation of this website with a clear understanding of the everyday struggle families have in raising pets.
Working as a canine obedience instructor, I have observed that some places do not allow children or more than one family member to attend the classes. It is my mission to change this philosophy, so that not only will everyone in the family be on the same page, but also correctly raise all of the pets together in a positive manner.
Throughout the years, my husband and I have been privileged to have had many different animals including a hermit crab, zebra-spotted finches, many fish, parakeets, a rat, several dogs and cats and horses. Currently my husband, son, and I are raising one of the smartest dogs you will ever know named Daezy and a beautiful Tortoise-shell cat named Mocha (who might be featured in a few videos along the way! J ) I also love to share the first-hand knowledge I learn from work regarding other pocket pets and exotics!
I understand the nuances of raising pets with children because ultimately one person ends up doing all of the grunt work; however, (trust me) it can be done harmoniously! It is my goal to help parents teach children at any stage (from in the womb to adolescence) raise most of your pets (from fish to horse).
Cat Johnston, BS, RVT
www.facebook.com/pawsitivemom
cathiedogtrainer@gmail.com
