Karen Widaman, CPDT-KA, ABCSDT
Owner, Head Trainer
Certified Professional Dog and Service Dog Trainer, Certified CGC Evaluator
Karen is the owner and head trainer of It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™, with over 20 years of experience training dogs. She specializes in working with dogs that are struggling with aggressive, reactive and anxious behavior as well as the happy-go-lucky hyper puppy.
Karen's journey of becoming a dog trainer began at the age of 8 years old when she befriended a neighborhood German Shepherd that was reactive to passersby. This experience sparked her desire to learn and understand more about behavior issues in dogs.
Karen's training has helped hundreds of dogs and their owners have a deeper bond, communication and better relationship with their dogs. She believes in focusing on the root cause behind animal behavior, to improve communication between the owner and their dog.
At It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™, Karen conducts private lessons in our private lessons program and our behavior modification program at the facility in Chino, and in client's homes or off-site field trips. Karen also trains dogs in our board and train program and our off-leash program.
Karen is approved and certified by the Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Animal Behavior College and a Certified Evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program.
Karen spends many hours improving her education by attending various dog training and behavior seminars and workshops. She also volunteers and trains dogs to help in the adoption process for various rescue groups.
Mekenna Huber, ABCDT
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Certified CGC Evaluator
Lead Group Class Instructor
Mekenna’s interest in dog training began when she trained her own dog, Dodson, in basic obedience as well as a wide variety of tricks.
Mekenna studied dog training through Animal Behavior College and graduated with honors. After completing a mentor program through Animal Behavior College at It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy, Inc., Mekenna asked if she could continue to shadow her mentor trainer to learn as much as she could. It didn’t take us long to see that Mekenna would be a perfect addition to our team.
At It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy, Inc., Mekenna teaches our puppy kindergarten, basic, intermediate, AKC Canine Good Citizen and AKC Trick Dog group classes. Mekenna trains dogs in our board and train program as well as our private lesson and in-home lesson program. Mekenna is also the facilitator for our Yappy Hour Petite Pals and Big Buddies play groups.
Nova Chrisman
Head Service Dog Trainer
Certified Service Dog & Pet Dog Trainer
Nova has been in the dog training industry for many years. She earned her Master Dog Training
Certification for Pet Dog Training and a certification for Service Dog Training by a reputable and
long-standing large dog training company, where she was their lead Service Dog Trainer.
Nova’s passion is to teach dogs to help people.
Nova joined our team at It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™ in October 2022 as the company’s
Head Service Dog Trainer. We are very lucky to have her as a part of our team! Nova has helped many dogs become service dogs through our program, as well as, helped their owners have a better quality of life. Nova also facilitates a community service dog group class at IADW doing prep work for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, as well as, building confidence and handling skills for the owners. In addition to training and working with service dogs, Nova trains dogs in our Private Lesson and In Home Lesson programs as well as our Board-N-Train programs.
Nova also continues to further her education by attending Service Dog clinics and seminars.
Glenda Welch Pate, CPDT-KA, ABCSDT
Certified Professional Dog and Service Dog Trainer, Certified CGC Evaluator
Glenda has owned and enjoyed animals her entire life. Her interest in training was sparked over twenty-three years ago when she trained her Golden Retriever for field trials. She continued to train dogs for friends and neighbors on a part time basis throughout the years.
She is a Professional Certified Pet Dog and Service Dog Trainer through Animal Behavior College. There she was taught learning theory, behavior problem solving, aggression, ethology, puppy development, how to conduct and teach group classes, and how to safely handle and train dogs. Glenda is our lead trainer for our Intermediate Group Classes and the Canine Good Citizen Program.
Glenda is approved by the Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) and a Certified Evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program.
At It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™, she specializes in teaching the group classes for basic, intermediate and advanced obedience, as well as teaching pet owners on a one-to-one basis with their dogs. She has been training dogs with It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™ since 2004.
Glenda likes to modify her training methods based on the personalities of the dog and the pet owner to help build a better bond between the two!
Jackie Schart, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Growing up in a house that served as a safe haven for animals of all types, it’s no surprise that Jackie, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and so much more, chose an animal hospital for her first place of employment. After her first job with animals, she knew her calling involved furry friends.
She currently works at a local animal shelter where she moved up the ranks, beginning as an animal adoption counselor, then animal behaviorist, and finally kennel supervisor. Her love for animals carries over into her free time, where she competes with her Saint Bernards at AKC conformation events. She has been breeding and showing her champion St. Bernards for over a decade, and helps with her favorite breeds rescue foundation called ADOPT A SAINT. In addition to showing the large breed, she enjoys traveling the country to exhibit dogs and has recently been invited to sit on the panel of judges for The Tournament of Champions in Mexico City.
Jackie and her Saints have worked with many Hollywood studio animal trainers and her Saints have been featured in many print campaigns, music videos, and TV work. Jackie has dedicated her life to helping educate the public on dogs, safe dog handling, husbandry, and leading people to have happy lifelong relationships with their dogs
At It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy Inc.™, Jackie teaches our conformation classes on the first and third Thursday at 7p.m. Think your dog has what it takes to be a show dog…come check out her fabulous class for free!
Savannah Macias
Front Office Supervisor
Savannah is the first line of communication with a client that contacts It’s A Dog’s World K-9 Academy, Inc. She has worked in the field of customer service for many years and has helped many clients have an excellent customer experience.
Savannah keeps the systems in our office running smoothly as she handles communications with our clients and the scheduling of appointments. She maintains the office filing system, the company’s database and organizes all of the day-to-day activities, which is a vital part of a busy dog training facility.
