About Cosmic Dog
Cosmic Dog Training Methodology
Cosmic Dog uses positive reinforcement training methods to teach dogs new concepts. This approach focuses on equipping dogs with the skills to handle various situations, learning new techniques, and emphasizing training for the moment rather than just in the moment.
These unique techniques can easily fit your busy schedule with short 3-5 minute training sessions. The result is truly life-changing, as you will see your dog transform before your eyes.
Kathleen Valentine has trained with Absolute Dogs and other accredited professional trainers for over six years. She has completed extensive online training courses and has also worked in person with trainers in the UK. Kathleen continually enhances her skills by taking classes focused on specific training concepts and particular breeds. She learns from experts who provide the latest scientific insights into how a dog’s brain functions.
Meet the Family
Kathleen Valentine
Kathleen has always been a free-spirit who hoped she would one day find what she was meant to do in this life. When she discovered games-based, concept training and dog behavior consulting, her passion ignited. The difference it made in her two ‘Naughty but Nice’ rescues was incredible, and it lit a fire inside her. She changed careers at 40 years old and became a certified Professional Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist through AbsoluteDogs and now teaches here at The Happy Beast in Lafayette and online, helping to share this incredible training with the world. She specializes in Behavior, Scent/Nose Work, Life Skills, Adolescent Dogs, Herding Breeds, Terriers, & Rescue Dogs, and does continued education during her free time to bring the latest and greatest training to her clients.
Phillip Valentine
Phillip Valentine is Kathleen's loving husband who has been a lover of animals since childhood. Phillip has been around animals all his life, living on farms caring for all sorts of creatures including dogs, horses, chickens, snakes, fish etc. Phillip has always lived a natural lifestyle, bringing his passion to natural food store management, where he managed stores such as Natural Grocers, Whole Foods and others. Now, Phillip is a Cosmic Dog Training partner helping to train the dogs and handling the marketing side of the business.
Koda
Koda was our first rescue and the reason we are here. He is a 7 year old, ‘Naughty but Nice’ Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer/Pitbull mix. At 10 months old he was about to be put down for severe separation anxiety along with a whole slew of other behavior struggles. While he is still deemed ‘Naughty but Nice’, an endearing term coined by AbsoluteDogs to describe our sweet dogs that struggle with behavior, he is living a happy life, full of enrichment, games, fun and understanding. Koda loves getting pets and lovin’s, the orientation game, two paws up, middle, left and right spins and hiking our beautiful Colorado trails.
Leo
Leo came to us as a foster. His litter was the first litter we had fostered and Leo bonded with Koda almost instantly. When we took him to adoption events, Koda would lie on the couch, whining, staring at the door, waiting for Leo to return. Which he did, week after week. We had no intention of keeping another dog at the time, but there was no denying that Leo belonged in our family. So, we adopted the sweet Shiba-Inu/Shar Pei mix who was afraid of every person and everything, save Koda, and thus began our journey to finding a better way of training and a way to help these sweet boys live their best lives. Leo is our 6 year old, sweet, gentle, loving soul, full of fun, silly, joyous life! He loves chilling outside, watching over his chickens, and occasionally playing with them, nose touch, two paws up, anything to do with playing with balls and hiking.
Arrow
Arrow is our now 2-year-old Border Collie that came to us from our trainers at Devon Dogs, in Devon, UK. He is a fiery creature, full of life and ready to help show the world game-based dog training. He loves playing with toys of all kinds, pinecones, socks, and anything else that can be animated or chased! He’s magical and full of passion!
Fabi
Meet Fabulous! Aka Fabi. Fabi is the newest member of the Valentine family and our first-ever service dog in training. Fabi is a full-blown adolescent Border Collie who is pure magic. He came to us from one of my trainers here in the States and has been such a wonderful addition to our family. And, he is absolutely that, completely and utterly
Fabulous! He comes full of snuggles, huggles, and personality for days. We are super lucky to have him.
Kathleen Valentine's Absolute Dogs Certificates
Pro Dog Trainer Certificate Descriptions
Absolute Dogs
Absolute Dogs is a UK based dog training organization, who has helped thousands of people become Pro Dog trainers.
“POSITIVE CONCEPT DOG TRAINING FOR EVERY DOG & EVERY OWNER
Absolute Dogs approaches dog training with a blend of cutting-edge science, a huge spoonful of optimism, and a great sense of humour through our games-based methodology.
A dog's brain is made up of concepts. The level of skill for each concept influences the choices they make in daily life. Each skill can be built over time by focusing on that particular skill - and what better way to do it than playing games.”
Pro Dog Trainer
The Pro Dog Trainer Certificate is the core certificate awarded by Absolute Dogs. This Knowledge Assessed course certifies trainers to have the skills and knowledge necessary for advanced dog training and behavioral assessment. Thousands of dog trainers worldwide are learning these techniques and this new understanding of dog behavior. Cosmic Dog uses these tools to help you achieve your dog-owning goals.
Pro Dog Trainer: Geek
Beyond the core Pro Dog Trainer Course, Geek takes dog trainers to the next level with new techniques based on current and ongoing dog behavior research and dives deeper into dog behavior. The vet behaviorist and top-winning agility trainers at Absolute Dogs continue developing new training techniques based on the latest scientific research on how dogs learn and communicate.
Naughty But Nice
The Naughty But Nice Bootcamp is a course designed to train owners who have beloved dogs that are nice and are struggling with many encounters, including other dogs, humans, and anything else they consider scary. This focus is on dog reactivity which is the underlying cause of many of our dog’s behaviors. The course also has specific training for off-leash freedom and household manners.
Continued Education
Kathleen continues to engage in exclusive training courses bringing the most up-to-date dog training knowledge. Sexier than a Squirrel Challenge is one course designed to train our dogs to disengage from distractions such as squirrels. Kathleen has also completed courses for puppy and adolescent classes and various specific breeds like herding dogs. These courses provide the necessary information for continued behavior consultation training. In 2022 Kathleen has completed many training courses, including the recent Super Trainer Live event bringing even more exciting dog training info.
