"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi
Meet the Trainer
Laura
Clawson is the owner of Unleash the Pawsitive and is a certified dog
trainer. She is a graduate of the Animal Behavior College in California
where she received her dog training certification. Laura has partnered
with Victoria Stilwell, star of the popular Animal Planet show, "It's Me
or the Dog" and is proud to be a Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog
Trainer (VSPDT). Laura is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, a Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S) evaluator through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and a graduate of Franklin Pierce University
in New Hampshire. 
Laura believes in continuing education in order to keep on top of current and effective positive reinforcement based training methods. She continues her education by regular attendance at dog training seminars and conferences, reading numerous dog training publications, working alongside other professional trainers, and studying animal behavior through both live observation as well as training videos. This continuing education has given Laura an in depth understanding of how your companion dog learns and therefore to have the ability to work creatively and effectively with obedience concerns as well as more significant behavioral problems requiring more intense training and behavior modification efforts.
In addition to training dogs and working with canine behavioral issues, Laura volunteers time and space in her obedience classes and in private lessons for the dogs awaiting adoption with local rescue groups and shelters in Carroll County, GA. Including these dogs in training provides necessary socialization skills and aids in their adoption process. Behavior issues are traditionally the number one reason that owners surrender their dogs to animal shelters. Dogs who have learned basic obedience skills such as sit, down, come (when called), and loose leash walking have a much better chance at finding and remaining in a forever home.
Before moving to Georgia, Laura volunteered as an animal companion at a humane society in California where she spent individual time with the shelter dogs working on basic obedience skills with the goal of helping each and every animal find a home. Laura knows how rewarding it can be to adopt a shelter dog. Her four dogs, Jake, Missy, Maggie, and Hazel are all shelter/rescue group adoptees.
Laura is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), Pet Sitters International (PSI), the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), the Carroll County Humane Society, and has completed and received certification for Pet First Aid from the American Red Cross.
