Sam Punchar
Executive Director
My name is Sam Punchar. I've been working at The Dog School since 2000, but have been training dogs for as long as I can remember. I was never allowed to have a dog growing up so instead, each birthday, my parents gave me a book on dog breeds and/or dog training. I went to college at UVM and graduated in '00 with a degree in Psychology and Animal Behavior. I took a dog training and behavior course taught by Jamie Shaw in the Spring of '00 and went to a week long instructor training course in April '01. Both seminars taught me a ton about dogs and ways to succeed as an instructor.
I teach obedience, agility, and do behavioral consults. Currently I have three dogs: Penny, a 6 year old beagle/husky cross who loves to run and hike; Turtle, a 4 year old hound mix who is a big couch potato; and Roo, a 2 year old Border Collie/Jack Russell cross who enjoys agility and swimming. I also have two cats, Gussie and Truman (who think they're dogs!)
I met Jamie through her boarding program when Penny was a pup and was amazed at her ability to train Penny to "come." When she showed me that it was through positive means I was intrigued and began to learn these new methods! That was where the relationship started and I have continued training my dogs (and many others) with these methods as well!
I teach obedience, agility, and do behavioral consults. Currently I have three dogs: Penny, a 6 year old beagle/husky cross who loves to run and hike; Turtle, a 4 year old hound mix who is a big couch potato; and Roo, a 2 year old Border Collie/Jack Russell cross who enjoys agility and swimming. I also have two cats, Gussie and Truman (who think they're dogs!)
I met Jamie through her boarding program when Penny was a pup and was amazed at her ability to train Penny to "come." When she showed me that it was through positive means I was intrigued and began to learn these new methods! That was where the relationship started and I have continued training my dogs (and many others) with these methods as well!