Heather Mohan-Gibbons, M.S., Owner
Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB)
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT)
Although I grew up riding and training horses, my inspiration for animal behavior did not spark until I had the opportunity to work with marine mammals at the John G. Shedd Aquarium. I saw a different way of interacting with animals than what I had ever known. Training was an exchange based on respect, motivation, and clear communication with definable goals. You cannot get a Beluga whale to rise out of the water unless that whale wants to rise!
I practice applied animal behavior, and am an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. This is the non-veterinary route to become an animal behaviorist and it allows me to be uniquely qualified to handle behavior cases <click here to find out more>. There are about 55 of us in the US, several in CA, and none in the Ojai Valley Area. I am expected to be an active contributor to this field via lectures and publications to maintain my certification.
I have a Master of Science degree that has an emphasis on Animal Behavior. I have formal education in understanding how animals learn, in addition to the years of experience of applied knowledge. As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I follow the APDT Code of Professional Conduct and Responsibility Guidelines. I also am a member of the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and I support their mission (found here).
I currently travel around the country to facilitate a 2-day aggression assessment training offered by the ASPCA®called the Meet Your Match™SAFER™ assessment. I also perform research for the ASPCA. Their research focus has been to develop more useful and practical tools that can result in saving more lives in animal shelters nationwide.
I have worked in a variety of environments including: veterinary clinics, federal government, Colorado and California state governments, behavior department at the University of California, and non-profit organizations. I promise to rely on my education, experience, and current research to find a solution for your companion no matter if they have hair, feathers or scales. My goal is to empower you to shape your companion!
In 2007, I started Collected Wisdom Animal Behavior in Milwaukee, WI. In June 2010, I moved to Ojai, CA and moved my business here too. I also volunteer at the Behler Chelonian Center by taking photographs of turtles, some writing assignments, and training of various turtle species. I have a wonderful red-bellied parrot, two phenomenal shelter dogs, and a small array of rescued reptiles. On my occasional day off, I bike, canoe, hike, rock climb, and find a new species to train.
If you want to know more, below you will find an abbreviated curriculum vitae of my education and experience:
Education
- Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (Animal Behavior Society) - March 2009
- Master of Science (emphasis in Behavioral Ecology) from Western Illinois University - Dec 2004
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) CA582 - July 2001
- Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) #70578 - Nov 2005
- Certificate of Aquarium and Zoological Studies (Western Illinois University- experience obtained at John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL)- Dec 2004
Professional Animal Handling and Behavior Experience
- Domestic dogs and cats (since 1995)
- Medical care for many species (since 1995)
- Reptiles, birds, rabbits and exotic companion pets (since 1997)
- Marine Mammals (1997-2000)
- Large Felids (1998)
- Birds of Prey- including trapping (since 2000)
- Funded animal research projects (since 2000)
- Shorebird trapping and telemetry (2003)
- Bat Trapping and Handling (2004)
- Animal Welfare/Shelter Work (since 2005)
- Aggression Assessments (since 2005)
