Professional Dog Trainer Jay R. Fessler

Jay R. Fessler owns and operates A Pup's Best Pal. He has been training dogs, dog owners, and dog trainers since 1974. His first sixteen years was as a Working Dog Handler / Trainer in the United States Army. JR was the first service member in the field to be cross trained as a Patrol Dog Handler, Narcotic detector Dog Handler, Explosive Detector Dog Handler and Kennel Master.

JR has been successfully training dogs and owners in the Dallas - Fort Worth area since his retirement from the Army in 1992. He uses only positive reinforcement and trains all breeds and ages of dogs. He trains in group as well as private one-on-one sessions.

JR works with several rescue groups and animal shelters in the Metro-plex and Wisconsin providing seminars in obedience and behavior modification.

JR holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice. He earned certification as Master Instructor from the United States Air Force while assigned duty at Chief of the Detector Dog Handler Course at the Department of Defense Working Dog Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Certifications

Certified Dog Obedience Instructor (Animal Behavior and Training Inc.)
Member – Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)

Career Highlights

Provided training and support with an Explosive Detector Dog to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Conducted site survey and established procedures for dog teams providing security at the 1986 Pan-American games in Indianapolis
Conducted site survey, established procedures and trained Explosive Detector Dog Teams for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul Korea
Set up and supervised a five member Mobile Training Team, training and certifying twelve Korean National United States Government employees as Working Dog Handlers
Conducted site survey and established a Working Dog Program for the country of Seychelles
Co-author of Military Working Dog Standardization Guide
Study of Animal Behavior under Dr. Dan Craig, DVM, Col. USAF, Retired 1988-1991
Assisted in the development of the Detector Dog Handler Course for the Department of Defense
Conducts cost-free seminars on training and behavior modification to animal shelter and rescue group dog adoption participants
JR was appointed by the Department of the Army as a Military Working Dog Certification Authority