Training Staff

AOCB has a wide variety of trainers to better ensure that your dog gets the proper generalizing they need. To quickly scroll to a particular trainer just click their name below.

Tracy Ross: Training Manager

Becca Graham: Assistant Training Manager

Carie Taylor: Senior Trainer

Chaya Anderson: Senior Trainer

Tada Kubo: Senior Trainer & Daycare Manager

Bill Middlin: Senior Trainer

Krista Kennedy: Senior Trainer

Shyanne Gates: Trainer

Kailey Kimbal: Trainer

*Tracy Ross: Training Manager

Has been at the Academy since 1989!

Tracy has been with the Academy for over 20 years and during that time she has had her hands on thousands of dogs, bred American Staffordshire Terriers, and titled dogs in Schutzhund among so much more. Putting a list of things she hasn’t done would be smaller! Tracy is active in showing, breeding, and rescue of Beaucerons as well as doing 4-H with her daughter. In her off time, Tracy enjoys snowmobiling, hiking, and spending time with husband and two kids: Loren (age 13) and Cole (age 11).

Tracy is a certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator by the American Kennel Club.

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*Becca Graham: Assistant Training Manager

Becca, Has been at the Academy since 2005

Becca is a well-rounded trainer, having started out in 4-H as a young kid she came to us a veteran of the dog world well versed in many areas she has never stopped looking for new adventures to jump into with her dogs. While Becca has experience in several venues her passion is Competition Obedience. She raised a puppy for Canine Companions for Independence who is graduating as a Service Dog in 2011.She is currently owned by a German shepherd and Lakeland terrier.

In 2009 Becca was asked to develop a canine behavior-evaluation test for a Western Washington chapter of the Humane Society to aid in its adoption program. Adopters are able to use the evaluations to consider the temperament of potential adoptees and select the dog that's right for them. Her system not only helped boost the number of adoptions, Becca says, but more importantly, has helped boost their success rate. Becca worked with the chapter for a year before stepping down, but remains on call as an expert consultant to potential adopters, to shelter staff and to their new evaluator.

The American Kennel Club has designated Becca a certified official evaluator in its Canine Good Citizen Program. As such, she is authorized to test dogs and formally recognize those that meet the AKC's ten-part standards of good manners both at home and in the larger community. Member of the All Terrier Club of Western Washington and the United States Lakeland Terrier Club.

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*Carie Taylor: Senior Trainer

Has been at the Academy since 2003

Run by a pack of Chinooks (a breed of sled dog) that she breeds and shows in dog events, as well as her Irish Water Spaniel and Saluki

Some of Carie’s education includes attending Kansas State University and graduating from the University of New York with a degree in Animal Science. She has worked at a racehorse breeding facility as well as a horse/dog rescue before landing here at the Academy where she found her calling as a dog trainer. In Carie’s part-time, she teaches weight pull and sledding classes to all breeds of dogs and their owners.

Carie has been recognized by the American Kennel as an official evaluator in its Canine Good Citizen Program. She is also certified in Canine First Aid.

Long-standing member of the Chinook Owner’s Association and the Whidbey Island Kennel Club.

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*Chaya Anderson: Senior Trainer

Has been at the Academy since 2002

Chaya started off by doing 4-H with her Husky mix and right after aging out of 4-H and graduating, she jumped into our apprenticeship program and was hired upon completion. Soon after, Chaya started teaching Saturday classes. Chaya has rescued a Mini Australian Shepherd who, with Chaya’s help, is learning to overcome his fear of strangers. Along with the dogs, Chaya has a passion for art and is in the process of finishing her college degree.

Chaya has been recognized by the American Kennel as an official evaluator in its Canine Good Citizen Program.

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*Tada Kubo: Senior Trainer & Daycare Manager

Has been at the Academy since 2009

Prior to coming to the Academy, Tada worked for another dog facility as a lead daycare supervisor, but quickly decided to enroll in our apprenticeship program and worked as a kennel tech during that time. Upon completion of his apprenticeship he was hired as a full-time trainer where his outgoing personality puts dogs and clients at ease. Tada is also our Daycare Manager and by having both roles, he is able to help make sure that ALL of the daycare dogs have fun.

Tada is actively showing his Beaucerons and is training them in several sports. Tada himself is an international soccer player having recently won 3^rd place in a competition in South Korea.

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