Christel Fleming
Connect with Canines
St. Augustine, FL
CPDT-KA | ABCDT | CBATI | CBCC-KA | Dog TrainingRequest a Quote from Christel Fleming
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About
Growing up in Connecticut, Christel Fleming joined the United States Air Force. After 14 years of committed service as a Radiologic Technologist, a medical separation prompted a significant career shift. Driven by her lifelong passion for animals and teaching, Christel combined these interests by becoming a dog trainer. In 2012, she graduated from her initial dog training program and established a business offering private in-home lessons. Seeking further expertise, Christel earned her Canine Training and Behavior Specialist certification from Starmark Academy in 2017. Later that year, she relocated to St. Augustine, Florida, to dedicate her skills to training service dogs for K9s for Warriors, a local non-profit. Within just three years, Christel's talent led to her promotion as Manager of K9 Training. She played a vital role in transforming the organization's training methods from the use of aversive tools to relationship-based approaches, collaborating with Precision Behavior to enhance staff expertise and prioritize canine well-being. During her time as Training Manager, Christel spearheaded the development of several key initiatives: a mentorship program for experienced trainers, a K9 Trainer Apprenticeship Program for new staff, a Prison Program providing inmates with valuable skills, a career progression path to improve trainer retention, and standardized training criteria with incremental testing to ensure consistency. Although she valued the opportunity to enact positive change, Christel missed working directly with dogs. In mid-2022, Christel transitioned from her management role to pursue opportunities that allowed for direct animal interaction and the coaching of training professionals. She holds certifications as a CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CBATI-KA, and FDM.
Specialties
Aggression | Behavioral Consultation | CGC Training | Clicker Training | In-Home Training | Private Lessons | Reactivity | Trick Training