Colleen Pelar, CPDT, began training dogs professionally in August 1991, the same month she found out that she was expecting her first child. To her, training dogs and raising kids have always gone hand in hand. 

 

As the lead trainer at All About Dogs, Inc., the largest dog-training facility in Northern Virginia, Colleen oversees numerous group classes, private lessons, temperament evaluations, and behavior modification programs. All About Dogs caters to families and looks for ways to help parents successfully integrate a dog into their busy lives.

 

Colleen has an excellent working relationship with local veterinarians as well as the Prince William County Animal Control Bureau. She has been recommended by both groups to evaluate potentially dangerous dogs. She is an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), the Dog Writers Association of America, and has a B.A. from Penn State. Colleen regularly attends dog training seminars and has earned Level 1 certification through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the first national certification for dog trainers.

 

She lives a semi-chaotic life with her husband, Jack; their sons, Justin, Kyle, and Brandon; and, of course, their dog, Gordo.