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Cathy Madson, MA, FDM, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

As Preventive Vet's dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization.

Cathy is a certified Family Dog Mediator, and certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, holding both the CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA designations. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Dog Writer's Association of America. She has also completed the Aggression in Dogs Master Course.

When she's not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding.

Puppy Socialization Adventure Walks

Updated: March 26, 2025

Puppy socialization walks introduce different experiences in a positive way to your puppy. They're also a perfect opportunity for beginning dog training.

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Training Your Dog Without Treats

Updated: July 5, 2024

You can reward your dog with things besides food treats and toys. Using real-life rewards is easy! It also helps you fade out using dog training treats.

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Dog Boredom Buster: The Sniffari Walk

Updated: October 17, 2025

Go on a long sniffari walk with your dog to prevent boredom, relieve stress, and get some physical and mental exercise! Great exercise for dogs of any age.

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How to Use Toys as Rewards in Dog Training

Updated: August 7, 2021

It's easy and fun to use toys instead of food when training your dog. Learn how to effectively use toys in dog training, and see our dog trainer's picks for best dog toys for training.

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