NY Clever Canine, Inc.
CREDENTIALS
  • Christina Shusterich, BA, CBC is a fully certified Animal Trainer, Canine Behavior Counselor and Behavior Specialist who along with a natural intuition and ability has devoted herself to the study, techniques and experiences most effective in understanding, training and resolving behavior problems in animals and to helping people to effectively communicate with their animals.
  • She received her BA in Psychology from Queens College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.  Her degree reflects a mastery and understanding of the scientific, psychological techniques employed in behavior modification and classical and operant conditioning, techniques essential to humane animal training and to the understanding and treatment of behavior problems in animals.
  • She received her certification as an Animal Trainer, Canine Behavior Counselor and Behavior Specialist through the Animal Behavior Center of New York.  She is a Member of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
    Association of Pet Dog Trainers Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
  • Ms. Shusterich is an American Kennel Club registered evaluator and administrator of their Canine Good Citizen Test.  She is also a devoted shelter volunteer and continues to work with shelter groups to help alleviate the behavior problems that can occur in the shelter setting.
  • Years of experience as a trainer, as an American Kennel Club evaluator and as a devoted shelter volunteer have given her an expertise with virtually every breed.
  • Christina appeared on the TV show "Inside Edition" as a Dog Behavior Expert for their story on "The Secret Lives of Pets" which aired 11/18/04 and again in August, 2005.
  • Christina and NY Clever K9 featured as a top story in the newsweekly The Queens Chronicle Central Queens Edition on August 25, 2005.  To view article, go to: Queens Chronicle 2005
  • NY Clever K9/"Dog Whisperer" Christina Shusterich named in Best of Queens 2006 Queens TribuneTo view, go to: http://www.queenstribune.com/guides/2006_BestOfQueens/people/index.htm.
  • Christina named "Trainer Extraordinaire" in Best of Queens 2007 Queens Tribune. To view go to: http://www.queenstribune.com/guides/2007_BestOfQueens/people/index.htm
  • Christina's letter to the editor against Breed Specific Legislation and a proposed Pit Bull ban published by the
    NY Daily News
    on 1/8/07 and the Queens Chronicle on 1/11/07, to view go to: Against Pit Bull Ban
  • Christina's article/case history on the treatment of Stranger Phobia in a Beagle published by the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors.
  • Ms. Shusterich's article "8 Ways to Soothe Separation Anxiety" was published nationally by Animal Wellness Magazine in their August/September 2007 issue
METHODS

The techniques employed are those of the proven and humane psychological methods of behavior modification, operant conditioning and classical conditioning.  Training is off lead, positive and reward based, reinforcers are used to encourage desirable behavior and the methods of extinction and reinforcement of incompatible behaviors and are used to eliminate undesirable behavior.  Training is an active learning process on the part of the dog as well as the client.  Physical prompting and punishers are NEVER used.

Ms. Shusterich has found that her understanding and knowledge of human psychology and treatment for human psychological disorders very valuable in her treatment of behavior problems in dogs as many of the behavior disturbances of dogs are framed and understood in human psychological terms, as well as treated by the same psychological methods.  For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder is diagnosed in dogs as well as humans; the treatment for separation anxiety disorder in dogs is systematic desensitization, the same technique used for treating humans with severe phobias.