Jamie Shaw, the owner of The Dog School, is a widely recognized expert in canine behavior and communication. She began training dogs at age 7 while growing up in Chicago, IL and has continued to do so ever since. Jamie came to Vermont in 1980 to attend Sterling College, where she earned a 2-year degree in Environmental Resource Management. She then went on to complete her B.S. in Animal Science at the University of Vermont, working with and training dogs along the way. After college, Jamie spent 2 years as an apprentice to Dr. Ray Coppinger, a world renowned ethologist and author. Returning to VT, Jamie’s career as a behaviorist took off, and she founded The Dog School. While starting her business, Jamie also served as the Animal Control Officer for South Burlington, gaining experience with the problems Vermont dog owners face while getting to know the local community (and their dogs).
An early adopter of scientific and positive reinforcement-based training, Jamie believes that how we train our dogs reflects the love we have for them. As the sole proprietor of The Dog School, Jamie ran group training classes in her indoor facility located first in Richmond, then in Williston, for 24 years, while also offering private behavior consultations and dog boarding in her Huntington home. In 1997 Jamie started teaching canine behavior at the University of Vermont, and has taught there since. Jamie also volunteers for numerous shelters and rescues, now focusing her volunteer efforts in rehabilitating and rehoming rescue dogs. In addition to her long career in the dog world, Jamie was the director of the rape crisis center in Burlington for 3 years.
Jamie’s book “Dog To Dog Communication: The Right Way To Socialize Your Dog” was published in 2007, with the aim of helping all dog owners better understand their canine companions. Jamie lives in Huntington, VT with her daughter, their 5 dogs and 2 geckos. Other animals in Jamie’s life have included a horse, rescued pot bellied pigs, rescued goats, and a lizard. She enjoys daily hikes with her pack, sledding, kayaking, gardening and “talking dogs.”