Gloria Schmidt

Gloria Schmidt is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Fear Free Certified Pet Professional (Level 3), and an AKC Canine Good Citizen approved evaluator. 

Prior to becoming a professional dog trainer, Gloria graduated with a degree in chemistry from UNC-Chapel Hill. She enjoyed her five years at the lab bench — especially when contributing to drug discovery research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. While there, she helped declare a clinical candidate with the FDA and co-authored seven journal articles for various pediatric diseases.  

In 2017, Gloria decided she was ready to get out of the (lab) rat race. She began working as a veterinary nurse for two years while simultaneously developing her professional dog training skills. Although she no longer actively runs chemistry experiments, she carries over that analytical thinking to each dog and owner who crosses her path. 

Gloria developed a strong interest in cooperative care while working as a veterinary nurse — her long term goal is to bridge the communication gap between veterinary clinics, dog trainers, and owners. She also enjoys helping owners understand “the why” behind a dog’s behavior so that everyone can be set up for success during training sessions. 

When not with clients, Gloria enjoys living her best Hobbit life with her husband John, border-collie pup Jackson, and fierce cat Penny. On the average day, you will find her curled up with the pets by the fireplace, sipping a cup of coffee, and immersed in a book (most likely about dog behavior). On the more adventurous days, you will find her downhill skiing or SCUBA diving with John.