Christina

Director of Business Continuity & Development

My two greatest passions in life are teaching and dogs! After graduating from Roosevelt University, I spent over a decade working with special needs children. Joining the family business in 2015, I considered it nothing short of a dream come true to carry on the legacy of a family business. I have always had a creative mind and have loved being able to use those talents to help bring success to Bark Avenue.  Today, after years of working I have learned that nothing is impossible if you give it your all. For me, one of the greatest rewards is knowing we’ve gained trust with our clients to care for their four-legged family members. When I’m not at work, you’ll find me playing with my four dogs, crafting, decorating, volunteering for community events, or spending time with family and friends.

Fun fact: “I take the ‘R’ and ‘L’ pretty seriously on my headphones.”

Kelly

Director of Training

Being raised with animals my whole life I always knew I was going to be involved in some way with pets. I worked for many years at dog daycare facilities where I observed and learned the nature of dog behavior. While attending University of Illinois getting a degree in Animal Science-Pre Veterinarian Studies I realized that training is where my real passion lied. After graduating I immersed myself into an intense dog training school in St. Louis, Missouri earning a certificate as a Professional Dog Trainer. There I learned many different training techniques and types of training including: narcotic detection, personal protection, competitive and non-competitive obedience, Schutzhund training and much more!

I currently have 4 dogs that I train for various competitions so my life is anything but boring!

I believe that every dog has its own personality and learning curve not unlike their human companions. My goal is to preserve their uniqueness and build upon their character while positively teaching skills needed for them to be a source of joy and companionship for you and your family.

My training is not approached with a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. Dogs learn in many different ways, therefore I utilize different techniques and skills. Finding the best way your dog learns not only produces results, but makes it an enjoyable and fun experience for both you and your pup.

Fun fact:  “People often ask if I’m from Minnesota because of how I speak…even though I’ve lived in Illinois all my life.”