Amanda is equal parts dog person and people person; you and your dog are both important to her! She is committed to using progressive, force-free training methods to improve dog and human communication and relationships.

After graduating from Olympia High School in WA state, she earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University and has a strong background in the art and science of animal learning. She has been working professionally with dogs since 2000 and has supplemented her hands-on experience with formal training in classes, seminars, and workshops given by leaders in the field of dog behavior and training. In 2006, she became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and founded her training business, Sidekick Dog Training. 

Amanda worked for nearly ten years as Senior Trainer with Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue,  where she helped hundreds of families build relationships with their newly adopted dogs and puppies. In addition to puppy classes and basic manners, Amanda has developed and taught a wide range of innovative courses including Double Dog Manners, Manners About Town, Reactive Rover, and Shy Dog Manners. 

Amanda was a regular contributor to the Journal Newspapers' "Pampered Pets" column, and her training advice has been featured on The Animal Rescue Site, The Bark Blog, and in both City Dog and Dog Fancy magazines. Most recently, she has been featured on King 5 TV’s “Evening” in the role of dog behavior expert and contributes regurlarly to the Northwest Canine Coalition newsletter. She enjoys mentoring new trainers and collaborating with others in the field. She was an online instructor for the FDSA Pet Professionals Program, created by Denise Fenzi to educate current and future dog trainers.

Amanda is also a big believer in giving back to the community and regularly contributes to organizations that work to improve the lives of human and non-human animals, including numerous animal shelters, retirement homes, senior centers, and schools in the Puget Sound area. Amanda was Adoption and Admissions Supervisor for Seattle Humane Society for more than three years and was Dog Program Manager at Woodinville’s Homeward Pet Adoption Center for more than a year. In 2006, she set a record for the number of dogs adopted from Homeward Pet. She also volunteered weekly with the Canine Connections program at Echo Glen Children's Center in Snoqualmie for more than five years.

Amanda lives in Port Orchard, WA (near Gig Harbor & Tacoma) with her four canine sidekicks and a mischief of pet rats. She regularly competes in agility and barn hunt and also enjoys dog parkour and disc dog training. She is a member of Puget Sound Positive Trainers (PSPT) and co-founded Kitsap Peninsula Positive Trainers (KPPT). In 2022, she was voted the #1 trainer in WA state and the #7 trainer in the United States in the Sniffspot top trainer contest. In 2023, she was voted third place in WA.

 With over 15 years of experience in the field and a true passion for her work, Amanda is an excellent choice for any dog guardian seeking the best possible relationship with his/her/their canine sidekick(s). 

Sidekick. Train happy!