About Us
Meet The Team
CONNIE MOSS, IAABC-ADT, CO-OWNER
Connie studied learning theory, behavior, instructional skills, animal husbandry, training equipment, and ethology through Raising Canine School. She then began her professional dog training career by opening Strategic Paws Training in 2012 where she worked in behavior, taught private lessons, taught both in-person and online classes in pet manners, reactive rover, toy reinforcement for high-drive dogs, agility, obedience, rally, and scent work for dog enrichment. Connie is currently an International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants - Accredited Dog Trainer.
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Connie continues her education by attending both in-person and on-line programs in behavior, theory, sports and most notably completing the world renowned Aggression in Dogs, Master Course by Michael Shikashio.
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Connie plays in various dog sports with her Chihuahua, working line German Shepherd, and working line Dobermann Pinscher. She has titled her dogs in agility, obedience, rally, and earned a mondioring obedience (OB1) certificate. ​
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*INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR CONSULTANTS - ACCREDITED DOG TRAINER
ANNA FETTER,CMAC-CT*, CO-OWNER
Anna has a lifelong passion for dogs and a strong background in canine behavior. She's worked with a variety of breeds, in both pet dog training and service dog training.
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While studying biology at Kalamazoo College, she gained practical experience as a certified dog trainer at PetSmart. Anna also completed a rigorous service dog training program, learning positive reinforcement-based methods and earning her certification as a professional service dog trainer (CMAC). She's continued her work in this field, training service dogs for Medical Mutts and building as well as training service dogs at R+K9.
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As a service dog user herself, Anna has a unique perspective on the bond between humans and their canine companions. She's dedicated to helping others experience the benefits of service dogs and is committed to providing quality training.
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Anna is a certified dog trainer and is actively working towards an advanced certifications from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She's continually expanding her knowledge through workshops and seminars with leading experts in the field.
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*CENTER FOR THE STUDY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CANINES
BECKY GREGORY, CCFT*, INSTRUCTOR
Becky has been training dogs for over 25 years, working with a diverse range of breeds, from tiny Pomeranians to towering Great Danes. She dedicated her career to helping dogs and their owners thrive, training dogs for therapy work, competitive sports, and everyday companionship. With her pitties she competed and earned titles in agility, barn hunt, rally, dock diving, tricks, and nosework. At R+K9 she teaches both new and advanced nose work students to excel in their hobby or compete professionally.
She became interested in canine behavior while working in the vet clinics and volunteering at a local animal shelter. She acquired and read many books about dog behavior and provided the clinics with resources for staff and clients. She has been a veterinary assistant at two local clinics and currently works at a specialty vet practice in canine/feline rehabilitation. Becky also earned her certificate in canine fitness training (CCFT) through the University of Tennessee and is currently working on her certificate in canine strength training (CCSC) through NC State. She is also Fear Free Certified. She has attended Karen Pryor’s Clicker Expo and several seminars and veterinary conferences focusing on behavior.
Her passion for nosework began with her own reactive dog, Mason, who needed an activity that was reactive dog friendly. Their first class was with Connie Moss in 2013. Mason absolutely loved it. Becky then began training her other 2 pit bulls, Bosley and Letty. They have competed in NACSW, UKC and CWags nosework ORTs and trials. Becky and Bosley attended K9 Scent Games in Missouri that focused on nosework, barn hunt and tracking. Bosley and Letty have begun practicing tracking and trailing with a local club and having a great time learning a new scent game. Becky is a UKC agility judge and has plans to become a UKC nosework judge in the future.
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*CERTIFICATE CANINE FITNESS TRAINER
CHRIS LANDERS, INSTRUCTOR
Chris began working with dogs professionally in 2011 when he was a Deputy Sheriff. He helped train the Sheriff Office K9's in odor detection, tracking, and patrol. He left in 2016 and has since been working with dogs in multiple capacities.
He has been the head trainer at a local animal shelter, running a board and train business, in-home lessons, Director of Working Dogs for police K9s, narcotic dog handler for the prison system, along with other canine roles.
Chris currently trains Special Operations, Police, and private contracting dogs, as well as serving as lead instructor for all handler courses.
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Chris consistently attends training seminars and is always open to exploring various training ideas. His experience lends itself well to the scent work competition world, as was evident when Chris and his Malinois earned an armful of ribbons including several first places and a title their first time in competition. He has a lot of knowledge to share giving teams a competitive edge in competition. Chris also, looks forward to helping pet owners and their dogs find success in various scent work sports for enrichment.
LOREN BELL, TRAINER
Loren is a Day Training Trainer at R+K9. She has almost 5 years of professional dog handling experience. She is currently training her own human remains detection dog, Archer, and studying criminal justice in preparation for become a K9 handler/trainer in the future.
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Most recently, she completed an internship training law enforcement and search and rescue dogs at the PennVet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia.
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DR. ETANA BERGER, BCBA-D, VSA-DT*, GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Etana is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her special interests include:
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Human-animal bonding and interaction to improve quality of life for all.
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Discussing dog body language as an important form of communication.
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Fitness and wellness for dogs (and their humans!)
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Enrichment as cognitive stimulation
Since 2014, Dr. Berger has been a licensed and board certified behavior analyst providing services to people in a variety of behavior change areas including health and wellness; and working with families whose children have developmental diagnoses. In 2020, she completed her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis, and in 2021 published research on combined therapy interventions for health and behavior. Dr. Berger has worked in the field of psychology for over a decade, and as a psychology professor at several colleges and universities.
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Dr. Berger has always been interested in animal behavior. After learning so much from her own two dogs, she decided to study positive reinforcement training strategies at the Victoria Stilwell Academy. She became a VSA certified dog trainer, and obtained her Fear Free certification.
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*Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral
* Victoria Stilwell Academy - Dog Trainer
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SARA MORAN, KPA CTP*, ASSISTANT TRAINER
Sara is an R+K9 Training Assistant. She's a Karen Pryor Academy Certified
Training Partner (KPA CTP) and is currently working toward earning her CPDT-KA credential. After graduating from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, she started her own successful pet care business in Philadelphia. Sara has over four years of kennel management experience with working canines at Canine Partners for Life in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Canine Validation Center in Winchester, Virginia.
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Sara currently lives in Front Royal, Virginia with her Australian Cattle Dog and Belgian Tervuren.
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*KAREN PRYOR CERTIFIED TRAINING PARTNER
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