Who are we?
Michael Badial, CPDT - KA and Jamie Badial, MBA, CPDT-KA
Husband and wife team, Michael and Jamie Badial, own and operate Best Paw Forward in Chalfont, PA.
Originally from CA, Michael learned a lot about dog behavior while working as a meter reader which he applied to his work managing a 200+ dog kennel in PA. While working there, Michael founded and operated a rescue focused on the training and safe rehoming of dogs with aggression as well as started his career training dog owners.
With years of experience fostering German Shepherds, with a particular interest in adolescent dogs who showed fearful and reactive behavior, Jamie joined Michael’s rescue after a mutual friend suggested her for fostering a young fearful GSD that Michael and Jamie now call their own.
In 2012, Michael and Jamie created Best Paw Forward to combine their individual efforts of bringing quality behavior training to pet dog owners in their area.
In addition to being a CPDT-KA and when he isn’t training people and their dogs, Michael is a Staff Sergeant in the PA Army National Guard.
Jamie is also a CPDT-KA and hold a BS in Accounting along with an MBA in Management, knowledge that has helped develop systems and processes to quickly grow their dog training business.
Michael and Jamie run a Facebook Group called DTU: Marketing and Running an R+ Dog Biz that focuses on teaching other dog trainers how to price, package and sell their services to turn their love of dog training into a full time sustainable career.
Together, they own 4 dogs (2 German Shepherds, a Pitbull and a Pomsky) and have 2 children (Michael, 7 and Erin, 3). When not working with dogs, dog owners or other trainers, Michael and Jamie enjoy spending quality time with their kids, friends and family.
Meet the Admins of Trainers Growth Group
Melissa Breau
Bio coming soon…
Christina Schenk-Hargove
Bio coming soon…
Beth Ogasian
Beth has had a love for animals and behavior her whole life, which led to a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences. She began clicker training with her first dog (all tricks, nothing useful) and was hooked on training.
While interning at Sea Life Park in Hawaii as a Vet Tech Intern, she saw first hand how powerful positive reinforcement and cooperative care training could be and took every chance she could to learn more about this aspect of the animal world. Nothing can spark interest in training like having a powerful dolphin hand you their fluke (tail) so you can take their blood.
After graduating college and moving to California, Beth worked as an Animal Control Officer, specializing in both cruelty and hoarding investigations.
After leaving that line of work to pursue dog training as a career, Beth eventually moved out of the city and into a more rural area where she founded her business Mountain Mutt Dog Training.
She holds her CPDT-KA and keeps up with modern day training and research by attending conferences such as Clicker Expo and APDT, online mentorships through IAABC, and in person workshops. In her free time Beth loves to be out with her dog Chloe hiking, XC skiing, backpacking, or competing with her dog in dog sports.
Valerie Ciomperlik
Valerie Ciomperlik, owner and operator of Smarty Paws in Texas, is a graduate of Texas A&M University and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Triners (APDT), Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and an AKC Canine Good Citizen certified instructor and evaluator.
Valerie actively pursues ongoing continuing education and professional development by attending conferences regularly and keeping current on all industry literature.
In addition to her dog training business, Valerie also owns and operates a local automobile reconditioning service. She is a long time follower of Dave Ramsey and a big proponent of living debt-free!
Petrina - The Pet Coach, DipCABT, CSAT, CAPBT, APDT UK, ABTC, ICAN
London, UK based Dog Trainer and Pet Behaviourist, Petrina has been working professionally in the industry for over 10 years. She is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK, an International Companion Animal Network (ICAN) Certified Animal Behaviourist, and full member of the COAPE Association of Applied Pet Behaviourists and Trainers.
Petrina teaches around 10 group classes a week including Puppy, Beginners, Dog Parkour Hoopers Agility and Dog Yoga. She also sees clients for private training and behaviour consultations.
She currently owns a French Bulldog and has had Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the past.