Eileen Koval, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
I am an avid dog trainer, dog sports enthusiast, and proponent of relationship-based training -- building a deep personal bond with your dog by learning to clearly communicate to your dog what behaviors you WANT to see. My husband and I have three Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes (Bones, Beowulf, and Gilgamesh) that we enjoy training and competing with in dog sports, including agility and Barnhunt. I am fully certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). I previously taught agility classes at Doggrrrcise Agility, LLC. I previously served as a board member and Membership Outreach Committee Chair for the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA (AKC parent club), assisted A Path 4 Paws rescue group as a trainer/consultant, and volunteered at the Nevada SPCA. I am a member of the Association Française du Kooikerhondje (French National Kooikerhondje Breed Club).
I have a Master's of Science degree from the University of Arkansas's College of Engineering, and a Bachelor's of Arts from Northern Kentucky University Department of History and Geography. I am continuously enrolled in courses on ethology, behavior, health, and other dog behavior training with internationally renown behavior consultants and veterinary behaviorists to further my expertise in this field. I have also successfully completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course.
I worked as an intelligence analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and US Air Force Central Command (USAFCENT) for several years before coming into dog training. Some may consider leaving such a career field to be a "downgrade", but I felt like I finally found where I could make the strongest positive impact in the world while pursuing my true passion.
Eileen Koval (right) and then-CIA Director Porter Goss at her graduation from the CIA Intelligence schoolhouse in 2006
I became interested in advanced dog training and behavioral work many years ago when one of our dogs began to suffer from severe fear issues, including extreme noise phobias. We were lucky to find a wonderful dog behavior consultant -- Debbie Revell, CDBC -- who helped us address these issues. This experience piqued my interest in understanding canine psychology and learning theory and completely opened my world. Behavioral issues like these were common reasons why people surrender their dogs to shelters, but these issues can often be successfully addressed. I continue to take classes and network with other respected behavior consultants and veterinary behaviorists to maintain working knowledge of the newest techniques and ideas on canine psychology and learning.
I am referred to by dozens of veterinary clinics throughout Las Vegas and Henderson, including Centennial Hills Animal Hospital, the Las Vegas Specialty Center, Green Valley Animal Hospital, Aloha Animal Hospital, VCA Blue Cross, VCA Nellis, Aliante Animal Hospital, Seven Hills Animal Hospital, and others. In the year 2020, I created the Rattlesnake Avoidance through Positive Reinforcement course, which is now used by trainers and owners throughout North America, Australia, Africa, and Europe for teaching snake avoidance. Recently, I was interviewed by Bob Wells (Nomadland) for a two part series "Rattlesnake Dog Training with Confident Canines", interviewed on the Pooch Parenting podcast, interviewed by clinical psychologist Dr. Holly Tett for "Fluff Dog Turned Guard Dog?" for the Naughty Dogs Masterclass, interviewed on Top Gun Dog Training's Puppy Talk Podcast, interviewed and featured in Is It Normal? by Chewy.com, interviewed for Las Vegas Weekly magazine, presented at the International Dog Trainer's Winter Summit, and am honored to be giving a presentation this fall at the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Annual Conference.
I help clients communicate more effectively with their dogs to solve issues, whether it is motivating and training a new puppy in the basics of obedience; working with aggressive dogs; destructive or problem behaviors in the home; or helping an agility team smooth out communication on the course to reach that next level of achievement.
This hierarchy model was presented in a Raising Canine telecourse by Dr. Susan Friedman, psychology professor at Utah State University.