Hi, I’m Sara McLoudrey CDBC, CPDT-KSA

**Wielder of Magic Wands - Muzzle Queen - Perpetual Pollyanna**
Some how I have been a professional dog trainer for 19 years! Over the years I have seen how our relationships with dogs have changed and even how the “positive/force free/clicker” training world has evolved. I have seen it ALL. Trust me, here are just a few of the most unusual cases:
Overly amorous (humping people) Pitbull - ✔️
Light/shadow chasing Shiba Inu - ✔️
Diabetic Doxie who bites when being touched - ✔️
Crossed eye Beagle mix who barked at everyone she saw - ✔️
Blind Corgi puppy who bit every person, dog, and thing - ✔️
Crate-hating dog who had to fly 16 hours to relocate - ✔️
Dog with dementia with panic attacks when left alone - ✔️
Jack Russell who licked the paint off the walls - ✔️
Training a blood draw for a 120 pound Berner with a bad attitude towards veterinary staff - ✔️

Work with me

✨ Dreams and Goals ✨

Decisive Moment was born to focus on two important aspects of the pet industry. First, to expand the concepts of Care with Consent to both clients and pet professionals. The second is to be able to offer exceptional Behavior Consults no matter your location. After years in the industry, these are the places I feel I can make the biggest impact, both immediately and for the future of our relationships with dogs.

Care with Consent

Care with Consent also known as Cooperative Care and Positive Husbandry, has come a long way since I first trained a chin rest stand for exam in 2010! Nothing like a week of training at the Shedd Aquarium combined with a puppy who came with handling issues to get your training skills going. Over the years I have tackled more and more complex cases. It is the precision, challenge, and creative problem solving that draws me to the work.
The more clients and veterinary staff learn how to work with pets with consent, the richer their bond and safer their care can be for everyone.
Behavioral Consults

I offer virtual Behavioral Consults, on a variety of “problem” and common dog behaviors. My training specialties are Care with Consent (cooperative care), human-directed aggression, resource guarding, helping senior dogs thrive, and living with intact dogs. While I specializing in these topics, of course, I sees all types of serious behavior cases.
My only except is separation anxiety, I prefer to refer those cases to consultants who are certified separation anxiety professionals.

My Approach

Fear Free, Force Free, Friendly, & Fun

For People and Dogs!

**Really it all started here…**

Gus was my childhood dog, a Schnoodle, long before Doodles were a thing. He was the most perfect dog for a kid! Here we are showing in 4-H. We never even took a dog training class. I taught him everything out of a 4-H obedience show skills booklet.

**Highlights of my Career**

**2004** Founded *ROOT Dog Training* in Illinois focused on in home training
**2006** Started offering Group classes and day training at a local daycare
**2008** Became a CPDT

2011 Opened my own training boutique, offering classes, day school, private sessions
2016 Started at Synergy Veterinary Behavior as a Certified Animal Trainer

2019 Promoted to Behavior Modification and Training Coordinator at Synergy Veterinary Behavior
2021 Became a CDBC and Founded Decisive Moment Pet Consulting
2022 Became Certified Pet End of Life Doula
2023 Started teaching for Karen Pryor Academy LIVE

Sara dressed up as Wenda and Lindy dressed as Woof at a Nose Work Trial.

Where it Started

Like so many of us my dog training life started by accident. I was volunteering at a punishment-based/shock collar service dog organization. There I met my eventual partner Mark. Mark brought Bailey “Bad Lab”, a dog reactive, shock collar wearing, service dog to our family. I am forever grateful for Bailey, and his behavioral struggles. Bailey’s heavy handed training as a service dog was at the root of his behavioral issues. It became clear even with the organization’s best intentions, the result of their training was going to get Mark killed. Bailey pushed me to seek out a different way. In 1999 i found myself at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Behavioral Department. I didn’t know it at the time but I was starting my journey as a trainer and behavior consultant. Thanks Bailey - Here’s to You!

**The Original McLoudrey Crew!**

I owe so much of my inspiration, learning, and my drive to do better to these three dogs. Left to Right - Scout my Border/Kelpie, Bailey “Bad Lab”, and Kayla my first Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in 2000.

🐾 My Dogs 🐾

I have had a dog in my life since Gus arrived as my 9th birthday present. He was not a surprise present, even got to picked him to be mine! By my sophomore year at college I missed him so much I adopted my first dog as an adult - Scout my Border/Kelpie. Since then I have shared my life and house with a number of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, a Labrador, a “Burnham Terrier”, and an American Water Spaniel.

**Notable Dog Accomplishments**

*All training accomplishments are results of Positive Reinforcement Training*
Junior Hunter, Started Hunter, and Working certificates
Utility Obedience
First Toller in the country to earn a Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, and a Rally Advanced Excellent titles in AKC, with countless placements
Grand Champion and Champions in conformation
First American Water Spaniel to earn NACSW nose work titles from NW 1 through Elite 3 with countless placements in individual elements
Nose Work Elite Champion
Pronounced Designation at NW 1 with Lindy and NW3 with Rizzo
Multiple overall placements in nose work with different dogs.

Dog Activities

Over the years I have competed, participated, and enjoyed a wide variety of dog activities and sports. I started with being an active therapy dog handler with Scout and my first Toller Kayla.

Kayla was also my introduction to competition obedience until she passed at only 19 months old. Dara my second Toller, was my first completely R+ trained dog and a jack of all trades! Together we tackled conformation, obedience (utility level), rally (advanced excellent level), field (AKC, NAHRA, and breed club), whelping puppies, demonstrations/public speaking, service dog tasks, and nose work.

Now my main focus with my dogs is on nose work with National Association of Canine Scent Work and I hope to start truffle hunting.