Alfhild Winder, owner of Come When Called Dog Training, has been training dogs since 1996.
She has earned a Counseling Certificate from the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Academy for Dog Trainers. She is a graduate of Bob Bailey's Chicken Camp in Sequim, Washington. She has also completed the Growly Class program at the SF/SPCA Academy and conducts classes to rehabilitate reactive dogs several times a year. She has run the puppy training program at the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital (OSSVH) since 2004 and teaches a refresher course for older dogs and newly adopted ones. Al is an American Kennel Club-certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator and helped conduct the Canine Good Citizen test given at OSSVH. She pioneered a special class that teaches children how to train their dogs. In addition to the classes at OSSVH, she gives private lessons in clients’ homes and counsels individuals on solutions for problem behaviors in their dogs.

Al is knowledgeable about a variety of dog training methods, however, she uses those that rely on proven learning theory and the principle that all dogs learn by association and consequence. She continually enhances her training skills and knowledge of canine behavior by attending seminars, workshops and conferences given by today’s top trainers, including Susan Garrett, Jean Donaldson, Leslie Nelson, Sue Sternberg, Kathy Sdao, and Patricia McConnell.

Al participates in dog-related activities in the community. She has co-chaired the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Test for a number of years, judged at obedience matches and stewarded for obedience matches
and trials. She maintains membership in the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Capital Dog Training Club.