Meet Your Certified Dog Trainer

Cori’s Story:

Getting Her Feet Wet (Literally!)

Cori began her career training marine mammals before becoming a dog trainer. Her story started back in 2010 as a volunteer at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, assisting with the care and training of sea lions and seals. It was there that she caught the “training bug.” She soaked up every bit of information she could—reading training books, observing and assisting with training sessions, debriefing with the trainers, and of course, getting out onto the exhibits to feed the animals herself.

Diving Into Her (Then) Dream Job

From there, Cori went on to complete an animal training internship at the Aquarium of Niagara, then moved to Hawaii to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa. There, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and completed an internship at Sea Life Park. In the summer of 2013, she achieved her dream of becoming a marine mammal trainer, working with dolphins, sea lions, seals, and penguins at Sea Life Park.

She later worked at Dolphin Quest on the Big Island and at the Waikiki Aquarium, where she cared for endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals.

Navigating New Waters: From Marine Life to Dog Life

In 2018, Cori was ready for her next adventure and launched her own dog training business (then called Pals Unlimited Dog Training). She was eager to bring everything she had learned from working with marine mammals into the world of companion dogs.

Though she’s always considered herself an “animal person,” she quickly discovered a new passion: teaching people. Helping humans understand, communicate with, and care for their dogs became just as fulfilling as the training itself.

Teaching the Humans

Cori’s mission goes beyond basic obedience—she aims to build stronger relationships between dogs and their people. Whether she’s coaching someone through problem behaviors like jumping or barking, or helping a new puppy parent navigate the early stages, she brings patience, empathy, and a solid foundation in behavioral science to every session.

Back to Her Roots

In 2021, Cori returned home to Connecticut with her husband, two dogs, and two rabbits, bringing her business along with her to New England. She’s proud to serve her local community and continues to grow as a trainer and animal advocate.

Training with Heart (and Science)

Throughout her career, one thing has always stayed the same: Cori’s commitment to positive reinforcement training. Her methods are rooted in kindness, science, and mutual respect. She never uses shock/e-collars, prong collars, choke chains, or any other aversive tools—because she doesn’t need to.

Working with animals like dolphins and sea lions teaches you something important: you can’t rely on force when the animal can simply swim away. Cori learned early on how to train through cooperation and trust—not control. That same compassionate, effective approach works just as well for dogs.

She’s committed to providing ethical, fear-free training for every dog and human she works with—creating lasting results through connection, not coercion.

Ready to unleash better behavior through effective, reward-based training methods?