ASSOCIATION NEWS | FAREWELL TO KHARA SCHUETZNER
" Khara ' s time on the APDT was during a critical time of change for our industry . She provided the leadership we needed when our organization was forced to scrap its plans for an in-person conference and hold our first virtual conference during the pandemic ." – Mark Forrest Patrick , APDT Chair
Prior to starting her own business , Fanna was Petco ’ s national dog training expert . She and her team developed , launched , and lead a brand new positive reinforcement training program for more than 1,500 Petco stores . She created and executed positive training seminars , materials and online training for more than 2,000 Petco dog trainers . In 2021 Fanna partnered with Petco again to create a separation anxiety course that provides a safe place for dogs and their guardians to learn updated information and new self-settling skills until LIMA-compliant SA experts , which have long waiting lists , have an opening for them .
Fanna has authored several articles for Vice News , Dogs Naturally , Animal Wellness , APDT ’ s Chronicle of the Dog and numerous online magazines and blogs . She was chair of the committee that updated the C . L . A . S . S . curriculum and current chair of the Legislation Task Force . Legislation , regulation and creating standards has become her passion .
When not working with clients and their dogs , Fanna volunteers at The Bridge , the only Dallas homeless shelter that allows dogs to accompany their displaced pet guardians . Fanna and her coworkers offer group classes and one-on-one training to ensure dogs learn polite manners and can continue to accompany their displaced pet guardians into permanent housing .
While Fanna lives in Dallas , she is originally from Lafayette , Louisiana , and proud to be Cajun . She shares her home with two Miniature Bull Terriers , Miss Stella Mae and Eli Joseph , and her darling hubby , Rick .
Farewell to Khara Schuetzner
In January , the current immediate past chair , Khara Schuetzner , CPDT-KSA , CNWI , transitions off the APDT Board having served since her appointment in 2015 that began Jan . 1 , 2016 . She moved through the officer ranks as secretary / treasurer , vice-chair , and then chair in 2020 during a turbulent time as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic and APDT held its first-ever virtual conference . Under Khara ’ s leadership , the APDT Board established an Ethics Committee , Ethics Complaint Form and Ethics Procedures . They also formed an alliance with IAABC and CPDT regarding a Code of Ethics for trainers and having new or renewing members attest to being Least Intrusive , Minimally Aversive ( LIMA ) compliant to have a profile on APDT ’ s online trainer search .
" Khara ' s time on the APDT was during a critical time of change for our industry . She provided the leadership we needed when our organization was forced to scrap its plans for an in-person conference and hold our first virtual conference during the pandemic ," said Mark Forrest Patrick , APDT ' s chair and who will take her position as immediate past chair in January . " We wish her well as she continues to train with her dogs in competitions and nose work , and I know she will always be there for APDT ."
Khara earned her bachelor ’ s degree in zoology from the University of Oklahoma and completed an internship working as a biologist at Disney World in Orlando , Florida . In graduate school , she worked on a Master of Science degree in aquaculture and fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and then a Master of Arts degree in teaching after moving to Chicago . She started volunteering with the Anti-Cruelty Society , graduating from its School of Dog Training . After a stint in Argentina , Khara moved back to Oklahoma to care for her family and started The Doggie Spot , which was the first training facility in Shawnee , Oklahoma . She was the first CPDT-KSA and Canine Nose Work Instructor in that state .
Khara is a certified AKC CGC Evaluator and an American Red Cross Pet CPR instructor . She is a member of the Animal Behavior Society , International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants , and American Chemical Society . She competes in obedience , herding , nose work , and dock diving with K9 Blitzkrieg and K9 Wyatt . She also judges nose work for NACSW , AKC , UKC , and USCSS . Khara ’ s household includes nine dogs , three cats , a horse named Freya , sheep , chickens and a very patient husband , Gabriel .
“ It was an honor to serve the members over the years . Thank you to everyone who volunteers and participates in the APDT activities ,” Khara said about her time on the board . “ Being on the APDT board brought new experiences , such as collaborating with other organizations , keeping our businesses afloat during a pandemic , and changing the way we reach our membership . For those of you who never thought about serving this association , I would encourage you to join a task force or committee . For those of you who have issues , be the change by taking up positions . I encourage all of us to keep up the communication and educate others . Be open-minded and empathic to those who are different from us . My goals as I leave the board are to continue to support the organization and attend conferences . My personal goals are to take some time to do something new with my own dogs .”
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Winter 2021 11