MANAGEMENT
KEITH UCHIDA
Owner, President, CTC
Keith is a Mountain View, California native. He spent many weekends and summer days playing at his grandparents' farm in Palo Alto, formerly located across the street from Ming's Restaurant. He always grew up with dogs, and like many children, begged and pleaded with his parents to get a puppy. Keith feels fortunate to always have had a dog in his life. He even adopted an American Eskimo puppy, "Mo" during his semester break in college so he could have a dog with him all the time.
After finishing his college degree, he worked in the Valley for over 17 years in both the biotech and hi tech industries, in sales and recruiting. Keith's life changed when his dog, "Kimo" a rescue from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley started attending doggie daycare. He got to see first hand what a positive impact supervised dog-dog socialization, exercise and mental stimulation had on him. Keith would often find himself reflecting on a wonderful service doggie daycare is to both humans and their canine companions.
After much reflection, he took a hiatus from hi tech and entered Jean Donaldson's Academy for Dog Trainers. Keith worked with Jean, learning about dog behavior and training with the goal to develop the most comprehensive doggie daycare in the industry. After completing his Certificate in Canine Training and Counseling, he opened "A DOG'S LIFE, Owner Resource Center and Dog Spa" in April of 2004. "I am very proud of our incredible staff, and I am blessed with wonderful clients. Our unique approach focuses on an outstanding experience for all of our clients. We view our two and four legged clients as family."
ADL really is a Labor of Love for Keith. Not only did he want to develop the best place possible for client to take their pooches, but he also was very focused on creating jobs and careers for aspiring and passionate dog lovers. Keith does not believe that he should be making a living from A DOG'S LIFE, thus he has a career outside of ADL. However, Keith stays involved on a daily basis with coaching and directing the management team to help make sure that A DOG'S LIFE continues to be the premier place for dogs and their people.
TRACEY LEE DAVIS
Director of Operations, CKO, Senior Trainer, CTC, CPDT-KA
Tracey Lee serves as the Director of Operations for A DOG'S LIFE and works out of both of our locations. Tracey Lee graduated with Honors from the San Francisco SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers with a Certificate in Training and Counseling in 2004. Tracey Lee brings a breadth of experience with her to A DOG'S LIFE. "Obsessed with animals since birth," Tracey Lee graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Wildlife Biology and a minor in Zoology. While in Colorado, Tracey Lee was an Animal Care Supervisor at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary while also working at the Longmont Humane Society, where she discovered her passion for training dogs. Since moving back to California, Tracey Lee has worked in the Veterinary Services Department for the Peninsula Humane Society, assisted Nancy Weller's Puppy Classes with Sirius Puppy Training (before Nancy joined the ADL Team, that is!), and managed Nana's Doggy Daycare in San Jose.
Tracey Lee became a Certified Kennel Operator (CKO) through the Pet Care Services Association in 2007. The CKO program is designed to raise professional standards and improve the practice of animal care and business management within the pet care industry. It provides special recognition to those candidates who demonstrate a high level of competence and commitment to ethical standards within the industry. Certification is based upon submission of all required documentation and successful completion of both a timed closed book written exam and oral exam conducted by a panel of CKOs.
Tracey Lee has been a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) since 2003. The APDT is a professional organization of individual dog trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through education. In 2008, Tracey Lee became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) though the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT). The CCPDT is an international testing and certification program for professional pet dog trainers. The CCPDT's certification program is based on humane training practices and the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training.
Tracey Lee is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, a Member of the South Bay Trainers (a group of trainers and other animal professionals interested in the pursuit of humane and positive training), has attended many conferences, seminars and other continuing education programs on dogs and their behavior and has received a Certificate of Completion of CParf's Pet First Aid and CPR course.
Tracey Lee has a soft spot for Great Danes, as she has shared her life with two of them thus far, and plans to continue that pattern. Currently, she shares her home with her two cats, Dr. Kovacs and Shiao Ho-Tzu (a handsome Red Tabby and a crazy Siamese). In 2004, Tracey Lee took a wonderful two-week long vacation to Bali to celebrate her sister's 30th birthday, and while there, she was seriously bitten by a travel bug. She now makes a point to take at least one major out-of-the-country trip a year, and has checked Aruba, Mexico, St. Martin and the Bahamas off of her to-do list, with future plans to go to the entire Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
 |
  |
  |
 |
 |
 Best Dog Trainer FavoriteSilicon Valley TAILS Magazine |
NANCY WELLER
Director of Training & Programs, CTC, CPDT-KA
Nancy spent over 15 years in corporate administration, while simultaneously operating a Jazzercise franchise, before turning her passion for training puppies and dogs into her life's work. She received her Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC), with honors, from the San Francisco SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers in 2000. The Academy provides a comprehensive, leading edge education to trainers, behavior counselors and other companion dog professionals. After graduation, Nancy spent six years as one of the top trainers for Ian Dunbar's Sirius Puppy Training. In September of 2002, Nancy earned her Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) designation. She passed an extensive exam to become one of the first trainers in the world to have earned this internationally recognized accreditation. She continues to further her education each year through conferences and seminars. She has also received a Certificate of Completion of CParf's Pet First Aid and CPR course.
In early 2007, Nancy joined A DOG'S LIFE to develop and implement a premier Puppy Training Program. Since then, she created a fresh, updated and effective program for Adolescent/Adult dogs. She has upgraded and expanded the entire training program, putting together a comprehensive set of class offerings and bringing in some of the most talented trainers in the business. Classes include Puppy and Adult obedience, Canine Good Citizen Prep, Tricks, Hounds On The Town, Agility, K9 Nose Work, Rally Obedience, Conformation, Multi-dog Household, etc., as well as Puppy Socials and a variety of seminars and workshops.
Nancy is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), is the founding member of the Certified Dog Training Professionals, is a member of the Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club, and the Bichon Frise Club of Northern California. She has been a volunteer with the Humane Society Silicon Valley, training dog socializers and fostering numerous shelter puppies. Along with her husband and previous Delta Society-certified dogs, she provided pet-assisted therapy services to nursing homes and a children's shelter. Both of her Bichon Frises, Iniki and Makani, are International Champions. Iniki is also an AKC Champion and CGC certified. Iniki's four pups are all International Champions and Nancy is still involved with showing on the AKC show circuit.
In her free time, Nancy likes to experiment with new recipes, entertain friends, garden, go horseback riding, train her own dogs and travel when time permits.
|
|
|
|
|
 Best Dog Trainer(2nd)Silicon Valley TAILS Magazine |
 Best Dog TrainerSilicon Valley TAILS Magazine |
 Best Dog TrainerSilicon Valley TAILS Magazine |
DANIEL GARCIA
Manager (ADL Sunnyvale), CPCTTeam Member since December 5, 2012
Daniel was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. For the last 12 years he lived in San Diego and now lives in the Silicon Valley area. He has been in the customer service industry for his entire professional career, which includes the Food and Beverage industry, Hospitality and Real Estate. It was in San Diego that he found his first pup, a white Mini Schnauzer he named Dietrich. While raising Dietrich, Daniel became very interested in the proper way to treat and care for animals.
Daniel and his partner currently have a beautiful rescue dog named Sasha; a Terrier and Chihuahua mix. In November 2012 they welcomed a new addition to the pack, a black Mini Schnauzer with white markings named Raven. After learning about various training programs, Daniel found that he was drawn to the program used here at ADL. He believes strongly that training dogs with positive rewards is the most humane and beneficial approach. He is currently taking courses with ABC Dog Training and looks forward to becoming a certified dog trainer.
Daniel is very active and enjoys playing softball and working out at the gym, including yoga. He is still exploring all the wonderful locations around the Bay Area, such as wine country and the beaches. With the addition of Raven, a lot of time is spent with training with the help of his partner and Sasha. Daniel brings with him many years of customer service which he is excited to share with both the pets and their owners here at A DOG'S LIFE.
 |
|
LINDSEY JOHNSON
Assistant Manager (ADL Palo Alto), ACPCTTeam Member since October 6, 2008
Lindsey grew up in Connecticut, and while she and her family spent a lot of time moving around when she was a child, as long as the family pets were with them, it was home. Lindsey relocated to California toward the end of 2008, and that is when she found A DOG'S LIFE. She plans on going to school for Environmental Sciences and Paralegal Study.
Prior to relocating, Lindsey worked at a boarding kennel. She enjoyed the time she had with the dogs, but wanted to work with them regularly, and in a group. Finding ADL was perfect for her!
Lindsey has 3 cats (a Calico named Cricket, a Tabby named Mika, and a Manx named Bubba), and a dog named Bandit, who came into her life through ADL. In her spare time, Lindsey likes to dance, write and travel. She is also a member of the Felidae Foundation, which helps protect wild cats.
Lindsey says her favorite part of working at ADL is "building relationships with our daycare dogs, watching them learn and grow. They become a regular part of my life, and keep me laughing all day."
Lindsey is an Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician through the Pet Care Services Association and has received a Certificate of Completion of CParf's Pet First Aid and CPR course.
 |
|
 December 2008, January 2009, March 2009, January 2010, November 2010 and April 2012 |
