Our Team
Tori Roccia, CPDT-KA
(they/them)
tori@blackdogbt.com
As a person who always loved dogs, it makes sense that dog training made its way into Tori's life. While enrolled in an online college program for Dog Trainer/Instructor through Penn Foster College, Tori worked full time throughout Philly as a daycare attendant and dog walker. After receiving a certification through Penn Foster, they began to work as an apprentice under all different trainers, and even started taking on their own clients freelance. During this time they were drawn to positive reinforcement training and began working at a board & train facility while teaching group training classes part-time.
They received their Certification for Professional Dog Training, or CPDT-KA, and have worked with dogs of all breeds, sizes and behaviors! Tori has spent a better part of their career working in sheltering as a Canine Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator and continues to specialize in shelter dog work & behavioral training. They will be sitting for their Certified Behavior Consultant, or CBCC-KA, in the fall of 2024.
As a big animal advocate, and owner of two rescues with special behavioral needs of their own, it has become Tori's life's work to help dogs and humans learn how to succeed together! Helping grow the relationship between dogs and their owners, providing comfort and care to dogs of all types, and educating pet parents are just some of the ways Tori is looking to help their community.
Tori provides in-home services in Philadelphia, Main Line/Greater Philadelphia area, and South Jersey, and virtually nationwide. They are currently accepting all ages, breeds, and behavior concerns!
Taylor Vidas
(they/them)
taylor@blackdogbt.com
Taylor moved from the outskirts of London to southern Delaware to start their family and continue their training career. Taylor has worked professionally as a dog trainer for over a year, inspired by their background educating at-risk teens and their training journey with their own personal dogs. They are working towards obtaining their CPDT-KA and IAABC-ADT certifications, and are currently a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator. They especially love high-energy dogs, puppy socialization, and helping all dogs gain confidence.
Taylor is offering in-home services for puppies and basics, throughout the Rehoboth/Millsboro/Georgetown area. In the coming months, we will also be offering onsite private and group training at our partner Farmhouse Pet Lodge on their incredible, brand new 9 acre property.
claire f. cario, ma, CPDT-KA, ffct
(she/her)
claire@blackdogbt.com
Claire F. Cario is a Delaware native who moved to NYC in 1996. She has been working within the animal welfare and veterinary medicine fields since 2001. She received her MA in the Advanced Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation in 2008. The most rewarding aspect of her work is strengthening the human-animal bond and seeing her clients achieve a deeper understanding of their dog’s communication, motivations and behaviors.
Claire started her own business in 2009 and since then, has supervised, managed, and trained animal behavior staff across all sectors of the animal behavior world, developed curriculum for training programs for training schools, municipal shelters, and therapy dog programs, given webinars on canine behavior topics, built behavior assessment systems, and developed individualized behavior training plans for dogs displaying a wide variety of behavior concerns. She is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Fear Free Certified Professional. Currently Claire is a Behavior Consultant for Behavior Vets of NYC and an instructor at CATCH Academy. Prior to this, she spent three years as the Private Trainer Manager at School For the Dogs in NYC, four years as the Behavior and Enrichment Assistant Manager at Animal Care Centers of NYC, three years as a behavior consultant on the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, six years as the executive trainer and coordinator for The Good Dog Foundation.
Claire currently has availability for virtual services every Friday evening, and is now accepting in-person appointments on a case by case basis!
Laura arnold, IAABC-ADT, CPDT-KA
(she/her)
laura@blackdogbt.com
Laura Arnold brings several years of professional training experience to the BlackDog team, with an Accredited Dog Trainer certification through the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her interest in behavior began during her work at a dog daycare in 2019, and became her passion through helping her own dog through his behavior challenges. Laura loves working with all behaviors and age groups, but is especially drawn to fearful, low-confidence, and reactive dogs.
Laura has two adopted dogs of her own (Goose and Oriole), and a bird named Mango!
Laura provides private and group services at our facility, virtually nationwide, and in-home services in Bucks County, PA and Northern Delaware. She is currently accepting cases to address handling/cooperative care, reactivity, puppies, and basics. If your dog has a bite history, please email before scheduling.
Lila wolf, iaabc-adt
(she/her)
lila@blackdogbt.com
Lila Wolf has a degree in Animal Science, is an Accredited Dog Trainer certification through the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), is pursuing her CPDT-KA certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and is currently the Behavior Coordinator for Humane Animal Partners. She has an extensive background working with horses, and hopes to one day merge all of her passions by providing canine and equine therapy for special needs and troubled youth.
After adopting a challenging dog in 2020, Lila gained firsthand experience working through severe behavior needs in her own home (dog aggression, resource guarding, and generalized anxiety). She understands the stress that living with a more difficult dog can bring, and she hopes to bring that perspective to her future work with private clients and shelter partners. She is excited to further her career in animal welfare as a member of BlackDog’s team!
When Lila is not working at the shelter she enjoys training and relaxing with her dogs Espo and Riggs, her fish, and her cats Baloo, Rip, Mowgli, Gilbert, and Ember.
Lila is currently not accepting private clients. We encourage you to sign up for our playgroup program, led by Lila !
Blaise Lazares
(he/him)
blaise@blackdogbt.com
Blaise Lazares brings years of experience to the BlackDog team, from pet sitting, grooming, boarding dogs in doggy daycares, force free training in both group and private settings, and volunteer work assisting in training service and therapy dogs. In addition to enjoying working with puppies, basics, and reactivity, Blaise is passionate about working and supporting the relationship between people with disabilities and their canine partners. Blaise is committed to BlackDog's mission of promoting force free techniques and evidence based positive reinforcement training, and is pursuing his CPDT-KA certification to better support his human and canine clients.
When not at work, Blaise spends time training his own psychiatric service dog Apollo, who enjoys catching his frisbee and prancing around the yard.
Blaise is currently not accepting new private clients, but hosts a recurring beginner group class, advanced basics/canine good citizen group class, and CGC evaluation days every few months! We are currently developing a service/therapy dog program for Blaise to offer as a new service in late spring 2024!
Becca Stern, cpdt-ka, sba, ffct
(she/her)
becca@blackdogbt.com
Owner and lead trainer Becca Stern is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, a Shelter Behavior Affiliate (SBA) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) through Fear Free Pets. In 2014, She began her career working on the frontlines of animal welfare at a shelter in Dublin, Ireland, and from there quickly became a leader in the field. Her experience includes work as Director of Adoptions for an open-admissions shelter in Washington, D.C. averaging 5000 adoptions a year, followed by her role as Director of Operations for the. Brandywine Valley SPCA,, and finally overseeing adoptions, foster, intake, and rescue programs at ACCT Philly. During her work, she balanced her time between hands-on work with the animals and spearheading program initiatives. As a fierce advocate for animals and the people who care for them, she placed particular focus on open adoption philosophies, in-shelter behavior modification and enrichment, and post-adoption support programs.
Merging her behavior certification with her extensive animal welfare background, she continues helping individuals and animals in her community through shelter consulting and training support for owned/adopted dogs. Services range from basic manners to more complex behavior needs, with a focus on reactivity, fear, anxiety, and select aggression cases. She has a special place in her heart for shelter dogs, and welcomes clients of all breeds, ages, and sizes!
She currently not taking new clients, to focus on continued BlackDog growth and program development, supporting her staff, and to reserve availability for current/returning clients! Email becca@backdogbt.com with questions.