About ABTA 
Since its inception, Animal Behavior and Training Associates, Inc. (ABTA) has been a trend setter and leader in the companion animal training field. If you are one of over 200,000 dog owners who took an obedience class at Petco from 1994 through 2003, you were an ABTA student. During that nine year period, ABTA was the largest independent training company in North America. Today, the ABTA, Inc. team is still a highly skilled professional staff of dedicated trainers who are experts in all levels of obedience and problem solving. When you hire an ABTA trainer, you can rest assured they have the depth of knowledge and experience to help you, the conscientious dog owner, with any problem or request you may have. This is because we've never forgotten that we are only as good as our last client. We are recommended by veterinarians, pet stores, groomers, breeders, and most importantly, our satisfied clients.

Steven Appelbaum with Buford, Raven, and Hannah Steven Appelbaum
President and CEO
Steve Appelbaum, due to a unique combination of expertise and entrepreneurial vision, was able to create the only nationwide dog training company in an industry that to date is largely fragmented and disorganized. Appelbaum's belief that pet chains and super stores would carve a sizable niche for themselves in the pet supply industry and that their one-stop shopping format would include obedience training, predated the actual event by several years.

In 1986 Appelbaum pioneered a unique profit sharing and marketing plan with Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. (Petco) that within four years resulted in his small Los Angeles based company, ABTA, growing to be the largest of its kind in California.

Appelbaum's foresight and proven track record resulted in Petco naming ABTA in 1995 as the exclusive provider of dog obedience classes for the entire chain of Petco stores. In 1998, ABTA was named exclusive provider of dog obedience classes for all Canadian Petcetera Limited Partnership (Petcetera) stores. These arrangements coupled with numerous others, allowed Appelbaum's company to become the largest independent dog training company in North America. At its peak, ABTA employed over 525 trainers in forty-three states, Washington D.C., and every Canadian province west of Quebec.

In February 2004, Petco and Appelbaum concluded a negotiated agreement in which Petco hired ABTA trainers and took the obedience program in home. This freed Appelbaum to focus on his Canadian operations with Canadian Petcetera Limited Partnership and his school for trainers, Animal Behavior College (ABC).

Aside from his ground breaking work with ABTA and ABC, Steve Appelbaum also works with a number of pet product manufacturers by assisting them in capitalizing on the strong influence dog trainers have in stimulating pet product sales.

Appelbaum has written a book called "The ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training", published by Howell. Steve has written articles for Pet Business and Product News. He is also a featured columnist on business building and marketing for Off Lead.

Steve has been featured as a speaker at the American Boarding Kennel Association's (ABKA) annual conference, Barkleigh's Animal Behavior West conference, Hershey Groom and Train Expo, and the IACP annual conference. Appelbaum has also been utilized as an expert witness on dog/animal related legal cases.

Steve Appelbaum is a former BOD member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). He also belongs to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Appelbaum is also an honorary friend of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA).

 

Debbie KendrickDebbie Kendrick with Alia
Vice President of Animal Behavior College

Debbie Kendrick is the Vice President of Animal Behavior College, Inc., (ABC) and has been with ABC since they opened their doors in 1998. She is also a devoted dog owner and dog lover with over twenty-three year's of experience as a professional dog trainer and behavior modification specialist. Ms. Kendrick is a master in forging relationships with other organizations in the pet industry, including manufacturers, retailers and animal shelters. She is also recognized as a top-level trainer, instructor and lecturer and is a trainer that other professionals frequently consult for advice. This coupled with her professional writing skills has made her a highly regarded addition to the ABC pack.

Debbie began her career in 1974 by serving a one-year apprenticeship with an AKC Dog Obedience Judge and Master Trainer. She states "schools for dog trainers didn't exist back then". Between 1975 and 1979 she competed in obedience trials statewide, titling her own dogs in basic and advanced obedience. The high light of her competition years was winning the Top Dog Award at the Southern California Dog Obedience Trials. From 1980 until 1988 she owned and operated a successful dog training business in Southern California offering group classes and private lessons for basic and advanced obedience training and problem solving strategies.

In 1988 she accepted the position of Head Trainer at Animal Behavior & Trainer Associates, Inc., (ABTA). As Head Trainer she was responsible for the dog training programs at 3 training locations. All 3 training locations were ranked in the top ten, statewide. Her success in the Head Trainer position prompted numerous other promotions between 1990 and 1998 including Regional Training Manager and National Sales Manager. In 1998, Steven Appelbaum, President of ABTA, asked her to share in his vision of creating a nationwide school where dog lovers could get the education needed to become professional dog trainers. Ms. Kendrick enthusiastically accepted the position of Vice President of Animal Behavior College, Inc., (ABC).

Ms. Kendrick's contribution to the ABC Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program is extensive. Her personal quest to improve shelter dog rehabilitation and adoption has lead to ABC students performing a projected 400 hours of volunteer work each month in animal shelters, humane societies and rescue locations nationwide.

She is the author of numerous articles and quotes on dog behavior in national and local pet industry magazines including Fido Friendly Magazine and Dog Fancy Magazine. Debbie is an ABC Certified Dog Trainer and a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. In addition, Ms. Kendrick was honored with a nomination for the 2001/2002 edition of the International Who's Who of Professionals. This is the definitive work on the world's leaders in commerce, economics, policy, and trade.

Debbie was born in New York but has lived in California since she was a teenager. She has successfully raised three daughters as a single mom and is now the proud grandmother of a 2-year old granddaughter. Her four-legged family consists of three large dogs and one rescued cat.

Debbie attributes her success to the fact that she followed her dream and is thankful for the opportunity to be part of the pack that promotes humane animal training through scientific education.

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