We recently had the chance to connect with Amanda Quick, CPDT-KA and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Honestly, I am in a little bit of a rest and recover phase of life. I am determined to curate a slower pace, so my first 90 minutes of the day frequently look like waking up leisurely, being intentional about some snuggle time in bed with my pup, and then coffee outside in the fresh morning sun.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Amanda Quick. I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – KA and content creator. The primary function of my “brand” is to promote science based, punishment free training for all species, regardless of their genetics or what behaviors need to be modified. I am passionate about helping families and pets, particularly “problem” pets, stay together by promoting humane, pain free training. I create a lot of content centered around reactive and aggressive dogs and muzzle training, something near and dear to me as the guardian of a dog with a bite history. I would love to end the stigma that muzzled dogs are bad dogs and help owners see the benefit and added feelings of safety that a muzzle can provide for both them and their pets. I also like to focus on how positive reinforcement methods apply to any pet you may have. The techniques used with a so-called difficult dog, can also be used to teach a horse to consent for a hoof trim or a pig to walk on a leash. Ultimately, I want to promote kindness and compassion in the world of pet training.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I was very fortunate. The stars aligned just so for me to have the best possible foundation and advantage when entering into the world of pet training. I found myself in need of a dog trainer and without doing any research on methods (mostly because I was so uninformed, I didn’t even realize there were different methods), I selected a local trainer that I had seen someone post about earlier that week. That trainer was Jennifer Burns of Conscious Dog Training. I knew after my first session with her that my life was about to take a drastic turn. Not only did she show me how to get the behaviors I wanted from my dog, but she expanded my capacity for empathy and curiosity around what function each behavior – desirable or undesirable – serves. Not only did this set the foundation for my dog training career, but exercising that curiosity in all of my relationships made me a better friend, boss, employee, sibling, daughter, and significant other. That idea of wondering why a being might do the things they do instead of assuming they are malicious or inconsiderate changed the way I interact with the world altogether. The more I trained with Jenn, the more I wanted to show people the amazing things she was implementing with me and my pets. I asked if she would mentor me as I accumulated my CPDT hours, and the rest is history. I will always be grateful that the world put her in my path. I got to learn under someone doing groundbreaking things in a tough industry. Learning to train animals with her was wonderful, but gaining a deeper compassion for all living things is invaluable.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Easy. Co-regulation. Hands down, co-regulation is still one of my comforting coping skills. As I child, I frequently felt lonely. I was embarrassed to be vulnerable with people which often led me to grieve and suffer alone. But I always had pets. I can remember lying in the sun with my pony or one of my 5 childhood dogs. Being still and at peace, hearing and feeling another heartbeat that was slower and calmer than mine has always grounded me. Now as an adult, after much relational counseling and shame/vulnerability work, I am able to do this with friends and partners as well. It brings me an almost instant sense of relief and safety.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think they would say connection. Clarity and kindness and safety in my relationships is my top priority. Life can feel unmanageable when we feel like we don’t matter. I want to make sure my friends know that I love them. Even as an introvert, there are very few times when I don’t want to connect when the option is available – whether it’s walking our dogs or grabbing a coffee, sending Reels, or having a lazy day of couch rot and 90s TV reruns, I want it all. We can never be reassured too much that our friends love us.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
This is a great question and one that I wish more trainers would be open minded about. When the science isn’t working, it’s time to ask for help. If my tried and true training methods aren’t garnering the expected results, it is never the animal. It is always me! My first step is to ask another trainer that I trust to audit me while I try to train the behavior. Nine times out of ten, it’s my mechanics. Maybe I’ve gotten sloppy or lazy. Maybe I am accidentally sending an alternate cue with my body language. A lot of trainers will revert to archaic, punishment based methods when they feel like positive reinforcement isn’t working. That is a huge injustice to the animals and the industry. There is such a stigma around asking for help, admitting a case is out of your depth, and referring out to someone more skilled. My biggest plea to other trainers is when in doubt, refer out. Punishment will get results but at much too high a cost to the animals. There is no shame in asking another trainer to step in. We should all be on the same team, seeking to do whatever is best for the pet that has been entrusted to us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @aquickfix
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quick-amanda/
- Facebook: @aquickfix1
- Other: TikTok: @aquickfix
Image Credits
Mikey Castillo, Sarah Throop, Lesson Medrano
