I didn’t grow up with dogs. Little did I know that later in life, I would be training them.
I have a degree in Music and was specifically trained as a Music Therapist. After a few years in that industry, I decided to transition from therapy to teaching. I taught preschool music for 13 years. Once my youngest child went to college, I decided to make an even bigger change and pivot to a completely different career as a dog trainer.
The dog training industry is largely unregulated so anyone can say they’re a dog trainer and charge for training dogs, even if they don’t know what they’re doing. Because I didn’t grow up with dogs, I knew it was imperative that I learn as much as possible about them. I enrolled in an online dog training program, Animal Behavior College, whereby I had to master nine modules of learning, take and pass a test after each module, volunteer at a local animal shelter, satisfactorily complete an 18-week externship with an established dog trainer and then take and pass the final exam in April of 2021.
Soon afterward, I started my dog training business, Pawsitively Polite Dog Obedience Training, LLC, to fulfill my desire to provide private, in-home dog training to dog guardians. I believe dogs learn new skills best in their own familiar environments, which is why I come to your house to train your dog. There’s nothing wrong with taking your dog to a training center, however, to learn new skills, dogs need to be able to focus and that’s harder for them to do in new surroundings.
I began working toward my CPDT-KA credential (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed). This required that I pass a national, standardized exam, however, before I could take the exam, I had to: 1) accumulate 300 contact hours training dogs; 2) record each hour onto a training log and submit the log to the CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) for approval; 3) acquire a letter of test readiness from an established dog trainer who knew my skills; and 4) take and pass the exam. It’s a pass/fail exam and I received the news that I passed in April of 2022.
I also help dog guardians with their dogs’ behavior issues. In February of 2026, I earned my Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor-Knowledge Assessed (CBATI-KA) credential. The philosophy behind Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) teaches reactive dogs that they have a choice in how they interact with their environment. Dogs often don’t get to make decisions on their own and helping them learn to handle their triggers increases confidence and reduces reactivity.
The Grisha Stewart Academy of Empowered Animals confers this credential. To earn the credential, I was required to observe hundreds of hours of videos showing dogs with severe reactivity learning to accept and even interact with their triggers using the BAT method by trained instructors; pass a final exam; and write a 700-word paper, based on a fictitious client and dog, explaining how I would utilize BAT to help the fictitious client’s reactive dog. This was a 1.5-year process and it has greatly helped my ability to assist clients with their reactive dogs.
I’m passionate about helping people with their dogs’ training needs.If I can help you by training your dog to either display or eliminate certain behaviors, please contact me.
OUR INFO
Get in Touch
My name is Debbie Tangen. I’m a Certified Dog Obedience Trainer. I train dogs to display manners.
Location:
Kansas City, MO, United States
Phone:
816-686-4766
Email Us:
debtangen62@gmail.com
CONTACT US
Send us a Message
I will train your dog to display polite behavior such as sit, stay, down and come on cue.
I will train your dog to display polite behavior such as sit, stay, down and come on cue, as well as keep “all four on the floor” when greeting people (no jumping), maintain a loose leash while walking (no pulling), and decrease excessive barking.
+816-686-4766
Got Questions?
Copyright © 2025 Pawsitivelypolite, All rights reserved. Developed with 
by 