Nicole is an internationally recognized, award-winning author and lecturer. Her ten books include So You Want to be a Dog Trainer, Help for Your Fearful Dog, and Don’t Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety. Nicole is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who presents seminars worldwide at conferences, training clubs, shelters, and for other groups. She is the recipient of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers’ prestigious Ian Dunbar Member of the Year Award, and a popular speaker at the organization’s conferences. Nicole is also on the Advisory Board for the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, the educational branch for the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior.
Nicole writes training and behavior articles for various publications, including ongoing assignments for Modern Dog Magazine, and blogs for the Huffington Post as well as her own blog, Wilde About Dogs. She co-stars in the DVD Train Your Dog: The Positive Gentle Method, and co-hosted the Dog Talk radio show, where her experience, humor and quick wit were put to good use. She was also featured in the Paul Owens DVD The Dog Whisperer (not to be confused with the television show by the same name!).
Nicole has always had a special place in her heart for dogs in need. She served as Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles’ Animal Services, where she instructed volunteers in canine handling and behavior, handled hundreds of dogs, and acted as an adoption counselor. She was also Executive Director for Villalobos Rescue Center, a sanctuary for rescued wolves/wolf hybrids, pit bulls and exotic animals. Nicole’s specialty was socializing the fearful wolves who were to live out their lives at the center. She trained wolves and other canines, and co-presented seminars to animal control officers, schools and specialty groups. Her experience is rounded out by having supervised 40-50 off-leash dogs daily at a doggy daycare, working at a veterinarian’s office, serving as Editor/Chief Writer for Get-A-Pet magazine, and teaching group classes as well as private instruction.
Nicole is originally from New York, and moved to Los Angeles in 1987. She has been a professional gymnast, driven motorcycles, played bass guitar in various rock bands, and lived with wolves for over ten years.
Nicole owns and operates Gentle Guidance Dog Training in southern California. She lives with two rescued northern breed mixes, sled loads of dog hair, and one very understanding husband. With warmth, humor and positive techniques, she trains owners to train their dogs. She continues to teach seminars worldwide for professional dog trainers, rescue and shelter workers, veterinary groups and others, and to educate the public on canine behavior issues.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter @NicoleWilde, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NicoleWildeAuthor, and find her books, seminar DVDs and Wilde About Dogs blog at www.nicolewilde.com
