DENISE HERMAN
Denise Herman is the founder and head trainer for Empire of the Dog.
Denise is a Valedictorian Graduate of the San Francisco Academy for Dog Trainers, under the direction of renowned author and dog expert, Jean Donaldson (The Culture Clash and Dogs are from Neptune). She was a staff trainer at the SF SPCA and instructed for Petco, California and Andrea Arden in Manhattan. In 2004 Denise authored a series of CLICKER TRAINING KITS for the Nylabone® company, and is the resident pet expert at DOGPUBLIC.COM and also writes for thenest.com

Dominika Knossalla
Dominika is a powerhouse of positive reinforcement. She attends a new educational seminar nearly every other month. Her most recent experience includes both a post-graduate internship with Jean Donaldson and the staff at the San Francisco SPCA [from which she graduated with Honors]and another simultaneous internship at the one of a kind-SF Puppy Prep. Dominika speaks both Polish and German and has a Master's Degree in Applied LInguistics. She has her own column in the leading Polish magazine about dogs called "Przyjaciel Pies", which loosely transaltes to Dog Your Friend. Currently she's developing our pet dog NOSEWORK "for FUN&SPORT" curriculum.

Jennifer Bitkower
Jennifer joins the Empire team with over a decade of dog training experience under her belt. Like, all of the Empire of the Dog trainers, Jennifer is also an honors graduate from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. She teaches both group classes and private lessons. Clients say they love the enthusiasm she exhibits as well as her flair for making what seems impossible, possible.

Jo Anne Basinger
Jo Anne Basinger teaches group classes for us in Greenpoint. Jo Anne was a former sea mammal trainer at the NY Aquarium and apprenticed with Empire of the Dog starting in 2003. Jo Anne also graduated from the San Francisco SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers.

Empire of the Dog

Denise and Empire of the Dog were profiled in DOGFANCY magazine's "A day in the Life" series. Denise stays active in dog rescue and works with several rescue and adoption groups incluiding Waggy Tail Rescue, Dog Habitat.org, Red Hook Dog Rescueand Animal Haven Shelter.Denise has written for the award winning Bark Magazine and epinions.com online.
Recently, Denise wrangled dogs for the new show "MY DOG ATE WHAT?".
She has appeared on NY1, WNBC New York and ANIMAL PLANET.
We are also proud to work with the Mayor's Alliance for Animals to provide discounts for dog's adopted from our city's shelters. In the year 2000 Denise pioneered NYC's first small dog classes and playgroups through Andrea Arden Dog Training in 2000.

More on Denise's education.
See what our clients have to say about us at citysearch.com and Yelp.com. Visit our FACEBOOK GROUP for dog trivia and dog related updates

Click here to See Denise's trained dog in action! 1.2MB