During one hectic day at a IT job in Atlanta, Jennifer's supervisor asked, "If you could do anything, what would you do?" Without hesitation, Jennifer answered, "train dogs". One week later, she was visiting a school for dog trainers and enrolled in the new upcoming seminar series for dog trainers.
Originally from New Jersey and a Georgia resident since 1993, Jennifer J Cullari has been training dogs professionally since 2002. She was the first student to complete the seminar series as a Certified Assistant Dog Trainer from JoThor's Dog Trainer's Academy, certified and accredited by the Non-Public Post-secondary Educational Commission of the State of Georgia. Jennifer continued her dog training education at JoThor's and acquired her Professional Dog Trainer/Educator Certificate in May 2004. She was recommended by JoThor's Training Director and quickly employed by an Atlanta dog training company, where she began training Atlanta's family pets for several years before moving out of the Metro Atlanta area. Jennifer then started her own in-home dog training business, training family dogs part time on the weekends while working a full-time corporate IT job in Calhoun, Georgia.
Jennifer has always been active with local rescue groups, helping to foster homeless dogs as well as rehabilitate dogs that didn't have a chance in finding a forever home. Most recently, Jennifer spends her free time picking up a transport leg to help transfer homeless dogs from one state to another to their new foster or permanent home.
Jennifer trains with her Schnoodle, Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Chihuahua, Border Collie, Shih Tzu mix and Cocker Spaniel in a variety of sports including Flyball, Rally Obedience, Agility, Nose Work, IPO, Frisbee, Freestyle Dance & Dock Diving. Her most recent continuing education undertaking is becoming a Certified Nose Work Instructor certified by the National Association of Canine Scent Work. Acquiring this certification can take up to two-years.
Jennifer's love of dogs began as a young child. The family's first dog was a Llaso Apso named Scruffy. She remembers Scruffy sitting in a corner and when she reached to pet him on top of the head, Scruffy bit her in the face. That same afternoon, animal control picked up Scruffy and Jennifer never saw him again. She recalls the family getting a German Shepherd named Duchess and that was also a short lived experience as she thinks the family gave Duchess away. Jennifer received a puppy, a Toy Poodle, as a Christmas gift, in the third-grade and named him Nicholas. Nicholas was Jennifer's solid companion during her parent's long divorce. Nicholas had a role in Jennifer's 8th grade play as the lead female's companion dog. Labor Day weekend going into Jennifer's Junior year in high school, Jennifer went down to the New Jersey shore with her Dad and a few of her best friends. When she returned home, Nicholas was gone. 29 years later, she still does not know what had happened to Nicholas - whether her Mom gave him away or had him put down. Today, Jennifer still uses the same dog crate that Nicholas was gifted in for her Cocker Spaniel. She has been quoted as saying, "It's no wonder I have a house full of dogs and a passion for helping people keep their dog as part of their family."
Today, Jennifer is living her dream job. She realizes that there are only a small percentage of people in the world who can honestly say that their job is not work because what they do for a living is their passion. She is blessed beyond and words cannot express the gratitude she has for Cyndy Douan for giving her this opportunity as a full time trainer at the Georgia Dog Gym.
Jennifer succumbed to an aggressive and quickly metastasizing cancer. She passed away one month after her diagnosis on 12/15/2023.