Karen Pryor is Awarded Trainer of the Year

Irvine, CA, February 13, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Karen Pryor will be awarded the prestigious honor of Trainer of the Year for her achievements in canine and animal training at this year’s Purina Pro Plan 60th Annual Show Dogs of the Year® Awards, presented by Dogs in Review. The country’s top canine competitors come together for the black tie event on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Gotham Hall, New York, NY.

FortiFlora®, a probiotic supplement for dogs by Purina, is the exclusive sponsor of the Trainer of the Year Award and presents the honor to Pryor in recognition of her significant accomplishments in professional canine training. The Purina Pro Plan Show Dogs of the Year Awards are held in the highest esteem by the dog fancy community and represent the best of both dogs and industry professionals who have shown a consistency of success in the world of conformation.

"The revolutionary training methods designed by Karen Pryor have single handedly changed the way we train our animals."

The annual Purina Pro Plan Show Dogs of the Year Award statuettes, also known as The Winkies®, are presented to the year’s highest achievers in show dog categories, Special Industry Awards and Annual Achievement Awards. Along with Trainer of the Year, the Special Industry Awards also include Shelter of the Year and Groomer of the Year.

“This honor is justly deserved,” says Allan Reznik, Editor-in-Chief of Dogs in Review. “The revolutionary training methods designed by Karen Pryor have single handedly changed the way we train our animals. We’re proud to be presenting her with this prestigious award for Trainer of the Year.”

Pryor’s career spans more than 40 years of training and educating scientists and professional trainers as well as pet owners. Studying at prestigious institutions such as Cornell University, Rutgers and NYU, Pryor became a behavioral biologist and did graduate studies in zoology and behavioral biology. In the early sixties she became head dolphin and whale trainer at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. It was here where Pryor revolutionized animal training by developing and implementing force-free training methods based on operant conditioning, giving rise to the “clicker-training” method.

Pryor began her writing career with Nursing Your Baby which sold 2 million copies and is still available in print. Another influential book, Click to Win is based on Pryor’s teaching methods and articles she wrote for American Kennel Club (AKC) and includes such details as clicker training the self-stack, gait and tail positions. Her book, Don't Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training, has become a basic text on how to properly apply positive reinforcement training and has become the “bible” for many dog trainers. Pryor’s most recent book, Reaching the Animal Mind describes an entirely new way to see, understand and communicate with animals, while bringing out their creativity, intelligence, and personality.

“My Weimaraner went ‘Best in Group’ on his first show outing and also ‘High in Trial’ in obedience before he was a year old,” Pryor says when discussing her interest and work in show dog confirmation. “I have owned poodles, labs, and great danes, but my favorites were my two border terriers and that will probably be my next dog as well.”

In 2007, Pryor founded the “Karen Pryor Academy,” an educational institution that teaches inspired animal training through innovative programs designed for both experienced and aspiring trainers. The academy offers online courses, books, videos and equipment and has trained over 800 certified instructors worldwide.

Pryor’s contribution in training stretches beyond the show dog circle and includes exotics, equestrian, sea life and more. Currently residing in Watertown, Massachusetts, Pryor is the mother of three children, seven grandchildren, and one cat.

Pryor continues to be an influential contributor to the field of animal behavioral studies and training. “As a scientist I continue to do research and to publish articles,” says Pryor. “I am presently working on improving training and care of laboratory animals and dogs in shelters, as well as educating medical students on how to use positive reinforcement training.”

“Not only is Karen Pryor a pioneer in the world of animal training, she is an accomplished author and in great demand as a speaker,” adds Reznik. “Continuing to explore the minds of animals and their behaviors makes Karen a valuable voice in the world of professional animal training.”

 About Show Dogs of the Year Awards
The Show Dogs of the Year Awards have spent the past 60 years celebrating the excellence of the top Group winning show dogs, along with their owners, handlers and breeders. In order to win an award, a dog must achieve the most Group wins during a single calendar year at American Kennel Club-sanctioned conformation shows. Other recognitions include various awards presented to top professionals within the show dogs industry, as well as the Dogs in Review Annual Achievement Awards, affectionately known as the Winkies. Currently the awards are sponsored by Purina® Pro Plan® and presented by Dogs in Review. These awards are presented at a black tie banquet held in New York City immediately prior to the Westminster Kennel Club show in February.

About Purina Veterinary Diets FortiFlora
FortiFlora® is a complementary pet food for dogs and cats of all ages, specially formulated and proven  to promote intestinal health and balance. It has been formulated with the lactic acid bacteria Enterococcus faecium SF68® to help promote a healthy immune system. The supplement contains high levels of antioxidant vitamins A, E and C, and undergoes a proprietary microencapsulation process for enhanced stability.

FortiFlora may help nutritionally manage dogs with diarrhea in many situations, including stressful situations such as boarding or change in home environment, diet change or consumption of inappropriate food, soft stool in puppies or antibiotic therapies. Purina promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Mo., where the company was founded more than a century ago.

For more information or to interview the editor contact:
Lisa MacDonald, Marketing Director
949-855-8822, ext.3345
lmacdonald@i5publishing.com