Alex Collier has graduated from CPT’s in-house apprentice training program and is certified internally to perform many types of group, private, in-home private, and boarding instruction. Since joining CPT 10 years ago, Alex has become a valuable addition to our staff.
Alex graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While studying at UGA, for 3.5 years Alex worked as a veterinary technician, which has provided her marvelous insight and acumen applicable to dog training.
Throughout her education, Alex maintained an interest in marine sciences. She practically applied her interest after graduation, when she began working as an aquarist at The Georgia Aquarium. While employed at The Aquarium, she obtained extensive experience training, handling, and caring for both small and large marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays, and hammerhead sharks. Alex was directly involved in the “stretcher training” of the aquarium’s four large manta rays so that they would willingly accept handling and veterinary care. Her work counterconditioning and desensitizing The Aquarium’s ray population was key in Alex receiving the Behavioral Training Award (BTA) from the International Marine Animal Trainer’s Association (IMATA). IMATA votes on the BTA annually and rarely presents the award to someone working with non-mammalian marine life, which further highlights Alex’s achievement.
Moreover, Alex’s behavioral skills are not exclusive to aquatic creatures. Alex also has a gift for communicating with dogs and people. Alex owns 3 dogs, 2 Boxers and a Yorkie: Darwin, Angie, and Romeo. She has taken Angie through the Beginner, Intermediate, and Rally levels at CPT and obtained her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title. Alex plans to next train Angie through the various AKC competition levels.
In addition, Darwin and Angie earned Trailing Certifications from the North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA). Now that they have their certifications, Alex plans to employ her Boxers as search and rescue dogs that find lost persons. She is also preparing her Boxers to perform cadaver search services.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys running, photography, gardening, and cooking. Most importantly, she has an infectiously pleasant personality that is highly welcomed by her colleagues and clients at CPT. Alex teaches Group Class, Private Instruction, and In-Home Private Instruction for CPT.
