Jessie Sanfillippo, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
Dog Trainer
My Role at Tucker Pup's
I train dogs in classes, private lessons, and Turnkey Training. In addition, I am a Canine Good Citizen evaluator with the American Kennel Club.Certifications and Education
- I earned my CTP certification at the Karen Pryor Academy, one of the leading schools for people to become dog trainers.
- I also earned my CPDT-KA certification (Certified Pet Dog Trainer).
- I graduated from Elmhurst University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology.
Work Experience
I originally started at Tucker Pup's as a dog handler, and worked my way up from Staff Trainer to Staff Supervisor, then eventually dog trainer. I trained dogs in our Dropoff Training, Puppy Socials, and Stay and Train programs before moving to classes and private lessons.Why I Became a Dog Trainer
Before working at Tucker Pup's, I had my first introduction to positive reinforcement training at the Shedd Aquarium. At the Shedd, I volunteered, interned, and eventually held multiple temporary positions in the marine mammals department, which included rescue dogs! While assisting in the training of beluga whales and dolphins was an absolute dream, it was the rescue dogs that were the most inspiring. All of the dogs at Shedd were surrendered to Chicago shelters for various behavior issues. Watching the Shedd trainers transform these pups with troubled pasts into literal show dogs was life-changing. This experience helped solidify my belief that all dogs are trainable and can be transformed into well-behaved members of the family.My Dog
I have a pit bull / Lab mix named Wade. Together, we want to spread the joy and bond created through positive reinforcement training with as many people and their dogs in our community as possible. I believe that training can and should always be fun for both dog and human.Testimonials
We took the Puppy Manners class and it helped us greatly with our puppy and apply the right methods of training to make our puppy achieve great things. We will continue to use the methods out trainer Jessie taught us in this course and apply it to all our future pups! We are so happy we took it. A very affordable way to get things started.
Julian Shin
I was very impressed with Jessie and the training she gave Max.
She is an excellent and compassionate trainer with incredible skills. Max loved her. I would highly recommend Jessie to those who have new puppies and want to start training them early on. Definitely a five star experience.
Thank you Jessie,
Gregory Bell
My wife and I found the Adult Manners training class to be incredibly helpful. Jessie does a phenomenal job giving us the tools to be successful during class and at home, and despite there being many dogs in the class, she made a point to be hands on when she identified a skill that us or the dogs needed additional guidance for learning. We would definitely recommend these classes to others and will be considering enrolling our pups in more advanced classes down the road.
William Baugh
