Patricia McConnell - Dog Psychologist

Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, has made a lifelong commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and training, and for her engaging and knowledgeable books, DVDs and seminars. Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships." She dispenses advice on behavior problems, and information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling All Pets, (www.wpr.org/pets) which is heard in over 90 cities around the country.

A highly-sought after speaker on dog behavior and training, McConnell has presented seminars all over the United States, and in Canada, Germany, Australia and Belgium. She'll be speaking soon in Sweden, as well as in many cities in the United States. Dr. McConnell is also the behavior columnist for the Bark magazine (www.thebark.com) "the New Yorker of Dog Magazines") and a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Comparative Psychology.

She is the author of the much-acclaimed books The Other End of the Leash (which is now published in 10 languages and For the Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotions in You and Your Best Friend. Her self-published book and booklets on dog training and dog and cat behavior problems continually receive rave reviews from professional trainers, veterinarians and dog and cat lovers from all over the world.

Patricia received her Ph.D. in Zoology in 1988 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and working domestic animals. Her dissertation received the prestigious Allee Award from the Animal Behavior Society in that same year. Patricia and Nancy Raffetto founded Dog's Best Friend, Ltd in 1988. Dogs Best Friend Training, LLC is now owned and operated by the very capable Aimee Moore of Madison, WI. For more information about dog training classes and behavior consultation in the Madison, WI area, go to www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com. Patricia has two dogs, one confident cat and a very spoiled flock of sheep on a small farm in Southwestern Wisconsin. Her two Border Collies, Lassie and Will, keep her outside and active, and the memories of her beloved Great Pyrenees, Tulip, keeps her humble. Trisha suffers from Separation Anxiety each time she leaves her dogs at home when she leaves on her numerous speaking engagements around the country.

Denise Swedlund is the Office Manager extraordinaire of McConnell Publishing, Ltd. She started with Patricia and what was then Dog's Best Friend, Ltd., in 1995, and immediately set to work creating order out of chaos. (Apparently, Patricia had not yet figured out how to train papers to file themselves. Rumor has it she has still not perfected that method... ). Denise has been an integral part of the business ever since she came, using her analytical and organizational skills to grow a tiny business into helping thousands of animals and animal lovers around the world.

Denise and her husband John live in the little town of Mazomanie, in the hills of Southwestern Wisconsin. She has two sons, Brandon and Nick. Denise shares her home with 3 cats, Morris, Callie and Zen, and a Golden Retriever named Cooper. She is also the owner of an Appaloosa mare named Poco. In her spare time she enjoys renovating her home, flower gardening , horseback riding and spending time with her family and pets.

Andrea Jennings joined the staff of McConnell Publishing, Ltd. in 2005 as Marketing and Sales Coordinator, after having been in sales for many years. A regular listener to Dr. McConnell's "Calling All Pets" on Wisconsin Public Radio and a fan of Dr. McConnell's books, she still wonders how she was so blessed to have found this job. (And Patricia wonders why she was so lucky to have her join the pack.)

Andrea has three children. Andrea and her family currently share their rural Mazomanie home with three dogs -- the slightly overweight Sparky Lynn, the ebullent Miss Zoe Anne, and the ever-humorous Mia Sophia Santa Maria (all mixed breed rescues) and one calico cat, Honey Kitty, who is a dog wannabe. Andrea is also proud as punch to share her life with Will, a 6 year- old Quarter Horse/Standard Bred gelding who "chose her" this August!

Andrea has shared her life with dogs since she was two years old, and can not imagine life without them. Her love of animals passes on to her children, Megan, who is a Reserve National Champion Jr. Horse Handler, Willie, who is an avid outdoor sportsman, and Gianna, whose goal is to become a natural horse trainer. In her spare time, Andrea loves running, trail riding, reading, cooking, entertaining, gardening, and attending the numerous events in which her children are involved.