Instructor & Trainer Bios
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Laura Coursey is a dynamic instructor, dog trainer, and disabilities specialist. She has lived her entire life with a form of Muscular Dystrophy. Laura never walked and uses a power wheelchair to master her environment. As a child, Laura decided that her disability would never prevent her from accomplishing her goals.A lifelong dog lover, Laura first learned about service dogs at the age of 12. At the time, the only dogs available were through programs that trained a dog for an individual. The cost was exorbitant, and Laura believed she would never be able to afford a service dog. 
Laura moved from Rochester, New York to Tucson, Arizona in 1979 to study at the University of Arizona where she earned a BS in Public Administration, Health Services Administration. While studying at the University, Laura learned about a local organization teaching people with disabilities how to train their family dog to be their service dog. After graduating from U of A, Laura worked with a variety of organizations. While working at DIRECT, Center for Independence as the Personal Assistant Specialist, Laura enrolled at one of the local service dog training organizations with her rescued Papillon, Chewy.
Laura fell in love with the training methodology. She began to use the principles of positive reinforcement not only when training Chewy, but in all aspects of her life. Unfortunately, Chewy had some significant physical trauma sustained before Laura rescued him. This condition was permanent and untreatable. Chewy was lovingly led to the Rainbow Bridge where he plays happily with Laura’s grandparents as well as his other canine brothers and sisters.Laura re-enrolled at the same local service dog training organization; this time with a yellow Labrador Retriever named Synergy. As Laura and Synergy approached graduation, Laura was offered a position there as a Special Projects Coordinator and as an Instructor! Laura was in heaven! It turns out that Laura has a natural gift, not only with dogs, but with people as well. She is a loving, yet tough, instructor. She believes that dog training, as well as people training, should always be fun. It is not uncommon to hear her students celebrating as they achieve higher and higher levels of success. Frequent exclamations of “Wow that was easy” or, “I never thought I would be able to do that” or, “I didn’t really believe my dog was capable of that” are heard from Laura’s students! Laura recently decided to launch EQuality Dog Training with classes and programs offered here in Tucson, as well as around the globe via Skype. She is looking forward to using emerging internet technologies such as Skype so she can teach dogs and their people all around the world to form loving, fun, respect based partnerships. Send Laura an e-mail and she’ll help you design your own custom made training package. She’s looking forward to helping your dog train you!  |