About Me

In Step Dog Training is the vision of certified professional dog trainer Nancy Dougan.

Founded on the philosophy of positive training and scientific learning theory, In Step Dog Training strongly believes that excellent communication coupled with loving interaction builds a mutually happy relationship between owners and their dogs. That is why In Step Dog Training brings people and their dogs together for a lifetime of joy.

Nancy has lived with dogs all her life. She was only 10 when she took over training the family dogs; several German Shepherds, Dachshunds, and various All-Americans.

All through school, college and a professional life working for a major pharmaceutical company, her personal life has always involved animals, first raising, training and showing Quarter Horses and Hunter/ Jumpers, and then becoming involved in training and competing with her own dogs.

Nancy co-founded Norcal Aussie Rescue, a non- profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates Australian Shepherds. She was heavily involved in Australian Shepherd rescue for over 7 years: fostering, evaluating, temperament-testing dogs as well as screening potential adopters.

In 1998, she made the decision to combine her professional life with her personal life and became a professional dog trainer.

Nancy became a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) and behavior consultant. She is a professional member and dog trainer of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).

Nancy completed the 6 month program CCITA I & II (Canine Consultant/ Instructor Training Academy) given by Trish King, a nationally known behaviorist, at the Marin SPCA. This course covered learning theory for canine behavior, canine body language, diagnosing and treating dog aggression, clicker training, and much more.

Nancy is committed to ongoing education. She frequently attends lectures and workshops by animal behaviorists and trainers, such as Karen Pryor, Trish King, Brenda Aloff and others.

Nancy enjoys her time as a member of County-Wide Dog Training Club, Oakland Dog Training Club, Western Australian Shepherd Obedience Club, and Australian Shepherd Club of America. She shows and competes with her own dogs in competition obedience, agility, conformation.

Nancy earned her BS in Animal Science from UC Davis.  She raised, trained and showed Quarter Horses for over 20 years.

Nancy shares her home with her Aussie, AKC/ASCA CH Propwash Paprika CD, (aka Rikki) and 2 cats, Ariel and Buffy.