Hi there! Thanks for stopping by! My name is Brittany, but my Mom always called me Gert. I was adopted as a young child and chose to change my middle name, which later lead me to name my business, Gert’s Ark Animal Care. I am always trying to take in and help every dog I come across, especially the dogs that seem the most lost. I started my journey really young when all dogs seemed to respond positively. I was that horrible child who wanted and asked (when I remembered) to pet every dog I saw. I got better as I got older and huge part of my education is now teaching kids and adults how to approach a dog properly and when to leave them alone.

After college I moved up to northern Maine and spent several years mentoring at a Rescue that didn’t just rehabilitate and rescue dogs(many of the them ex fighting dogs) but they rescued all unwanted animals. As a result, I learned to combine horse training methods with dog training methods, which proved highly successful. I spent many years happily doing that until they lost funding and then decided to return to Southern Maine and began dabbling with training. I took on clients here and there, in-between the rest of life. I had to take a short break to take care of my son, and to recover from a broken back, but once I was able to work after my accident, I continued on my path as a dog trainer and Gert’s Ark Animal Care was born. I have in total 13 years of dog training experience using a balance method of training coming from many different places and venues around the world. I use methods developed by Tibetan Monks, military, and police trainers, as well as methods for specialized desensitization immersion for reactive dogs. A lot of my clients that come to me, bring dogs that are highly reactive. I have had a lot of success with the methods I use to help make life for those dogs and help those dogs on a path to live their best lives.

I also am fiercly passionate about training Service Dogs. As a Service Dog handler myself, I know how critical these dogs are for the well-being of their handlers. I know the personal impact a Service Dog can make. It can mean the difference between hours or days spent in the hospital or stuck on the couch vs being able to confidently go out and live life. I currently work with MAD Malinois and Dutch Rescue, volunteering my time to help train dogs that are placed in homes, or with fosters as they wait for their forever homes. The harder to manage dogs seem to always have a place in my home, and I love each and every one of them dearly. It is deeply fulfilling to see a scared, anxious, or completely untrained dog blossom, and such a blessing being a part of setting them up for success in their forever homes. I am in the process of setting up more time to help a local rescue in Acton, Maine with some of their dogs, once it is fully up and running.

At Gert’s Ark Animal Care, we help you, help your dog, become the best dog they can be! I work with both dog and human to help them learn to communicate properly, and to build respectful relationship between dog and owner. I am not a big advocate for the "Alpha" mentality. I have learned that a successful relationship is built on respect and not fear. I am currently in school to complete my behaviorist degree by the fall of 2022. Reach out and I will be happy to set up a consult and help you get your dog where they need to be. I am honest about expectations and will not promise anything, that cannot be done. I hope to talk to you soon.

 

-Gert’s Ark Animal Care-