mara Soo
Lion, bear & Elk Trainer
- Trained upper-level competitive sport horses across the US, working with trainers up to the Olympic level
- TRAINED MOUNTAIN LIONS, BEARS, ELK, BALD EAGLES, OTTERS AND OWLS TO VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE IN VETERINARY PROCEDURES
- Competitive member of blackwater psa (patrol and protection dogs)
More about
mara Soo
TRAINING SPECIALTY
Mara loves helping families learn to control and understand with their high drive working dogs! She helps many Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, and other working breed families with off leash and advanced obedience. Most of all, she loves working with competitive / sport dogs and their handlers!
FUN FACT
Mara worked at the first zoo to conduct vet visits without the use of sedatives. The mountain lions, bears, elk, otters, eagles, and other animals were trained to voluntarily participate in veterinary produces!
MARA’S DOGS
- Darko, a black KNPV Belgian Malinois puppy training for PSA
- Rogue, a black German Shepherd learning protection sports and AKC obedience
- Cobra, a Dutch Shepherd project dog training for the PSA PDC and the SLK9 EL before finding a new home
CERTIFICATIONS
Mara Soo is an AKC CGC Evaluator, a PAVLOV Certified Dog Trainer, and a titled PSA-K9 Trainer/Handler and official member of Blackwater PSA Club. Previously, she was a student of multiple upper level Parelli and event trainers. Her experience with equine behavior helped her become a professional Zoo Keeper focused on Elk.
OTHER AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Off leash / advanced obedience —> Mara is skilled in achieving precision obedience with any dog, even in downtown and busy environments.
- Excited or aggressive leash reactivity —> While other team members are often best for working with fear reactivity, one of Mara’s favorite types of training programs is teaching neutrality to dogs that are leash reactive due to overexcitement, dog aggression, or other causes such as protectiveness.
- Dog aggression —> Mara is excellent in explaining the role of genetics as well as training when it comes to dog aggression. She is passionate about building neutrality to other dogs and teaching owners to safely control their dog’s behavior.
- Handler aggression —> Some dogs use aggression to challenge their owner, or may “redirect” onto their owner when overaroused. This can be very dangerous and requires a special approach to be permanently resolved!
- New puppy behavior (under 16 weeks) —> Mara often conducts our New Puppy Sessions teaching how puppy psychology, socialization, and habits should be managed in the developmental periods of puppies under 16 weeks of age.
