🐾 Claudine 🐾

Playgroup Leader – The Dog Den East

With over six years of experience in canine care and group management, Claudine brings patience, consistency, and a keen eye for communication to her role as Playgroup Leader. She thrives on helping dogs who may be struggling discover new, positive ways to navigate the world—turning each breakthrough into a lasting, confidence-building win for both the dog and their family.

Her training style emphasizes consistency, collaboration, and clear communication, always paired with a willingness to try different approaches until she finds what works best for each dog. Claudine believes learning happens most successfully when trust is built and communication flows both ways.

One of her favorite moments on the job is being present for a dog’s very first day of daycare. She knows that bond—formed in those first moments—lasts for life. Watching a dog’s personality emerge over time, and then getting to share those stories with their people, is a highlight of her work.

Claudine shares her life with Brinx, a 10.5-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier, and has had the joy of living with six dogs of her own over the years, including four Doberman Pinschers (Milo, Molly, Clyde, and Syris) and an American Staffordshire Terrier (Jesse). Her Doberman, Clyde, co-owned with his breeder, placed in his classes two years in a row at the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s Nationals—a proud accomplishment that lives in the club’s records.

Her love for training began long before she worked with dogs—it started with horse training at the age of 11. She worked with weanling and yearling American Quarter Horses for halter classes, grooming, and preparing them for shows, and spent three summers on a Morgan Horse Farm in Littleton, CO, learning everything from groundwork to harnessing and driving. That early foundation of patience, observation, and consistency now shapes her work with dogs every day.

Claudine has a special interest in the role of dogs in therapy and service work, inspired by the life-changing benefits she’s seen animals bring to humans. She hopes to one day be more involved in training for assistive roles.

At the East location, you’ll find Claudine rotating through playgroups, assisting with enrichment, and ensuring each dog’s day is safe, rewarding, and full of joy. For her, the best part of the job is simple:
“I’m thankful I get the opportunity to spend my days with your dogs.” ❤️