Our Trainers

Terence Kirby

owNER/Trainer

Terence loves dogs and is seldom seen without one by his side. With the creation of My Dogs Mind about two decades ago, Terence has been fortunate to do what he loves on a daily basis and pass his knowledge and enthusiasm on to hundreds of dogs and their owners.

Terence is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (member no. 1468). He has apprenticed and trained under some of the most renowned dog authorities, including Jenifer Vickery of The Pawsitive Dog Training Center (multiple Best of Boston awards winner) and nationally recognized trainer and speaker Brian Kilcommons.

In addition to maintaining a rigorous schedule of self-education, you’ll find Terence in attendance at several professional training workshops and seminars throughout the year. He is qualified and well-versed in a variety of training approaches and philosophies. In addition to his work at My Dogs Mind, Terence spent time and resources on the evaluation, training, and placement of sheltered dogs at Doberman Rescue Unlimited in Sandown, New Hampshire.

When he is not busy dishing out praise n’ treats in class, Terence can be found at home or on the go with his wife, Sandy, and their three children. The Kirby’s have three dogs, Bizzy the Malinois, Rio the Cattle Dog, and Kip the Cairn Terrier, who often earn their keep by volunteering as class stand-ins or comic relief in the parking lot.

A true New Englander and a lover of nature and the outdoors, Terence enjoys fishing and surfing year-round. He treasures being part of the tight-knit New Hampshire seacoast community where he can make life more enjoyable for dogs and humans.

KATIE MCHUGH, IACP-CDT

tRAINER

Katie joined My Dogs Mind in 2012 as a Dayschool Attendant, moved her way up to Dayschool Manager, and is now a full-time Dog Trainer offering private and group lessons. In February 2022, Katie became a Certified Dog Trainer with the International Association of Canine Professionals.

In 2017, Katie started her business Katie’s Buckles LLC, where she developed a new product that changed how trainers and owners use their training collars across the United States and around the globe. Find her on Instagram @katiesbuckles and her website www.katiesbuckles.com.

Katie is an open and balanced trainer, believing in positive reinforcement and the proper use of training equipment. She loves teaching owners how to responsibly adventure with their dogs on and off the leash and troubleshoot less desirable behaviors. Training her fearful and reactive dog Gaucho since 2016 has helped her better teach people experiencing the same issues and deeply empathize with them.

Outside of teaching and running her business, Katie is either continuing her dog training education, dabbling in various dog sports, attending live music events, playing the ukulele, or best of all, hiking and camping with her Belgian Malinois, Gaucho, and Miniature Pinscher, Zen.

AMORIAH COOPER

General Manager

Amoriah joined the My Dogs Mind team in 2013 after graduating from UNH’s Thompson School with an Associate degree in Applied Animal Science. Starting as a Dayschool attendant, she now manages the Dayschool. 

Amoriah’s first career choice was to become an English teacher. However, during a family vacation to Puerto Rico, she found a stray dog on the beach and decided to make him part of the family. Seeing the many island dogs in need made her want to do more. She decided she was better suited for a degree in Animal Science to achieve her dream job— animal rescue. Asked to sit in on a training class for college credits, she chose My Dogs Mind. After observing two classes, she was asked if she wanted a job. She’s since combined her love of teaching and animals by working with our Dayschool dogs.

She speaks up for animal rights and donates her time and resources to animal rescue. When she isn’t teaching your dogs new skills or playing with them until their tongues fall out, you can find her with her sidekick Rojo (her Puerto Rican rescue) on hiking trails, kayaking, or reading a good book at the beach. If you ever see them feel free to say hello!