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, in 2016 she moved her way up to Dayschool Manager and started teaching classes, then in 2020 became 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 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, Miniature Pinscher, Zen, and pittie mix, Jane.

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!

Jackie St.Cyr, CNWI

K9 Nose Work Trainer

Jackie joined My Dog’s Mind in January 2023. She’s a certified NACSW K9 Nose Work instructor. Years ago, her dog interest was peaked when she rescued an unsocialized female GSD, Jaxey. She faced much opposition, including from veterinarians, regarding how to best help Jaxey overcome her fears of the unknown. Refusing to give up, and with a lot of work and research, Jackie was able to help the near-feral pup adjust to a family life filled with adventures. This special bond with Jaxey made Jackie realize even the most fearful dog has the potential to be their best self. Using what dogs love most, food, Jaxey was drawn out of her shell little by little until she eventually tolerated being in the same room as strangers.

Many years later, Jackie came across a new dog sport called K9 Nosework. She realized the concepts taught in the sport could be applied to all dogs, even the most fearful ones, helping them navigate a world that is not as scary as they might’ve thought. By this time, she had acquired another GSD of working lines named Reina. Often, Reina put her high energy to negative use, including reactivity to both dogs and humans. Reina needed a job, a task to use her brain and learn to channel “that bad behavior” in a more constructive outlet. Taking a chance, Jackie enrolled Reina in K9 Nose Work, where they both excelled. Seeing the positive difference in Reina gave Jackie the courage to become a Certified Nosework Instructor and give back to the community through My Dog’s Mind, helping one dog at a time.

Danni St.Cyr, CGC, ANWI

CGC Evaluator, Scentwork Instructor

Danni joined My Dog’s Mind in 2015, working in the Day School. Along the way, she graduated from UNH’s Thompson School with a degree in Veterinary Technology.

Her first taste of working with animals was volunteering at the Seabrook Greyhound Race Track in Seabrook, New Hampshire, at the age of thirteen. She was quickly hired by REGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets), an on-site adoption program, and stayed with them until greyhound racing ended in New Hampshire in 2009. After a few years in the retail industry, she grabbed the first opportunity to get back into what she loved when offered a position at My Dog’s Mind.

In 2017, she began learning about K9 Nose work from NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work), auditing classes while her mother trained their two German Shepherds in the sport. In 2023, My Dog’s Mind added K9 Nose work as an opportunity for their clients to pursue as a fun activity. In early 2024, Danni began evaluating potential clients for scent work, and teaching Introduction to Nose work.

Wanting to bring CGC, the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, back to My Dog’s Mind, Danni pursued training to become a CGC Evaluator. She is now teaching CGC classes.

When she isn’t working, she spends time with her Cattle Dog X, Rui, training him in K9 Nose work so when he’s ready, they can compete together. Along for the ride is her German Shepherd, Dea, who goes everywhere with Danni and Rui, each adventure grander than the last.