CARAT Assessments can be done by a Certified CARAT Assessor. Please be sure that anyone claiming to do CARAT assessments is on this list.
CERTIFIED CARAT ASSESSOR ARE UNIQUELY SKILLED…
CARAT Assessors are proficient at reading dog body language and are notable for their compassion and detailed approach to the individual animal. Mastering CARAT required several years of dedication and practice. Certification serves to recognize the study and effort put forth by the certified assessor in developing their skills and to ensure that the individual demonstrates proficiency in both the theoretical and practical applications of CARAT.
Who needs a CARAT assessment? You might want an assessment for dog you already have, wish to adopt, are fostering, or to understand candidate dogs for a program or specific sport/activity, evaluate puppies in a litter, or consideration of breeding stock.
CCA (Certified CARAT Assessors) routinely use CARAT when working with behavior cases, as this detailed approach helps them understand your dog in detail. This understanding of the dog as an individual helps create training plans and choices tailored specifically to your dog.
CCAs have put a couple of years of study into learning CARAT directly from Suzanne Clothier. This powerful tool indeed “changes everything!” but the complexity that makes it so powerful also means it takes time to master. They are skilled in using the CARAT scoring system, administering the tests designed to be used with CARAT under formal conditions, as well as developing their observation skills so that informal assessments are also possible.
Stephanie Berry, BA, CPDT-KA, CNWI, CCC-CI, CCA
Owner of Blueberry Dogs, LLC
Available for the following CARAT Assessments:
- Suitability for purpose (companion, performance sports, scent detection)
- Litter assessment
- Individual client assessment
About Stephanie Stephanie has been a dog trainer since 2009, teaching for a wonderful dog training facility in Columbia, MD before opening Blueberry Dogs, LLC. She trains using a science-based approach to change behavior and is committed to the use of positive reinforcement methods, with a focus on the relationship between dog and handler.
Jodi Gibbons
CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, CCA
Available for CARAT Assessments:
Individual client assessments
Suitability for purpose
Litter Assessment
About Jodi
Jodi is a Certified CARAT Assessor (CCA), Accredited Dog Trainer (IAABC-ADT), and
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) based in Bermuda. Through her
business, Dog Training Diva, she provides private training and behavior consultations to
help owners better understand their dogs and build a harmonious relationship.
She earned her CPDT-KA and IAABC-ADT credentials in 2022. In 2023, she completed
two extensive professional courses with industry experts Kim Brophy and Michael
Shikashio, earning her Family Dog Mediator (FDM) title and Aggression in Dogs
Certification and in 2026 completed Grisha Stewart’s BAT Foundations Course.
Jodi is particularly passionate about helping pet dog owners better understand and
connect with their dogs. Her approach recognizes that every dog is an individual, and
she uses careful observation and a relationship-focused perspective to help owners
understand what their dogs are communicating.
To reach Jodi: dogtrainingdiva@hotmail.com
Ann R. Howie, LICSW, ACSW, CCA, CCFT
Founder, Human-Animal Solutions, PLLC Human-Animal Solutions.com Email Ann
ABOUT ANN Ann is a state and nationally licensed clinical social worker (LICSW, ACSW), a Certified CARAT Assessor (CCA), and a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT). She is the author of four books about various aspects of animal-assisted interactions. Teaming with Your Therapy Dog is being used as a text by many therapy-dog groups and trainers nationwide. Her latest book, Assessing Handlers for Competence in Animal-Assisted Interventions, gives comprehensive guidance about handler competencies and how to both train for and assess them.
Ann taught for the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver for 14 years, and designed and directed their Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist program. Ann is now on faculty with Oakland University’s Center for Human-Animal Interventions.
During her training as a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer, Ann’s observation skills were further refined to identify possible physical issues that can affect a dog’s comfort and ability to function. In this role she helps dogs stay physically fit and handlers appreciate the work that it takes to be a dog in the 21st century. Ann’s extensive CARAT™ training added powerful experience that changed not only what she sees when she looks at dogs, but also how she helps animals thrive in their lives and work with humans. She is delighted to be a Certified CARAT Assessor.
DEB JORDAN Certified CARAT Assessor, Certified NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine Team, Certified NATIONAL CISM Response Team, Professional Dog Groomer, Certified Animal Assisted Therapist, ATD Tester/Observer
Available for CARAT assessments for:
- Litter Assessment
- Suitability for Purpose
- Individual Client Assessment
- Rescue Organizations
- Crisis Response Canine Assessment
- Therapy Dog Assessments
Cindy Knowlton, BA, CPDT-KA, CCC-CI, CNWI, CCA, CTRI
Owner of See Spot Grin
Available for the following CARAT Assessments:
- Litter assessments
- Individual client assessments
- Suitability for specific purpose (companion, therapy dog, performance sports)
About Cindy Cindy is a Professional Member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), and an Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) associate, and currently serves as a volunteer with National Capital Therapy Dogs. She currently offers K9 Nose Work and CCC classes, Relationship (RAT) Assessments, private behavior consultations.
Judy Rapp Moore, BS, CDBC, CCA, CPDT-KA
Owner, Canine Behavior Counseling
Canine Behavior Counseling.com
Judy is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animals Behavior Consultants, IAABC. A Certified CARAT Assessor (CCA) through the Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool CARAT. As well as a Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). Judy has served as a Canine Expert Witness in the U.S. Court System, Co-Authored A.C.E(R) Selection Protocol now for sale on Amazon and created two Positive Reinforcement online courses, B.I.T.E Bite Intervention for Everyone and Drop the Leash sold through Dogwise.com.
Judy has owned and operated Canine Behavior Counseling since 2008. Her primary passion has been on the territorial dog, having owned three dogs with bite histories. Judy’s training programs and services encompass Canine Temperament testing, Bite risk assessments, In-home behavior modification, speaking engagements, professional publications/Blog posts, and ad-hoc Expert Consultations.
Claire Robertson, CPDT-KA, AD, Pet CPR & First AID
Owner of Candid Canines Dog Training
Certified CARAT Assessor
Website: http://bbrob3950.wixsite.com/candid-canines
Claire started Candid Canines in Burnet Texas in 2016. She enjoys helping humans and canines achieve a greater understanding of one another, and thinks of her client’s success as her own. Her goals are to help transform the world for humans and dogs alike into a clearer, kinder place.
She offers private lessons, board and train, group classes, online coaching and pre-puppy/pre-adoption counseling.
Eileen Thorne
CDBC, CPDT-KA, CAATP, SDC, CCA
Owner of Community K9
www.communityk9.org
Available for CARAT Assessments:
Individual client assessments
Suitability for purpose
Litter Assessment
About Eileen
Eileen is a Certified CARAT Assessor (CCA), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
(CDBC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Animal Assisted
Therapy Professional (CAATP) and Service Dog Coach (SDC) based in Bermuda.
Through her business, Community K9, Eileen provides puppy socialization, adolescent,
therapy and advanced training classes, training lectures and demonstrations, private
training and behavior consultations and animal assisted therapy and education.
She published her first book, In Partnership with Dogs: Therapy, Service, Emotional
Support Dogs: A primer for owner trainers in 2025.
An activist for dogs, Eileen served as a long term volunteer, foster and training and
behavior consultant for the Bermuda SPCA. She has also been active in animal
assisted therapy and education since 2005.
Eileen has been teaching classes since 2004. Her goal is to help her students
understand their dog’s communication system and create a training relationship based on
science, cooperation and mutual respect.
