Downtown Dogs - Daycare, Boarding and Training for your Dog

Our Training Staff

Kelly Alves Helsing, CPDT-KA, CTC

Kelly has been working and training dogs at daycare for over twelve years and is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Her specialty is dog behavior and group play. She is a graduate of the San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy and earned a Certificate in Training and Counseling. She is also a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator from the American Kennel Club and is certified in Pet First Aid and CPR. Kelly enjoys working with a variety of dogs and their owners. "The best part of teaching training classes is watching the relationship develop between dogs and their owners". Kelly also continues her education by attending a variety of seminars, conferences and workshops. She believes that learning is a never ending process.

Emily Laidlaw, ABCDT, CPDT

Emily has been a dog lover her whole life; in fact her first word was "doggy" so it seems natural that she would be working with dogs. Having had dogs her whole life it wasn't until she rescued a dog that she realized there had to be a more positive way to train dogs. Emily graduated with honors from Animal Behavior College in 2008. She is also a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the APDT. Emily is currently attending classes to become a certified K9 Nosework instructor. She is loving learning and working with the amazing staff at Downtown Dogs. Having a passion for dogs and people, Emily is truly enjoying her "dream job".

An avid horse lover as well, Emily used to compete in the Northern Cal Hunter/Jumper circuit and now enjoys riding for pleasure.

Emily continues to grow and learn from her four legged friends and would love to have a piece of land large enough someday to have some dogs and horses, rescue of course.

Jen Voelkel
Jen has been a teacher most of her life. She started by assisting her music instructor while in elementary school and then went on to become a credentialed 1st grade teacher. She taught in the Sunnyvale School District for 9 years before having twin boys. Life since then has been a crazy adventure.

Currently, Jen trains and trials in agility with her Australian Shepherd, Kye. They have competed for 6 years and have won numerous titles in AKC, USDAA, NADAC, and CPE events. She is a student at Power Paws Agility in San Jose and teaches agility at Jump'n Java Agility in Redwood City. Jen can't believe how lucky she has been to be able to put her two passions in life together, dogs and teaching.

Candace Hardy
Candace graduated from Animal Behavior College in 2006. Since then, she has trained at a variety of facilities and does private lessons, specializing in basic obedience and behavior modification. In addition, she and her teammate, Myla, have competed in Rally and are beginning to train in agility. To continue her education, Candace networks with other trainers, participates in webinars offered by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, reads books and articles voraciously, and, of course, works with dogs, the best teachers of all.

LJ Archibeque - Training Assistant

LJ has worked at Downtown Dogs since late November 2006. LJ currently attends San Jose State University where he is pursuing a degree in Conservation and Organismal Biology with an emphasis in Entomology. In the future LJ hopes to work anywhere that he can collect and study insects. Despite the passion for his six-legged friends, he also loves working with our four-legged furry friends. LJ likes all the dogs here, but he has a soft spot for the small dogs. His ultimate dream is to live on a 20 acre parcel of land where he can give a million and one dogs a great loving home!

Sarah Stevens - Training Assistant

Sarah has trained and owned dogs for the past 14 years and loves every moment of it. She currently has a Jack Russell Terrier mix and a Staffordshire / Bull Terrier mix. Sarah enjoys the sport of K9 Nosework and has been taking classes with her dogs and is in the instructor program. Her goal is to teach K9 Nosework classes. Sarah's other hobbies are clicker training and dog photography.