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About Us

Patience, Persistence, Positive Reinforcement, Praise & Play
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Always passionate about animals, Kelly fell in love with her first pit bull in 2006. She volunteered at MCHS (Montgomery County Humane Society) and MCASAC (Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center) shelters for six years, working with difficult to handle dogs, studying behavior and training dogs to make them more adoptable. She also joined OPH rescue and was the lead for bringing the rescue to Montgomery County, MD.
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In 2008, she began to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls and still does so today. Kelly began teaching obedience and agility at Zoom Room in 2012, and also became the “Pit Bull Mentor” for students struggling with their (mostly rescued) pit bull type dogs. Brutus, her Certified Therapy Dog, passed his CGC and they joined National Capital Therapy Dogs (NCTD) in 2014, attaining additional READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) Certification immediately. Together, Kelly and Brutus began working with middle school aged children with behavioral problems in alternative education schools/programs and did so for over ten years, in addition to other animal assisted therapy.

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Kelly began teaching both group classes and private sessions locally and earned many certifications, including CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed), FFCP (Fear Free certified Professional) and FDM (Family Dog Mediator). She also completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course and began helping dogs exhibiting aggression.

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Kelly was elected to the NCTD Board in 2016 and was on the Board for nine years, including serving as Secretary for five years. She continues to contribute as a member of the Training Committee and as a Therapy Dog Instructor for NCTD.

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In 2021, Kelly assembled a team who shares her vision and philosophy in training and founded 4 On the Floor Dog Training & Behavior Consulting. Our mission is to help every dog achieve their fullest potential and live happy and healthy lives through natural and positive solutions. We use ONLY positive, force and fear free training methods.

4 on the Floor is built on partnerships and relationships - client, veterinary, rescue, local government, and more. Kelly partnered both with several local rescues and the City of Rockville shortly after forming the company. In addition to our training center where we offer classes and privates seven days a week, we also teach for City of Rockville in their community center three days a week. We sponsor fosters in group classes for our rescue partners to help increase adoptability and reduce return rates.

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We have built a wonderful community and have grown through veterinary and client referrals! The highest compliment we can get is a referral and your trust in us to care for the next dog just as well as we did yours.
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We hope you and your pup will join us to learn, play, and have some fun!

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Worldclass Mentors

Kelly's mentors are renowned leaders, bestselling authors and expert educators in the field of canine behavior and positive reinforcement training.

Kelly and Michael Shikashio closeup.HEIC
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