About Amanda

Ruff to Ready Dog Training

Founded by Amanda Lunsford

Certified Behavior Consultant

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.“
Albert Einstein

About Amanda Lunsford

Since she was young, Amanda has always had a fascination with human and animal behavior. Driven by her passion, she pursued careers in leadership and sales in her early adult life. In 2019, her voice was gone for several months because of various factors. That’s when she realized she wanted to help animals and their humans for a living.

Amanda and Nathan in Cedar Keys, FL with the ocean behind them. Amanda is wearing a gray and white baseball cap and a gray shirt. Nathan is wearing a dark blue shirt.

Amanda’s Educational Background

Amanda recognized that getting an education in this field would provide her with diverse opportunities to support her clients. For three years, she immersed herself in studying dog behavior, rescue perspectives, and the diverse lifestyles of dog owners. By obtaining certifications and teaching different courses, she ensured clients had a variety of options for behavior change – avoiding a one size fits all approach.

Amanda’s Focus On Dog Behavior Cases

She studied various dog behaviors and identified the need for a specialized behavior consultant in Jacksonville, FL for aggressive dogs. So, she focused only on working with these specific behaviors from 2022 to 2023. Amanda examined the behavior patterns that led to aggression in these dogs, including hyperactivity, destructiveness, and anxiety. By 2024, she expanded her services to address a wide variety of behavior problems to prevent dog bites.

Certification & Professional Development

Certified Canine Behavior Consultant- Knowledge Assessed by CCPDT (2021)
2024 Animal Behavior Conference by the IAABC Foundation
The Forensics of Aggression: Working with and evaluating canine aggression by Jim Crosby (2022)
Play Way! for Aggression Cases with Dr. Amy Cook (2022)
Aggression In Dogs Workshop & Defensive Handling Skills by Michael Shikashio, CDBC (2022)
Aggression in Dogs Conference (2021 & 2022)
Aggressive Dogs Master Course (2021)
AKC Evaluator for S.T.A.R. Puppy & Canine Good Citizen (2021)
Using Enrichment to Treat Aggression with Emily Strong and Allie Bender (2021)
Fear Free Certified Dog Trainer (2021)
Recognizing Pain in Dogs with Dr. Debbie Torraca (2021)
Navigating Difficult Conversations: When Euthanasia for Behavior is a Consideration with Dr. Chris Pachel (2021)
Beyond the Bite: Crucial Consulting Skills with Dr. Melanie Cerone (2021)
Our Dog Bit Our Toddler! HELP! with Jennifer Shryock: Part 1 & 2 (2021)
Livestock Guardian Dogs- What you need to know for your aggression cases (2020)
Dog Emotion and Cognition by Duke University (2020)
Dog to Cat Aggression with Katenna Jones (2020)

Developed and Instructed Courses

Brewhound Defensive Handling & Dog Body Language (2022)
Defensive Handling and Safety Protocols for The Reactive Dog Course (2022-2023)
Group Reactive Dog Course (2022-2023)
Group Puppy Classes (2021-2022)
Group Manners Class (2021-2022)
Foster Dog Adjusted Webinar for The London Sanctuary (2021)

Amanda Values Diverse Perspectives

Amanda’s programs integrate diverse perspectives on dog behavior. She adapts her focus to her clients’ priorities, recognizing the subjectivity of good behavior. Amanda improves dog-human relationships by tailoring programs to individual needs through understanding behavioral patterns. Her programs accommodate unique requirements, ensuring a successful bond between dogs and owners.