Meet the Wiggle Butt Team
Nicole Kohanski: Founder, Behavior Training for Dogs
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We take wiggle butts seriously.
Nicole Kohanski, CTC, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CSAT, FDM, CBATI-KA, FPPE, Dip CBST, ADT-IAABC, CPDT-KA, Elite FFCP, has devoted years to earning a world-class education in dog training and behavior. With a passion for science-based, humane methods, Nicole’s dedication ensures your pets receive the highest level of care and expertise.
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Why does Nicole invest so much in education? Because you and your dogs deserve it. Tackling complex behavior cases requires both experience and cutting-edge knowledge, and Nicole’s commitment to staying ahead of the latest research enables her to best serve your family. Instead of relying on scattered, unregulated information, Nicole and the Wiggle Butt Academy team provide evidence-based, compassionate solutions tailored to your needs.
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Credentials and Expertise
Nicole’s qualifications are extensive, reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence in canine training and behavior:
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Graduated with honors from the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers (Certificate in Training and Counseling, CTC).
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Earned a Diploma in Canine Behavior, Science, and Technology (Dip CBST) from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute.
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Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT-IAABC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
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Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
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Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator (FPPE).
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Elite Fear Free Certified Professional (Level 3) in Veterinary, Training, and Pet Sitting.
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Completed the Aggression in Dogs Masters Course and the Canine Arthritis Management Advocacy Program (currently pursuing the veterinary course).
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Kim Brophey’s Family Dog Mediation Certification graduate and Licensed Family Dog Mediator.
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Human Animal Bond Certified through the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).
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Certified Pet Nutrition Coach (NAVC) and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
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PNWI Instructor in K9 Nose Work through the National Association of Canine Scent Work.
Professional and Academic Background
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Ethics and an MBA from the Jindal School of Business at the University of Texas at Dallas. Before founding Wiggle Butt Academy, she spent over a decade as a Chief Operating Officer, overseeing operations for companies in healthcare and athlete protection. This unique professional background equips her with both leadership skills and a client-centered approach.
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Passion for Helping Dogs and Families
Nicole specializes in addressing challenging cases such as fear, aggression, and intrahousehold conflict. Her mission is to help dogs and families live harmoniously, even in the face of complex behavioral issues.
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A Life Surrounded by Dogs
Nicole lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband of 25 years and their eight dogs: Chewie, Leia, Obi, Luke, Artoo, Wicket, BB8, and Gungi. Inspired by Chewie, the Wiggle Butt Academy logo proudly represents the heart of her work. Nicole also volunteers for several rescue organizations and serves her community on the Animal Advisory Board for the City of Frisco. Nicole combines her passion for humane training, love for animals, and expertise in dog behavior to transform the lives of dogs and their families across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond.
CTC, with honors
Known as the "Harvard" of dog training schools, the Academy offers this two year comprehensive program with in- depth education in dog training, behavior modification and client counseling.
Academy studies "focus on two main themes: how animals learn and how best to change their behavior; and how to work with the people who will be your clients. For the dog training component, this includes training obedience behaviors and understanding basic behavior problems, but also includes working with fearful and aggressive dogs."
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CSAT
"Unlike many available online, our certification program is exclusively offered to only the most experienced dog professionals in the business.
There is no other certification program available that has as high of admission standards, making CSATs the most respected and successful separation anxiety trainers throughout the world.
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The CSAT credential is widely recognized as the most respected and long-standing in the field of separation anxiety – we’re even recommended by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. "
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Licensed Family Dog Mediator
Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S. Model of Integrated Canine Science, endorsed by leading canine scientists and celebrated by dog pros worldwide, has been called “ the single most important development in the dog behavior industry” and “ the future of dog training”. As an applied ethologist, Kim introduces us to the basic foundational system of orchestral elements that direct the behavior of every single animal on Earth and explains what this means for our modern canine companions.
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Elite Certified Professional
Certified Elite Fear Free Professional (Veterinary Level 3, Animal Trainer, Pet Sitter). Completing the Fear Free Animal Trainer Program allows trainers to work in partnership with veterinary teams to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress and improve an animal’s emotional wellbeing during veterinary care and home care. This certification program is designed to give qualified animal trainers the knowledge and tools required to begin implementing Fear Free techniques with their clients’ pets at the veterinary hospital, through in-clinic training classes for puppies and kittens, and in day-to-day training of animals in the home.
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CDBC
CDBC stands for Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Overseen by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, this third-party certification has extensive requirements. Applicants are encouraged to have a minimum of at least 3 years and 500 hours of experience in behavior consulting practice, at least 400 hours of coursework related to the association's Core Areas of Competency, and submit 3 written case studies, 4 written discussion of case study analysis, and pass an exam covering terminology, techniques, assessment, and history taking.
CBATI-KA
To achieve the CBATI-KA requires more than 100 hours of coursework, exam and case review.
BAT, short for Behavior Adjustment Training, is a system developed by Grisha Stewart that includes philosophy and techniques that combine to help dogs feel better many situations. BAT gives dogs more control over their safety by creating “opportunities to "interact with the environment in emotionally and physically safe ways” (Stewart). With BAT, we empower our dogs to make choices and set the environment up so that the likelihood of great choices is high.
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ADT
IAABC's Accredited Dog Trainer program requires two years of experience, written discussion of two scenarios, completion of two training questions, and completion of questions regarding terminology, techniques, assessment, and history taking.
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Applicants must score 80% or greater on each of the following to be accepted as an Accredited Member: learning science, scenarios, training questions, entire application.
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CBCC-KA
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed is an advanced certification for dog trainers that offer behavior modification as part of their services. To obtain this certification, trainers must have a minimum of 300 hours of experience dealing specifically with behavior issues (such as phobias, anxieties and aggression), have a reference from a CCPDT certificant or veterinarian, and agree to the certification council's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least-Intrusive Minimally-Aversive (LIMA) Behavior Intervention Philosophy. They have also passed a 180-question exam that tests them on applied behavior analysis, consulting skills and best practices, ethology, body language, observational skills, canine health, development, life stages, anatomy and physiology.
Dip. CBST
"The Canine Behavior Science and Technology program is our (CASI's) flagship program. It is a rigorous/intensive 500–hour (560–hour with specialization track)/1–year program.
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The program addresses all key topics in behavior change project management in great depth including the principles of behavior; tactics, strategies, and procedures in non-coercive animal training; functional behavioral assessment of problematic behaviors; contingency engineering; professional activities; case management; and professional ethics."
CPDT-KA
CPDT-KA stands for Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed. Those with this certification have at least 300 hours of dog training experience within the previous three years, obtain a reference from another CPDT-KA trainer or veterinarian, and agree to the certification council's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least-Intrusive Minimally-Aversive (LIMA) Behavior Intervention Philosophy. They have also passed a 180-question exam that tests them on instruction skills, learning theory, ethology, training equipment and animal husbandry. To maintain certification status, trainers must complete continued education credits or re-take the exam every three years.
Professional Member
The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) "was founded based on a commitment to provide educational resources to pet care providers and the public coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration among force-free pet trainers and professional pet care providers and advocates for mutually agreed guiding principles for the pet care industry. PPG partners, members and affiliates focus on each pet’s physical, mental, environmental and nutritional well-being adhering to a holistic approach to the care and training of family pets."
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Certified Pet Nutrition Coach
From NAVC: "Nutrition is the cornerstone of patient health and well-being and is good medicine. The entire veterinary healthcare team should be the best source of nutrition information for pets. Clients who understand that preventive care preserves and lengthens their relationship with their pets are more likely to use veterinary services regularly, so team members should focus on proper nutrition for every patient who presents to their practice. Good nutrition is not a fad—it is good business and good medicine."
our promise to you
We will treat you and your dogs with kindness and compassion. We will never shock, choke or otherwise cause fear or pain to your pet. We will use the science of animal learning to efficiently change behavior and develop your dog's skills. We will provide clear assessments of behavior and thorough plans to drive change.