PAWS TO FREEDOM
Assistance Dog Team Training

Teaching People with Disabilities
to train their own Assistance Dogs
by Building Peaceable Partnerships to Independence

Paws to Freedom Trainer

The current trainer at Paws to Freedom is Mara Windstar. Partnered with a Golden Retriever, Freely Mara has lived first hand what it’s like to owner train, what it’s like to have invisible disabilities and what it’s like to have mobility challenges and using mobility aids.

She is a lifetime Portland, Oregon community member, working with people experiencing a variety of disabilities and multiple disabilities including those with brain disorders, previously referred to as psychiatric disorders.

It was when Mara was training Freely that her interest in the field of canine behavior was kindled.

Mara's studies and experience have been in the field of special education, Adaptations for persons using non-verbal communications, DEAF culture studies, American Sign Language Interpretation, development of recreational program activities for people with disabilities. She has been active with teachers and organizations locally in creating individualized educational tools for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities, as well as modifications of activities for persons with mobility challenges.

In addition Mara does our assistance dog presentations out in the community.

Mara is passionate about the work of training dogs and equally driven by the uniqueness of every individual. Even though it can be very challenging at times, she is just as excited to understand the motivation of and learn to connect with people and rise to the challenge of working together to finding solutions, because of her strong belief that "How is the solution, because Can't is not an option".

Being a part of building healthy, safe and enjoyable assistance dog teams is her goal. Mutual respect for both beings is the priority, and the goal is to enhance the lives of all!

A Certified Pet Dog Trainer, Mara has met the eligibility requirements and has successfully demonstrated knowledge of dog behavior. Application of training techniques are assessed in the following areas: Learning Theory, Instructional Skills, husbandry, ethology and equipment. She is also a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a member of Int’l Association of Assistance Dog Partners (www.iaadp.org), A professional member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com), and one of the founding members of the Service Animal Consulting division of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Inc. ( http://www.iaabc.org/).