Cindi Fountain

Cindi is a proud scientist at heart, embracing her geek status with enthusiasm. With a background in biology, psychology, and physical therapy, she earned a Master’s degree in Education and TESOL certification.

As a trainer, Cindi applies her diverse expertise to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to the dogs in her care, fostering better communication between pets and their owners. Her approach helps dogs interpret human actions, enabling pet owners to become more empathetic, understanding, and confident in “dog speak.”

Cindi’s scientific foundation and teaching skills underpin her compassionate, fear-free dog training methods. She emphasizes the needs of the dog and helps people build strong relationships through clear communication and positive reinforcement, all while ensuring the process is fun.

Cindi joined The Dog Alliance in 2020, training her Golden Retriever, Ranger, to become a Bow Wow Therapy dog. Drawing from her experience as a Physical Therapist, she understands the profound impact therapy dogs can have. Through volunteering with Ranger, she continues to see the tail-wagging encouragement and non-judgmental listening that help struggling students. She’s now added Franklin, another Golden Retriever, to her therapy dog team, watching them protect the hearts of children who find school challenging.

Recognizing the potential in every dog, Cindi expanded her volunteering to become a puppy raiser for a service dog in training. Two years of dedicated, specific training opened the door to her becoming a full-time dog trainer. She believes her journey has led her to make a positive, significant impact on the lives of others—whether pet owners or military veterans.

Volunteering fueled Cindi’s passion for dog training and deepened her interest in dog behavior. A lifelong learner, she continues her education through the latest accredited articles, books, and conferences. She’s taken nearly every training class offered at The Dog Alliance and loves them all!

Now an instructor, Cindi teaches with a ‘fun-first’ philosophy for both people and dogs. She helps pet owners develop special bonds with their dogs, whether they’re training as pets, therapy dogs, or in fitness.