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education program manager job for PETCO
BY DANA COLE
Herald/Review
SIERRA VISTA -- A well-known professional dog trainer and owner of an academy for dog training instructors will be leaving the Sierra Vista area.
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After a 20-year history in this area, Rocky Boatman accepted a position with PETCO as a training education programs manager and will be moving to San Diego.
"I'll be working at their national support center developing the various programs for their dog trainers," Boatman said.
In the past, PETCO contracted the dog obedience portion of its business out to another company, Boatman said. But once that agreement ended, the company decided to develop its own in-house trainers. PETCO selected Boatman to help with the project and work with the trainees to create a team of professional dog obedience instructors for different PETCO sites.
"Basically, I'll be teaching the new instructors how to teach," Boatman said. "They'll learn communications skills, canine behavior, how to counsel dog owners and temperament testing of dogs."
PETCO learned about Boatman through the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. While Boatman has been teaching obedience classes through Sierra Vista Parks and Leisure Services for 20 years now, he also has experience training obedience instructors. Through a business that he started in 1999 -- Arizona Canine Academy -- aspiring instructors come from all over the country, some from foreign countries, to learn Boatman's training methods. Course work for canine academy students also includes how to start a successful business.
"When PETCO's director of pet services, Stu Wolman, contacted me about my trainer program in October, he had already looked at several schools," Boatman said. Wolman and a consultant came to the area and observed Boatman as he conducted classes and worked with student trainers. Some of Boatman's course work for them is run out of a classroom in his Hereford home.
"After that, they offered me a job as a consultant for a program they're writing specifically for their student trainers," Boatman said. "I'll be developing the programs, similar to the one I'm already using, and will be responsible for hiring the trainers to work at the different PETCO stores."
While his official hire date was Nov. 5, Boatman and his family are searching for a house in the San Diego area.
"I have to be in San Diego and ready to work no later than Jan. 5," Boatman said.
His wife, Susan, is a partner in the business and teaches puppy socialization classes. The couple has been active with the local kennel club and has helped with the 4-H programs. Rocky Boatman helps with local dog shows and serves as an obedience judge in competitions. Some of Boatman's training methods were featured on national news broadcasts, and he has been sought out as an expert witness in court cases.
"Sue and I are both excited about this new opportunity to be able to help dogs and owners on a national level, but I'm very sad about leaving all my friends and clients in Sierra Vista," he said. "I'm leaving a lot behind, and it's not an easy decision to make."
Brianna, their 13-year-old daughter, will be attending Poway school district in the San Diego area.
"Moving at that age is tough on kids," Boatman said, "But we all agree moving at this age is easier than waiting until high school."
A Saturday dog obedience class at Veterans' Memorial Park was Boatman's last official class in the Sierra Vista area, ending a 20-year era.
Joe Hicks wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:22 PM: