I oversee everything to do with the dogs and with clients/graduates. The majority of my job is managing the staff that handle the day-to-day decisions and functions of our program.
I live in a small town west of Minnetonka with my fiance, Jay, and our two small dogs. Jay owns a small business, so any extra time I have is spent helping out there or with my home remodel.
With a background in obedience and agility instruction, I love watching dog and handler teams learn and grow in their skills and experience. A master dog trainer lives inside every volunteer - helping them to raise and train capable, confident, and enthusiastic dogs is my jam. Seeing each dog's skills and strengths matched and tailored to meet their client's needs is absolutely the icing on the cake. It's all about the journey!
I currently share my home with 3 resident dogs, a rotation of program dogs, one cat, and a very patient and animal tolerant husband. In my spare time I enjoy training and competing with my personal dogs in agility, rally obedience, disc, and just about anything that the dogs find fun and strengthens our bond. In between time spent with dogs, I also love to travel.
I moved back to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2024 from Alabama. I spent roughly five years in the South training all kinds of pups. My favorite breed is the Labrador. In my free time, I enjoy reading, Alabama football, volunteering, and anything outdoors. I fell in love with training after having a Can Do Canines pup years ago, and I’m honored to be able to join this amazing team.
As a lifelong dog-lover, I knew I had found my passion when I learned about the world of assistance dogs and the life-changing work they do. I graduated from the Honors program at Colorado State University with a bachelor's degree in French and Zoology. It was while writing my thesis, "An Exploration of the Breeding, Training, and Impact of Service Dogs," that I began to see working with assistance dogs as a viable career path. I have spent many hours volunteering with Canine Companions, Human-Animal Bond in Colorado, and my local animal shelter in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of dog behavior and training.
At home, I have a spoiled Labrador/Pit Bull mix named Moose. You can often find us practicing training or taking long walks around one of Minnesota's many beautiful lakes. I am so grateful to be able to work with Can Do Canines to provide specially trained dogs who go on to transform lives for the better.
I’m Ramona Elder, but everyone calls me Mona. I’ve been a professional dog trainer since 1996, specializing in service dog training. My journey began with pet dog training, and I even owned and operated my own dog training business for a while. I spent eight years as the Client Services Coordinator at Can Do Canines, which was a fulfilling experience.
Before returning to Wisconsin in 2019, I had the opportunity to work with Dogs 4 Diabetics in California for five years. Upon my return, I continued my work with Can Do Canines as a field trainer. Now, I’m the WI Prison Program Coordinator, and I’m truly passionate about helping inmates train service dogs. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how this work brings positive change to their lives and to the future service dog recipients.
I work with volunteers to make sure our program dogs have host homes. It amazes me every day the amount of time and love our volunteers give to each dog here at Can Do Canines. When I’m not working, I stay busy with three kids at home. I usually spend my free time cheering them on at baseball, volleyball, and basketball games. Our family shares a home with a spoiled Border Collie, cat, and bunny.
I assist with overseeing veterinary care for the program dogs. I am here if there are any medical issues that come up and to keep every dog healthy with scheduled exams and vaccines.
I spend the majority of my free time running around after 2 young kids, a large old Great Dane, and our cute chickens.
I help ensure that our dogs are in good health and up to date on vaccinations and tests. I also ensure that any supplies dogs may need are ready to be picked up.
Outside of work I like to spend time in nature, go on walks, work on art, or cuddle with my cats.
I started working professionally with dogs in 2013 and joined Can Do Canines in 2019. In addition to training dogs that are in for final training, I also teach our FETCH class at the University of Minnesota. I occasionally fill in teaching classes and one-on-ones.
In my free time, I enjoy training and competing in agility with my border collies, hiking, or trying new restaurants around the metro area.
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