Cortney Monson - Owner & Lead Trainer

Before starting McMonson Farm Training Center, I started my training journey over twenty years ago in horse training and competitive riding. I have handled horses of all breeds, size, and temperaments including rehabilitating off-the-track race horses and those with behavioral challenges. My years of working with horses fostered an innate ability to understand canine behavior. Much of what I have learned working with horses directly translates to how I train dogs. Dogs like horses, communicate through body language and respond similarly to pressure and release.

During my time building my training knowledge I balanced work as a 911 dispatcher (serving six police agencies and fourteen fire departments in Washington State) along with my time at the barn. After my full-bred Clydesdale Charlotte passed from a rare blood cancer in 2019, It was time to turn my passion towards training the other animals in my life, my two dogs Mac, a Mastiff mix and Ace, a German Shepherd. 

For the last few years, I trained under multiple trainers in the area, while focusing my training journey largely on my young and headstrong shepherd, Ace. Ace taught me the power of balanced training and genetics, both important pieces to consider in dog training. I love working with dogs, but one of my favorite parts of training is applying my communication skills by helping owners communicate and build stronger bonds with their dogs.

Currently I reside outside Puyallup, Washington with my new baby girl and our four dogs. When not training client dogs, I love learning more about how to better my communication with your dog by taking part in continuing education and seminars around the country. ( Tom Davis 2022, Justin Rigney NEPOPO 2022 and many shadow programs in the greater Seattle area and online courses) Along with furthering my knowledge in new sports including nose work with Ace (currently starting the process to become a certified detection dog trainer), agility with Mac and American Schutzhund with my two working dogs Ryker and Kenny through out sound working dog club and additional seminars throughout PNW and Canada.