About MESSY Dog Training
Hello! I’m Alex Oldenburg, CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer) and I’m the owner and lead trainer here at MESSY Dog LLC. I’ve always had a passion for dogs - one of my first words was “puppy” - and MESSY is the result of that passion.
The name MESSY actually comes from the friendships that grew out of the local 4-H Dog Project when I was training my first dog, Mya. I’ve remained close friends with many of the people I met growing up in the 4-H Dog Project, and when we were discussing what to name our venture, we wanted to include the dogs that helped build us as dog trainers.
Thus, MESSY was born: Mya, Eden, Sammy, Snickers, and tonY.
After we had settled on a name, I opened MESSY in 2016 in Mankato, MN with Antonia Langr. Together, we provided the local area with access to positive reinforcement dog trainers and built a community of wonderful and caring owners and their dogs. Antonia left the company in 2018 to pursue other interests, and I’ve been continuing what we started ever since!
In the summer of 2019, my life took me to Cedar Falls, IA to be with my fiance. After a few months of settling into the community, I’m excited and grateful to be able to continue to offer positive dog training opportunities to owners and their dogs in the Cedar Valley.
The name MESSY actually comes from the friendships that grew out of the local 4-H Dog Project when I was training my first dog, Mya. I’ve remained close friends with many of the people I met growing up in the 4-H Dog Project, and when we were discussing what to name our venture, we wanted to include the dogs that helped build us as dog trainers.
Thus, MESSY was born: Mya, Eden, Sammy, Snickers, and tonY.
After we had settled on a name, I opened MESSY in 2016 in Mankato, MN with Antonia Langr. Together, we provided the local area with access to positive reinforcement dog trainers and built a community of wonderful and caring owners and their dogs. Antonia left the company in 2018 to pursue other interests, and I’ve been continuing what we started ever since!
In the summer of 2019, my life took me to Cedar Falls, IA to be with my fiance. After a few months of settling into the community, I’m excited and grateful to be able to continue to offer positive dog training opportunities to owners and their dogs in the Cedar Valley.
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Alex Oldenburg, CPDT-KAMy dog training beginnings go back to my 4-H days, where I learned to train Mya for obedience, rally, showmanship, and agility competitions. I began to assistant teach several classes in 2010, and began offering my own classes to the public in 2013.
I currently have 3 dogs. Mya is a 12 year old Labrador Retriever/English Springer Spaniel cross, my former 4-H dog. Windigo is a Nova Scota Duck Tolling Retriever, named after Isle Royale National Park (one of my favorite places to hike!). Hobbes is also a Duck Toller. They're half brothers and Windigo is about a year older than Hobbes. We're exploring what activities they like best! |
Certifications and Education
Continuing education is extremely important to me! Striving for certifications and education ensures I am giving you the most up to date training information available. Did you know that there are no regulations to call yourself a dog trainer? It definitely makes finding a competent trainer difficult as a dog owner! Learn about why certification through the CCPDT specifically is an important aspect of finding a dog trainer, and check out some of the other memberships, certifications, and opportunities I've participated in below!
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As of 2019, I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). This means I have passed a comprehensive exam offered by the leading independent certifying organization in dog training and behavior, in addition to documenting hundreds of hours of hands-on training experience. I am also currently the only CPDT-KA within the Cedar Valley!
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A selection of conferences, seminars, and continued education opportunites that I have participated in can be found below as well:
- Barking up the Wrong Tree – For 110 Years? - Dr. Ian Dunbar - Minneapolis, MN - 2015
- Dr. Temple Grandin - Mankato, MN - 2016
- ClickerExpo - St. Louis - 2018
- Yes Please! Cooperative Canine Care - Deb Jones and Judy Keller - 2018
- Walking with Reactive Dogs - Dr. Amy Cook - 2018
- The Biology and Treatment of Behavior Problems in Dogs - Dr. Amy Cook and Dr. Jessica Hekman - 2019
- ClickerExpo - Louisville, KY - 2020