Meet the Trainers
Total focus by Bella
VAL CORNWELL-LEAD TRAINER
Val Cornwell has been a Professional Dog Trainer for over 17 years. Although she had a successful career in the legal field, she has always had a genuine love of all dogs and a strong desire to make the world a better place for them. Val attended Animal Behavior College in 1998 and graduated from their dog trainer program. She worked for several years as a contract Trainer for Petco in both Riverside and San Bernardino. In 2004, Petco decided to train employees to conduct group dog training classes and having no desire to be an employee of Petco; Dances with Dogs Training Center was born. Val currently is a Mentor trainer for students completing their externship at Animal Behavior College. After many years of supporting and volunteering at the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, Val approached them about conducting group classes at their facility in order to provide a low cost dog training program. Dances with Dogs Training Center has been the exclusive training program at the Humane Society since 2005. Val has trained numerous dogs of all breeds and temperaments over the years. She has great success with her positive training program. In addition to conducting group classes, Val also provides private in home training, behavior modification consultations, puppy programs, Canine Good Citizen prep classes and Test. After retiring in 2012 from San Bernardino Superior Court, Val volunteers several hours a week to support the Humane Society, She is currently a member of the Board of Directors and in addition volunteers with two other trainers at the San Bernardino County Juvenile detention facility offering a dog care and training program to the at risk youth that are currently incarcerated in the facility.
Val Cornwell has been a Professional Dog Trainer for over 17 years. Although she had a successful career in the legal field, she has always had a genuine love of all dogs and a strong desire to make the world a better place for them. Val attended Animal Behavior College in 1998 and graduated from their dog trainer program. She worked for several years as a contract Trainer for Petco in both Riverside and San Bernardino. In 2004, Petco decided to train employees to conduct group dog training classes and having no desire to be an employee of Petco; Dances with Dogs Training Center was born. Val currently is a Mentor trainer for students completing their externship at Animal Behavior College. After many years of supporting and volunteering at the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, Val approached them about conducting group classes at their facility in order to provide a low cost dog training program. Dances with Dogs Training Center has been the exclusive training program at the Humane Society since 2005. Val has trained numerous dogs of all breeds and temperaments over the years. She has great success with her positive training program. In addition to conducting group classes, Val also provides private in home training, behavior modification consultations, puppy programs, Canine Good Citizen prep classes and Test. After retiring in 2012 from San Bernardino Superior Court, Val volunteers several hours a week to support the Humane Society, She is currently a member of the Board of Directors and in addition volunteers with two other trainers at the San Bernardino County Juvenile detention facility offering a dog care and training program to the at risk youth that are currently incarcerated in the facility.
Val Cornwell & her dog Kenai!
Rhonda Sweetman - Assistant Trainer
Rhonda Sweetman has been a professional dog trainer for over 7 years. She joined Dances with Dogs Training Center in 2009. After completing her externship from Animal Behavior College with Val Cornwell, she was asked to stay and be part of the team. Rhonda works full time for a major payroll company but in her spare time has a passion for working with animals; learning more techniques on training and caring for them. Rhonda also volunteers with Val and Kathy at the San Bernardino County Juvenile detention facility offering a dog care and training program to the at risk youth that are currently incarcerated in the facility. Rhonda is also a strong supporter of the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, volunteering at the many fundraising events they hold every year. She currently has 5 dogs, 5 mini-goats, and 12 chickens.
Rhonda Sweetman has been a professional dog trainer for over 7 years. She joined Dances with Dogs Training Center in 2009. After completing her externship from Animal Behavior College with Val Cornwell, she was asked to stay and be part of the team. Rhonda works full time for a major payroll company but in her spare time has a passion for working with animals; learning more techniques on training and caring for them. Rhonda also volunteers with Val and Kathy at the San Bernardino County Juvenile detention facility offering a dog care and training program to the at risk youth that are currently incarcerated in the facility. Rhonda is also a strong supporter of the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, volunteering at the many fundraising events they hold every year. She currently has 5 dogs, 5 mini-goats, and 12 chickens.
Rhonda Sweetman & Oreo
Kathy Barnes - Assistant Trainer
Kathy Barnes has been a professional dog trainer for over 7 years. She has always had a love for animals, especially dogs. She was the kid that kept bringing home the strays saying, "Look what followed me home". She attended and graduated from Animal Behavior College dog trainer program. During that time, she completed her externship with Val at Dances with Dogs training center and loved the programs so much, she never left. In addition to training dogs, Kathy has assisted and taught people with disabilities for the past 30 years. Kathy is also involved with Val & Rhonda conducting the F.E.T.C.H. program at San Bernardino County Juvenile detention center, helping teach the residents there the proper care and training of dogs. Kathy supports the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley and volunteers at the many fundraising events they hold each year.
Kathy Barnes has been a professional dog trainer for over 7 years. She has always had a love for animals, especially dogs. She was the kid that kept bringing home the strays saying, "Look what followed me home". She attended and graduated from Animal Behavior College dog trainer program. During that time, she completed her externship with Val at Dances with Dogs training center and loved the programs so much, she never left. In addition to training dogs, Kathy has assisted and taught people with disabilities for the past 30 years. Kathy is also involved with Val & Rhonda conducting the F.E.T.C.H. program at San Bernardino County Juvenile detention center, helping teach the residents there the proper care and training of dogs. Kathy supports the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley and volunteers at the many fundraising events they hold each year.
Kathy Barnes & Dixie
