Our Trainers

Linda Campbell Director of Pet Training and Behavior Department

Linda always loved animals, but never had a pet until 1974. That year she and husband, Marty, adopted their first dog, a Retriever mix named Brandy, from the Humane Society of Missouri. After that first visit, Linda was convinced working at the Humane Society of Missouri was in her future. In 1976 she started her career as an Adoption Center Counselor and has never looked back, working in the Veterinary Medical Center, the Volunteer Department, and assisting with disaster rescues (including Hurricane Katrina) and finally the Training Department.

In 1988, with encouragement and support from her supervisor, Jim Rigley and former Veterinary Medical Director, Suzanne Saueressig, DVM, Linda was awarded a scholarship from the Humane Society of Missouri Auxiliary to attend school at Jefferson College where she graduated with a degree in Veterinary Technology. She became a licensed Veterinary Technician with the State of Missouri in 1990.

Linda’s interest in animals eventually turned to behavior and training when she realized that behavior issues were the number one reason pets were surrendered by owners and wanted to do something about that. She began to focus her efforts on the goal of decreasing the number of animals returned to the shelter by owners and in 1999 launched the Humane Society of Missouri Behavior Helpline (a free service to pet owners who are experiencing behavior challenges with their pets). Since then the Helpline has provided assistance to thousands of pet owners.

Linda is an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and earned her Certified Pet Dog Trainer designation from the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers in 2005. She is also an active member of Greater St. Louis Training Club, the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and on the organizing board for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. Over the past few years, Linda has served as a speaker at several national AVMA Conferences, HSUS Expo and other national gatherings.

Besides husband, Marty, Linda shares her home with several dogs, cats and parrots. In her spare time Linda works to educate others about parrot behavior and care through, SecondChanceBirds, an on-line community of bird lovers devoted to improving the care and health of pet birds and promoting the adoption of birds from rescues and shelters.

Currently Linda is head instructor in the Puppy, Family Dog, Super Dog and Canine Good Citizen Classes. She also is involved with the Behavior and Training 101, Reactive Dog, Dogs with Issues, and Rally Obedience classes.

Contact Linda

Lorraine Martinez Supervisor of Pet Training and Behavior Department

In addition to teaching the Growly Dog and Dogs With Issues classes, Lorraine regularly teaches a Family Dog 1 class. She conducts the Behavior and Training 101 classes at the Chesterfield Valley location and runs the behavior evaluation service in which owners can obtain a brief assessment of their dog’s behavior and recommendations for appropriate management and resources, including classes, private training, or referral to a training or behavior specialist.

Although always loving and sharing her home with dogs and other pets, Lorraine did not start her career with animals until 2000, when she began working with a local rescue group in the Oakland, California area while completing post-graduate studies in psychology. Lorraine had contacted the rescue group after a neighbor died in a tragic car accident and left 5 dogs without a home. Because several of the dogs who were left homeless had behavior issues, finding homes for them proved difficult. Lorraine began researching the training and behavior modification services available for dogs in this predicament. Through this research she discovered the convergence of two major fields, psychology and ethology, from which dog training and behavior modification is drawn.

In 2002 Lorraine adopted Grace, a beautiful, Shepard mix who was considered un-adoptable due to aggressive behavior. Grace’s loving spirit and sharp aptitude for learning have been an inspiration for developing Lorraine’s rehabilitation skills. It was during her search for scientifically supported, evidence-based treatment options for Grace that she became educated about the treatment options available for dogs displaying aggressive behavior.

On arriving in St. Louis in 2004, Lorraine joined the Greater St. Louis Training Club and began volunteering as a trainer after completing the training course offered by the Certified Pet Dog Trainers of the club. She soon developed the Reactive Dog and the Dogs With Issues classes to address the needs of those owners with dogs showing threatening or aggressive behavior. She joined the staff of the Humane Society in 2007 to help the Director develop and expand the Pet Training and Behavior department. Lorraine brings her expertise in psychology and commitment to science to the Pet Training and Behavior department. She is committed to evaluating common training methods and bringing state-of-the-art humane and dog-friendly methods to the Humane Society of Missouri through fun-filled, easy to understand classes.

Lorraine holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Washington. She is an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Animal Behavior Society and is a recent graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Training and Behavior.

Contact Lorraine

Barb Hurley
Behavior and Programs Specialist

Barb Hurley is not a trainer, but her role is vital to the entire training program.  Barb is usually the first person students speak with in the Pet Training Department and she is responsible for keeping everyone organized and on track. Barb is also an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

In 1998 Barb became a volunteer with the Humane Society of Missouri. She tried a variety of volunteer opportunities before settling on the Behavior Helpline, a pilot program being developed through the Programs Office. Barb contributed to the growth of the Behavior Helpline by volunteering up to eight hours a week. It was her hope that behavior based returns of adopted animals would decrease if pet owners had someone to talk to. She attended many educational seminars and presentations given by experts on animal behavior. There was also extensive research involved when putting a packet of information together or returning a clients phone call.

A very wise lady told Barb to, “Follow her heart.” In 2002 Barb became a full time employee of the Humane Society of Missouri joining the Rescues and Investigation Department as a Dispatcher. She contributed to the department by becoming actively involved in preparation of reports and evidence for presentation to both the city and county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Under Debbie Hill’s direction Barb put together sections of the initial handbook for the Emergency Response Team.

The year 2006 offered Barb a chance to become involved in what initially drew her to the Humane Society of Missouri with an opening in the Pet Training and Behavior Programs Department. This promised a return to the Behavior Helpline and the additional challenges of customer service for the burgeoning Pet Training Services Program. Barb now coordinates with the Training Supervisor on existing services and new program development. She has great dedication to our client base working hard to make their experiences as informative and pleasurable as possible.

In 2009 Barb became an official AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

Contact Barb

Click HERE for a list of
Greater St. Louis Training Club
trainers who teach many of the classes.