Mission Statement
Keep happy dogs in happy homes! We believe that every dog has the potential to be a Great Companion! Through our educational training programs, we are redefining the relationship with man’s best friend. All dogs are welcome no matter their breed, age or behavior. Push the boundaries of science and education and take your relationship with your dog to the next level!
Meet Our Team
David Shade, CCDT | Founder and Chief Executive Officer
David Shade is an award winning, professional dog trainer based in King of Prussia, PA. He served in the Army for 4 years as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. While serving a tour overseas in Afghanistan, he was awarded for valor and received The Purple Heart.
After his tour of duty, he went on to study Biology at Cabrini University before receiving a certification in dog training from the Catch Canine Trainer Academy. He also is a Fear-Free certified trainer and a member of the Pet Professional Guild.
As a veteran entrepreneur, he created At Attention Dog Training where he and his team train dogs on topics including puppy training, obedience training, and the rehabilitation of fearful and aggressive dogs. He continues to be a leader in the dog training community with several publications in which he has continued to promote modern force-free, fear-free and pain-free dog training methods. Now, he leads a team of exceptional and well educated individuals bringing the highest quality dog training services to the state of Pennsylvania.
View our Founder’s Tedx talk about dogs!
Alicia P., CPDT-KA, VSA-CDT | Behavior Specialist
Alicia brings both heart and expertise to every training session she leads. After graduating from Penn State with a B.S. in Marketing, she spent time in the corporate world before realizing she wanted something more fulfilling. That shift led her to follow her instincts—toward animals, purpose, and a career that made a real difference.
She began as a professional dog walker and pet sitter, where she noticed something important: so many dogs were struggling with basic, day-to-day life. That question—“How can I help?”—eventually led her to At Attention Dog Training over 5 years ago, where she found her calling as a behavior-focused trainer.
Alicia is a graduate of Victoria Stilwell’s Dog Training Academy, a certified CPDT-KA trainer, Fear Free certified, and a licensed Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor/Assessor. She is also an instructor for Canine Good Citizen. Her approach blends patience, skill, and structure—helping dogs and their owners build strong, lasting relationships.
She shares her life with Bentley, her golden retriever and constant companion.
Vania H., CPDT-KA | Behavior Specialist
Vania has been a part of At Attention Dog Training for over five years, and her passion for helping dogs and their families shines through in everything she does. With a professional background in fashion merchandising and international hairstyling, she brings a creative, people-focused energy to her work—but it was dog training where she found her true calling.
After earning her certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers® (CCPDT®), Vania dedicated herself to making a real difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them. She’s guided countless families through their training journeys, combining compassion with a deep understanding of dog behavior.
Vania believes dogs are family—plain and simple. Her approach centers around helping owners learn the subtle, nonverbal ways dogs communicate. By interpreting body language and working as a team, she helps families turn frustration into progress and build lasting trust.
At home, Vania is happily outnumbered by her dog Vincent, who proudly claims his spot as a full-fledged family member (even if he can’t say it out loud).
Carli B., CCDT | Professional Dog Trainer
Carli’s journey into dog training started with one powerful moment: watching her own dog learn. During her senior year of high school, she brought her puppy, Dooley, to a professional trainer—and something clicked. She fell in love with the process, the connection, and the transformation that training made possible. Not long after, she enrolled in CATCH Canine Trainers Academy.
With Dooley as her training partner and constant companion, Carli earned her CCDT certification and is now also proudly Fear Free Certified. She’s committed to helping people better understand their dogs—not just through commands, but through trust, communication, and clarity.
Carli believes that dog training is more than just behavior modification—it’s about creating stronger bonds and calmer homes. Her work focuses on helping families build the kind of connection with their dogs that leads to lasting success and true harmony.
Laura A., CPDT-KA | Professional Dog Trainer
I have been an animal lover since I was a kid, growing up with rabbits, cats and other small animals. I began working with dogs during high school in a daycare setting and adopted my first rescue, a boxer mix named Goose, during my senior year. Soon after, I adopted my second dog, Oriole. Oriole was very anxious about the world and had a variety of behavioral concerns that presented themselves as he grew up. Shortly after graduating, I began dog training. I fell in love with it. I have since gotten my dog trainer certification (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and have also gotten my accredited dog trainer certification (ADT), through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). I am currently in the process of getting my Fear Free certification
Andrea D. | Professional Dog Trainer
Andrea’s passion for dogs started early—competing in agility, obedience, and confirmation as a junior handler with her 4H club. Her work with therapy dogs began just as young, earning her first title after 500+ hospital and assisted living visits with her cocker spaniel, Buddy.
She later earned degrees in Human Services with a focus on geriatrics and became a certified dementia care practitioner. Her service dog Bliss was trained in fall risk and diabetic alert, and together they helped launch therapy dog programs across northern New Jersey—placing working dogs in dementia units to assist residents and staff.
While in college, Andrea also ran a pet sitting business and worked closely with veterinarians and trainers to provide compassionate care and puppy education. Over the years, she’s titled dogs in agility, dock diving, scent work, rally, obedience, and canine freestyle, and taught group agility classes at a performance dog facility in NJ.
Her love of behavior and health led her to work as a veterinary technician in emergency medicine and later in canine rehab and holistic care. She’s earned certifications from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy and is actively working toward her obedience training certification with NADOI, with plans to achieve her CCPDT.
Today, Andrea shares life with Little Bear, her 6-year-old cocker spaniel and service dog. She specializes in task training for medical alerts (seizure, mobility, cardiac, PTSD, and more), and continues her education in animal behavior and the canine brain.
On her days off, you’ll find Drea and Bear hiking trails or curled up together in the sun.
Bentley | K9 Assistant
Bentley is a Golden Retriever and belongs to our trainer Alicia. She has raised him since he was an 11 week old puppy. Through proper training using positive reinforcement techniques, he has grown to be a happy, obedient and loving companion. He loves playing catch, roughhousing with his brother and swimming in the ocean. As a worker, he has helped many dogs learn how to feel more confident when encountering another dog in public and has helped set an example for many of our client's dogs how to properly maintain focus on their owner while in a stressful or distracting environment. Bentley is an asset to our team and will continue to show up for duty as long as treats and belly rubs are provided.