Maureen Cucinella AKA "Mo"

Owner and 2x Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Maureen’s journey as a dog trainer began in 2011 at the age of 16 when she brought home her first German Shepherd puppy, Celia. Determined to raise her puppy the right way, Maureen immersed herself in learning how to communicate effectively with dogs. She read books, watched training videos, volunteered at the local humane society, and sought advice from experienced trainers. Before long, Celia was performing over 100 different behaviors—everything from basic commands to more advanced tricks like putting laundry in the washer and painting pictures.

However, as Celia matured, she began to exhibit behavioral challenges such as aggression and reactivity. This is when Maureen's true training skills were put to the test, sparking a deep passion for dog behavior and training that Maureen would later turn into her career.

In 2014, Maureen attended the prestigious Tom Rose School, where she studied under renowned trainers Dave Van Garderan and Nathan Schoemer. After completing five months of intense training, she began working at various kennels across the eastern U.S., gaining hands-on experience with dogs of all breeds and temperaments.

Maureen’s passion for dog training extended beyond behavior modification—she also competed in AKC Obedience and IGP, titling dogs in both disciplines. To further her expertise, she regularly attended training clubs, refining her skills and preparing her dogs for competition.

In addition to her work in obedience and IGP, Maureen is a freestyle flying disc competitor. In 2023, she competed in the Skyhoundz World Championship with her Australian Cattle Dog, Monster, who also earned the title of 2022 Regional Toss and Fetch Champion.

Maureen’s dedication to continuous learning led her to attend Ivan Balabanov’s “Training Without Conflict” program in 2023. She graduated in 2024, further expanding her knowledge and advancing her skills.

In early 2024, Maureen began her long-time dream of breeding German Shepherds under the name Vom Blauberge German Shepherds. She is deeply passionate about the breed, working to improve it both structurally and behaviorally through the sport of IGP, which includes tracking, obedience, and protection.

Known for her open-minded approach, Maureen applies innovative and versatile training techniques tailored to each individual dog and handler. She remains committed to constantly evolving her methods to meet the unique needs of every dog she works with.