With expertise, experience and passion, our trainers accompany human-dog teams on their journey. Here we introduce the people behind our training programmes.
Réjane Zumbrunnen
Management & Assistance Dog Trainer in Bern
Dogs have been part of my life for over 25 years – whether in sports, in service, or in training. I studied Social Work and worked for over a decade as a social worker, youth worker, and experiential educator. This experience now helps me to advise people professionally and provide individual guidance.
As a dog trainer, I have had the privilege of supporting numerous human-dog teams – in training, everyday life, and in overcoming both small and large challenges. For many years, I have guided puppies and family dogs in group and individual sessions. In addition, I provide further training for instructors at the SKG (Swiss Cynological Society).
I am an operational dog handler as well as an instructor at REDOG - this close and intensive work with our dogs fascinates and impresses me time and time again.
Over the years, I have been accompanied by a wide range of different dog personalities – some also from animal shelters: Flat Coated Retriever, Poodle, Border Collie, Sheltie, and a Parson Russell Terrier. Foster dogs have also been part of our pack from time to time. I have learned a great deal from each and every one of them.
I continuously pursue further education, including training with Kirsten Dillon, Gerd Köhler, and Eva Bertilsson.
I look forward to meeting you and your dog – and to starting training with you!
Fancy training together? Write to us.
Rahel Gubler
Assistance dog trainer in Bern
I am a mother, a dog owner and Trained nursery nurse with training as an assistance dog trainer.
Dogs have been part of my life since childhood and are far more than just animals to me – they are cherished companions. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to train with a wide variety of dogs and get to know all sorts of personalities. These have included, among others, a Mărunișteș blend, a Flat-Coated Retriever, a Sheltie, an Appenzeller blend, a Kooikerhondje, and a Poodle.
I was active in rubble search with REDOG as an operational dog handler and training instructor with my Kooikerhondje «Darco».
As an educator, I helped develop the «Prevent a Bite» project, a programme for children aged 4 to 6. The aim is to teach important rules for interacting with dogs during visits to nurseries and school classes. As Host in kindergarten and school classes, and later as the director of Prevent a Bite Bern (2013 to 2019) I was particularly keen on respectful interaction between children and dogs.
During my work at the kindergarten, I was accompanied by my poodle, «Percy.» His unobtrusive nature enriched the group's atmosphere and at times provided support to individual children.
The interaction between humans and animals always fascinates me anew. As a trainer, it is of great importance to me, Accompanying human-dog teams individually, realistically and sustainably – with the aim of making everyday life as relaxed and harmonious as possible for both parties.
I'm looking forward to meeting you and your dog.
Do you have any questions about the training? Write to us at any time.
Scarlett Schneider
Assistance dog trainer im Graubünden
Dogs have changed my life. What began with a love for my own dogs has developed step by step into my calling. Today, I have the privilege of accompanying people and their dogs on a very special journey. For me, there is little more beautiful than witnessing how a human-dog team grows from a wish and an idea into a trusting partnership.
After completing my training as a building services planner specializing in heating and cooling systems, I decided to follow my passion and dedicate myself entirely to working with people and dogs. Today, I work as an assistance dog trainer, supporting people on their individual journey toward a reliable assistance dog or helping them achieve a more relaxed and independent everyday life with their dog.
My training is built around understanding instead of pressure, trust instead of coercion, and reward-based training. Every person and every dog has their own unique story. That's why I don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, but in training approaches that are tailored to you as a team.
I regularly pursue further education and continue to expand my knowledge in the fields of assistance dogs, canine science, learning theory, behaviour, and nutrition. I firmly believe that those who want to guide others should never stop learning themselves.
Seit diesem Jahr bilde ich zudem einige Teams für und mit SNIF Dogs aus. Ich setze ich mich zudem sehr dafür ein, die Assistenzhundeausbildung in der Schweiz weiterzuentwickeln und Menschen langfristig kompetent zu begleiten. Gemeinsam mit starken Partnern schaffen wir Ausbildungsstrukturen, die sich an wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen orientieren und den Menschen mit seinen individuellen Bedürfnissen in den Mittelpunkt stellen.
My own dogs are my most important teachers. You remind me every day of the importance of patience, trust and a strong relationship. These are exactly the values that also shape my work with my clients.
Ich freue mich darauf, Sie und ihren Hund kennenzulernen und euch auf eurem gemeinsamen Weg begleiten zu dürfen. Meine Hundeschule im Graubünden:
Do you have any questions about the training? Write to us at any time.