Staff
********Jeff Gellman
Owner, & Trainer-In-Chief
(dog training in RI, as well as anywhere else in the US)
Award-winning, nationally known dog trainer Jeff Gellman, New England’s own dog whisperer, is on a mission to help people awaken the true spirit in dogs. He teaches deeper animal communication, explains the “power of the pack”, and gives people the skills and confidence to lead their own pack effectively.
Jeff brings to you his own no-nonsense, real world training program, using blunt humor and honest wisdom. His life-changing techniques and bold approach brings fresh perspective to canine behavior modification and obedience. Gellman is an outspoken opponent of click and treat training, which he believes leads to increased disconnection between humans and dogs, increased aggression, and increased obesity. He helps people find solid solutions to age-old problems, using the insight of instinctual canine behavior.
When not working with his Solid K9 Training clients directly, Jeff enjoys taking packs of dogs on wilderness excursions, so they can experience their true spirit in the natural elements. Jeff is a champion for regular exercise, and is seen daily, power-walking his pack on the East Side of Providence. He also rehabilitates dogs, many Pro bono, whom other trainers and programs have written off, giving them the dedicated chance to be spared from euthanasia. Jeff has logged tens of thousands of hours giving people the chance to live better lives with their dogs, and has innumerable testimonials. He is the proud father of his own 6 girls (and 1 son, who’s due the beginning of October 2012), and loves hiking, kayaking, and photography.
********Jonathan Ricciardelli
Assistant Trainer, Kennel Manager
Age: 25
Hometown: Walpole, MA
Education: Graduate of Roger Williams University
Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Sociology, Minor in Graphic Design
Ever since I can remember I had an unspoken bond with animals and more specifically with dogs. It has been my dream to be a dog trainer and Jeff has helped make this possible. I am ready to learn all I can and become a confident, successful, real-world dog trainer devoted to bettering the lives of dogs as well as their families.
For the past four years I have been studying human relations and the components that exist in culture. I have a strong understanding of how people, groups, and cultures work. I graduated from Roger Williams University in May 2010 and completed my thesis work on human-animal relationships. This research focused on how potential dog adopters perceive and classify dominant breeds. The goal of this research is to help in the fight to rid society of its negative view of these “dominant” breeds and help bring light to breed prejudices. I believe that all dogs deserve the right to be seen as individuals and should not be judged and stereotyped based on breed.
********Clover and Romy
Assistant Trainers
Ages: Clover 7, Romy 5
They are Jeff’s daughters #5 & #6, they are home-schooled and spend a good amount of time working the dogs daily. They have grown up around the training of dogs and the dogs have a primal knowledge that they are looking at 2 young pack leaders, they are extensions of myself. They have the energy and knowledge to work around dogs of every breed, size and temperament and just enough fear to stay safe but to help bring out the true spirit in the dogs they work with. They are both so important of the success of my board and train program and their training is keeping hundreds of children in New England from being hurt and bit from dogs.
********Mattie Dunlap
Age: 26
I’m from the east side of Providence. I find dogs to be incredibly fascinating and love that I am able to spend so much of my time working with such a wide variety of them. I believe the best way to learn about dogs is to become immersed in them and be able to watch their behavior and I have been fortunate enough to be able to do that. In addition to dogs, I also have a background in horses, specifically the hunter/jumper and saddle seat disciplines. It is my dream to one day own land to run a small-scale animal rescue with.
When I am not at the kennel or studying at CCRI, I love drawing, photography, riding, hiking and hanging out with my own dog, a three-year-old Italian greyhound.
********Peter Michel
Age: 20
Currently dog training in RI; I was born and raised in northern Rhode Island, my surroundings perpetually included the presence of animals. From birds, cats, and dogs to my sister-in-law’s horse and cow farm, my interest was always growing. Although I prominently possessed a love for dogs, I never foresaw working with them. I was initially hired for property maintenance at Solid K9 Training because of some background in construction from my grandfather and step-dad’s business. However, with my continuing interest and love for dogs, the door opened up more and more to work with the canines here.
Three years out of high school, still uncertain with the exact direction of my life, I have found myself growing as I engage with the dogs. While they are learning structure and attaining understanding in correct decision making (and myself continually being cultured in how to work with them), I am in turn acquiring a new patience, calmness, and an overall stretching and building of myself.
Apart from working with dogs, I am a writing musician. Within the past two years I have released an ep and full length album. My style continues to form and shift through maturity and experience, and I hope to find more of myself as I continue pursuing it.
We as individuals are always growing, and the opportunity to work with, and around, such a wide variety of canines with all different backgrounds and issues has helped me grow and find more of myself while getting to be a part of the growth, improvement, and success of the dogs.
********Heather Cotoia 
Foundation Coordinator
Age: 25
Hometown: North Providence, RI
Education: B.A. in Classics from URI, Post-Baccalaureate work in Classics at Brown University
I have been a devoted animal-lover since I was old enough to say “cat”, and have grown up with a multitude of feline friends and puppy loves. I’ve worked at an extremely varied collection of jobs, from classicist to nanny to public relations assistant to retail associate, and I’m able to bring little bits of all of those experiences to Solid K9 Training and Jeff’s Pack. I fall in love with almost every dog that comes on our property, and strive to make a drastic improvement in their lives. My work as the foundation coordinator allows me to reach out to people and show them what a huge difference we can make for animals. Working here has shown me that you need to give your dog more than love and affection for it to be balanced and happy, and I have grown just as much as any of the dogs do while they’re trained here. I’ve taken home two of our Board & Train graduates- Mango and Jackson- and maintain a perpetual bond with Ronan, my on-site doggy boyfriend.
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