Meet Canine Trade Group – Big Friendly Dog Training’s exclusive support team

John Van Olden – President/CEO – Canine Trade Group

John is a recognized and respected member of the canine professional community, and the president of Canine Trade Group.  He started the company in 2010 to provide professional development, peer support, administrative, marketing and back office support for an exclusive network of invited professional dog trainers, who are all highly successful, independent, business owners. 

His more than 30 years of experience began in the military and continued to grow as he started the very first dog training franchise in the country, K-9 Advantage, becoming one of the earliest members of the International Association of Canine Professionals, eventually serving on their Board of Directors. 

Cristin Ellis – Operations Manager

Cristin is Canine Trade Group’s Operations Manager and one of the people clients may speak with when they contact the company to discuss the issues they’ve been having with their dog. But Cristin isn’t just another office worker answering phones—she’s an accomplished trainer herself.

After training dogs in agility for over ten years, Cristin got a Border Collie named Sike! who had some behavioral problems like fear aggression and resource guarding. Cristin decided to turn her focus from canine performance training to canine behavior training, and by using the same methods used by CTG trainers, she helped curb her dog’s behavior. She’ll not only take down information about a client’s dog, she’ll also understand the client’s frustration.

Cristin owns three Border Collies, Sike!, Elsa and Phineas.

Dr. Karen Usselman V.M.D. – On Staff Veterinarian Consultant

Dr. Usselman is originally from western New York, attended Cornell University and then the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia.  She graduated in 1996 and joined Brenford Animal Hospital in May 1996.  She is currently a partner with the practice.

Dr. Usselman enjoys working with dogs and cats.  She is particularly interested in internal medicine, ultrasonography, behavior and dentistry.  She serves as the treasurer of the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association and has taught in the Delaware Technical College Vet Tech program.  Dr. Usselman is married to Dr. Jeff Booth and has two children, three dogs and a cat to keep her busy at home.