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United States Joel Silverman is a renowned animal trainer with a career spanning over four decades, recognized for his work with marine mammals and canines, and for hosting television shows focused on dog training.
Joel Silverman participated in the 'Chase Mastery Campaign', featuring in a national commercial alongside his dog, Duchess. The campaign highlighted individuals who had mastered their careers. The commercial aired nearly 4,000 times nationally between August 2015 and April 2016.
Joel Silverman served as a Dog & Cat Trainer/Animal coordinator for IAMS' national print and commercials, showcasing his expertise in animal behavior for their advertising campaigns.
Joel Silverman created "Unleashed," a series of dog training videos exclusively for the PETCO pet store chain, providing educational content to their customers.
Joel Silverman was recognized with the "Dog Trainer of the Year" award at the Purina Pro Plan 54th Annual Show Dogs Dinner.
Joel Silverman came to Reno to host a training program with The Dog House Rescue, certifying dog trainers as part of his new dog training franchise launch.
Keen Dog Training's team attended "The Dog Training Workshop" Tour featuring Joel Silverman, Larry Krohn, and Jay Jack, and participated in Jay Jack's "Play is the Way" Seminar, indicating a professional association and shared educational platform.
Born on December 21, 1958, in Hollywood, CA, Joel Silverman began his animal training journey at a young age, starting with the family dog, Shadow. His early fascination with marine mammals led him to SeaWorld San Diego, where he initially worked in a supportive capacity before being hired as a trainer at the age of 16. During his time at SeaWorld, he trained Pacific and Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins, California sea lions, and orcas. This foundational experience in marine mammal training heavily influenced his later approach to dog training, notably his ‘hybrid’ method. Silverman’s diverse background in animal behavior laid the groundwork for a career that would bridge entertainment and education.
In 1983, Silverman transitioned his expertise to training animals for film, television shows, and commercials. A significant milestone in his career was his role as the trainer for Dreyfuss in the TV series “Empty Nest” from 1988 to 1992. He further expanded his reach in 1989 by writing and hosting “Joel Silverman’s Hollywood Dog Training Program,” a dog training video that sold over 300,000 copies as an infomercial. His public profile grew considerably when he hosted “Good Dog U” on Animal Planet from 1999 to 2009, making him a recognized figure in dog training nationally. He later hosted the nationally syndicated TV series “What Color is Your Dog?” from 2011 to 2014.
Throughout his career, Silverman has authored several books, including “What Color is Your Dog?” (2009), which details his personality-based dog training approach, and “Rituals” (2019), focusing on canine behavioral patterns. In 2017, he launched Joel Silverman’s Dog Trainer Certification Course, a ‘hands-on’ program designed for aspiring dog trainers. His work has earned him accolades such as “Dog Trainer of the Year” in 2008 by Purina Pro Plan and the “Behavior of the Year Award” in 1986 from the International Marine Animal Trainers Association for ‘The Triple Bow’ performed by two Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins. He also participated in the Chase Mastery Campaign in 2014, featuring in a national commercial alongside his dog, Duchess, which aired approximately 4,000 times nationally.
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