Kurt Burk is the founder of Canine Conservatory in Ojai, where he has built a practice rooted in trust, precision, and a deep understanding of the human–dog relationship.

Kurt's unique approach is shaped by an uncommon blend of disciplines. He earned his bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before going on to complete his master's degree at ArtCenter College of Design. Bringing together his passion for business, creativity, and animals, he developed an ethical, results-driven canine training program that balances proven methodology with individualized care.

His professional path was further shaped under the mentorship of renowned trainer Dina Zaphiris in Los Angeles, who recognized his natural instinct early on and invited him to assist in both private training and high-level competitions.

Under her guidance, Kurt honed his craft through hundreds of hours of hands-on experience, working directly with clients and their dogs. At Dina's encouragement, he pursued certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, ultimately earning the highly respected CPDT-KSA designation after successfully passing both rigorous written examinations and live, real-time skills assessments.

Today, Kurt brings that same level of discipline, intuition, and care to every dog and owner he works with, helping create lasting partnerships built on trust, communication, and mutual understanding.

*Credentials are searchable at www.ccpdt.org by typing in zip code 93023. This certification requires CEU credits from online and in person seminars to keep current every three years. He has been certified since 2010.