Ferdie Yau

Biography

Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is an ecologist and animal trainer who has been educating audiences about nature and animal behavior since 1998. His approach to training and connecting with animals is inspired by lessons learned as an animal trainer, zookeeper, ecologist, and canine behavior consultant. Ferdie is the Staff Trainer at the Humane Society of Westchester (NY), Lead Workshop Instructor for CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, Instructor for the Shelter Playgroup Alliance, and owner of Sits & Wiggles Behavior Consulting. He speaks at national dog training conferences, teaches online shelter dog behavior courses for Maddie’s Fund, and was the host of the “Worry Less, Wag More” podcast (2021-2024).

Before working with dogs, Ferdie trained dozens of exotic species at the Bronx and Central Park Zoos, and restored wildlife habitats as an ecologist for New York City. He holds a BS in Ecology from the University of Michigan and an MA in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. His diverse background reflects a lifelong passion for learning about and saving animals – whether in the wild, shelters, zoos, or your home!