Andrea Hering

Andrea Hering, Co-founder & CEO of Crisis Response Canines Inc. (CRC) has been actively involved in training and participating with therapy dog teams for over 14 years. A firm believer in the strength of the human-canine bond and the benefits with a lifelong passion for dog training. Andrea has actively instructed, trained, and competed in master level agility compititions such as Rally Obedience, and Coursing in both CAT and Fast CAT. Andrea is also a certified tester and observer for the Alliance of Therapy Dags, Canine Body Language Instructor, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, AKC Temperment Tester, AAAIP C-AAIS certified, ICISF CCISM certified, and Disaster Relief Crisis Counselor.

Andrea had first developed a passion fror Animal Assisted Intervention with her first certified Therapy and Crisis Response Canine, Rusty. Rusty and Andrea supported schools, hospice, nursing homes, and library reading programs in the Southern NJ area where she began to see the need for more advanced emergency responce training that would allow her handlers and canines to better serve in unpredictable crisis environments.

In 2015, realizng the benefits of resilience while working through the healing process by connecting with canines, she co-founded Tri-State Canine Response Team and participated in highly visibale active/mass shooting deployments across the country. In 2018, Andrea expanded the concept of animal assisted interventions by forming Crisis Response Canines (CRC) with the mission of proving a nationwide network of highly trained crisis responces canine handlers and dogs. Through her tireless dedication, Andrea has Volunteered hundreds of hours over the past 8 years to provide support to communities and individuals with her certified Crisis Response Canines.

As the CEO of CRC, Andrea provides detailed Crisis Intervention insight to the highly qualified handlers across the country and mentors new teams on Canine Handling and Canine Body Language. She conitues to expand her knowledge of crisis response by completing certificate programs such as recieving her ICISF CCISM certification, Disaster Response Crisis Counselor Certificate, and becoming an AAAIP Certified Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist. Andrea pursues advanced knowledge of dog training and behavior and is recognized as a professional member of the Intervention Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has presented to various organizations including, The National Therapy Dog Symposium on 'The Rise of a Crisis Response Dog' explaining the different types of Animal Assisted Interventions and role of Crisis Response Canines and how it differs from a Therapy Dog.

Andrea's current Crisis Response Canine Golden Retriever, Lincoln, achieved his Certified Working Dog Certificate and Passed the AKC Temperament Evaluation before his second birthday. Lincoln can provide deep pressure therapy (DPT) or tactile distraction on cue or instinct when working with individuals to help regualte breathing and grounding behaviors to allow for decompression and respite from stressful situations. Lincoln and Andrea have responded to national and local animal assisted crisis response events providing strength through comfort.

A mother of 2 children, Andrea balances her life at home, her responsibilities as the managing partner of an independent life and health insurance agency, as well as continuing to provide support to local and national CRC deployments.