Jeris Pugh has been studying canine behavior through practice, publications and live seminars for the past 10 years.. He’s attended lectures from veterinary behavior experts like Dr. Ian Dunbar, founder of Associations of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and Dr. Lynn Seibert, President of The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).

From 1993-2005, taught at Tiger Schulmann’s MMA Centers (the largest martial arts franchise in the North East) in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and NYC.

From 2004-2005 Studied & Trained under Dr Michael Colgan PHD CCN creator of The New Power Program which provides functional athletic training for professional, Olympic & recreational athletes.

In 2005, began competing in disc dog competitions winning may local, state, and regional competitions throughout the northeast.

In 2006-2012, trained dogs privately for behavior modification and athletic performance by applying principles from teaching martial arts and functional conditioning training principles with reward based dog training methods.

In 2013, he utilized his experience to combined the principles of teaching martial arts and the principles of functional training for human athletes, with canine rehabilitative exercises and sports activities, canine balance, coordination and body awareness drills in order to create the Martial ARFS.