December 3, 1931- July 3, 2006
The founder of Haggerty's School for Dogs, Inc. In the United States, Captain Haggerty is considered the "Grandfather" of dog trainers and dog training and has trained the country's most prominent trainers.
Born in the Bronx, NY, he was raised amongst dogs. His father and grandfather bred Boston Terriers and Irish Setters and there he developed his obsession with dogs.
He joined the United States Army in 1950. During his two tours in the orean Conflict, he was awarded a Bronze Star as well as served as an Army Ranger. He was the commanding officer for the 25th and 26th Scout Dog Platoons.
After leaving the service he returned to New York City and began Captain Haggerty's School for Dogs which eventually became the largest dog training school in the country The school supplied and trained dogs for guard dog work, theatrical work and obedience training.
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Over the years of judging, training and writing about dogs he authored over 1000 article on dogs, four books Dog Tricks, How To Get Your Pet Into Show Business, How to Teach Your Dog to Talk and the soon to be published Zen and the Art of Dog Training.
His clients included: Henry Kissinger, Leona Helmsley, Elijah Wood, Hugh Hefner, James Woods, Diane Keaton, Raquel Welsh, Liza Minelli and Brooke Shields. In his experiences of supplying dogs for film, tv and stage he then became an actor himself. His first feature film was Shamus with Burt Reynolds for which he not only appeared as an actor but also supplied several dogs for the film. He appeared in 12 feature films including Married to the Mob and Honeymoon in Vegas. As the pioneer of David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks, he appeared on David Letterman 26 times. His theatrical career also included being the first Mr. Clean.
He relocated to Los Angeles in 1990 where he continued his film career as well as trained dogs for Joaquin Phoenix and several other well known actors.
Missing the east coast he moved to North Palm Beach, Florida in 2004 where he continued his work writing about and training dogs with his daughter and son-in-law, Babette Haggerty-Brennan and Gordon Brennan in their
Haggerty's School for Dogs.
Captain Haggerty was still helping owners and their dogs live in harmony in between writing his column for the AKC Gazette, judging dogs, giving seminars to dog trainers and owners, and publishing the Aggression Newsletter to his untimely passing in July 2006.
