Get to know a little about me!
Dogs have always been a part of my life. I have owned big dogs, little dogs, purebred dogs and mutts. I have always enjoyed having them around and I continue to learn something new from each one. Some have been more of a challenge than others, but there were never any issues that I couldn’t solve on my own. Then I adopted a dog from a local rescue group and right away, his behavior became a problem. I took him to group obedience classes where he learned “sit” and “down”, and he got lots of treats, but his behavior stayed the same. Although I loved my dog, he was driving me crazy! He was obedience trained and knew lots of tricks, but he was not a well-behaved dog. Obviously, what I had been doing was not working. This dog was different from all of the other dogs I had owned. I finally realized that I had to start doing things differently. With just a few simple changes in my daily routine with my dog, his behavior dramatically improved. The changes I made were based on principles that apply to all dogs. By building on these solid principles, I have been able to help countless dogs overcome all sorts of behavioral issues.
I have been rescuing and helping dogs most of my life. When I was about six years old, I found a stray dog with a note pinned to his collar that read, “Please take me home with you”. My parents let the dog stay, and I have been helping dogs ever since. I have rescued frightened and abandoned dogs from the streets; I have rescued dogs from shelters just minutes before they were to be killed; and I have fostered countless dogs that were sick or injured. Believe it or not, this is actually the easy part of rescue. Just about anyone with an ounce of compassion can take a dog into their home, but that’s just the beginning. It’s the next phase of rescue that has the biggest impact when it comes to actually saving dogs’ lives; the part that requires using your head, not just your heart…Unfortunately, good intentions and a big heart are not enough. Dogs must be properly trained and humans must learn how to provide the structure and leadership they need. Literally millions of dogs are killed in the US each year, because humans don’t know how to properly deal with a misbehaving or simply misunderstood dog. I want to be a part of the solution. That is why I decided to follow my passion to help people help their dogs.
My unique training methods are based on a mixture of proven techniques and philosophies that I have adopted from a variety of trainers and behaviorists. I believe each dog is different from the next, with its own individual mix of strengths and weaknesses. I am continuously learning new ideas and approaches to changing unwanted behaviors in dogs. I am passionate about helping people find solutions to the challenges they have with their dog. With new information, structure and consistency, everyone can have a great relationship with their dog!
My unique training methods are based on a mixture of proven techniques and philosophies that I have adopted from a variety of trainers and behaviorists. I believe each dog is different from the next, with its own individual mix of strengths and weaknesses. I am continuously learning new ideas and approaches to changing unwanted behaviors in dogs. I am passionate about helping people find solutions to the challenges they have with their dog. With new information, structure and consistency, everyone can have a great relationship with their dog!
