My Story
From the moment I could speak, I was completely enamored with dogs. At family reunions, I could sometimes hardly remember the names of extended family members; I’d beeline it straight for the dogs, sneak some meat from the table, and begin training simple tricks as soon as I could. I’d proceed to round up family members one by one, dragging them to the backyard to witness my “dog shows”. On our annual summer road trips to Mexico, I’d befriend the local street dogs, teaching them recall to the names I had given them, and practicing all of their new tricks in a comically show-style way. When the stray dogs raided our campground and ate hundreds of dollars worth of frozen meat, I couldn’t understand why everyone was so upset. I had earned the dogs’ trust, and in my mind, that was a great accomplishment.
Every year, my birthday and holiday wishes were the same: dog encyclopedias. Dog books. Rare breed playing cards. By the time I reached the third grade, I struggled deeply to memorize basic multiplication, yet I could easily rattle off at least 100 AKC-recognized dog breeds. Two times three? No clue. The origin story and original breeding purpose of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen? You’d better pull up a chair.
When my parents finally caved and bought me my first puppy, my world would change forever. Requests for dog encyclopedias changed to rickety homemade agility sets, handheld timers, training clickers, and big, eccentric mock trial ribbons. Patches, who lived for sixteen joyful years, knew several dozen trick behaviors. He starred as “Toto” in my high school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, running to Dorothy on stage, barking down the Wicked Witch of the West, and stealing a sausage from the wizard himself.
I became deeply involved with animal rescue at a young age, personally rescuing, transporting, fostering, or finding placement for over 1,000 animals. In college, I worked as an Animal Care Technician at a high-welfare rescue shelter, caring for animals alongside highly skilled reinforcement-based trainers. My worldviews about animals were challenged deeply during my time at the animal shelter. I learned of the complexities of real-world decision-making in animal rescue; I yearned to keep learning and to make a greater difference.
Patches, who was the canine love of my life.
When I graduated college, I took a remote job in humane education. At that point, my life was all about making the greatest changes I could for animals, rather than what was most fulfilling to me personally. In recent years, I’ve felt a strong calling back to dog behavior and training.
I have a lifetime of dog experience, but that’s not all that matters. Dog training is both an art and a science. In a frighteningly unregulated industry, it’s our job as trainers to educate ourselves on current behavioral science, to thoroughly understand canine body language and behavior, and to constantly be committed to continuing the learning process. No matter how much hands-on experience someone has, they cannot be a qualified trainer without immersing in the science aspect of this field.
A college job at the one of the highest-welfare, most behaviorally conscious animal shelters in California.
I am currently a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants as well as a Fear-Free Certified Pet Professional. I am constantly working towards new certifications and credentials as a trainer. I am a student of world-renowned trainer Susan Garrett’s “Homeschool the Dog” and “Wag Nation!” programs, IAABC classes, and the FENZI Academy, as well as an avid listener of behavioral science podcasts, and an enthusiastic reader of canine learning theory books. I earned my CPDT-KA training credential in 2024.
I see every individual training task as a learning opportunity for myself, my clients, and of course, the canine learners. I collect as much information as possible upfront, develop a training plan, often film sessions, and follow up for additional feedback and support. I find great joy in helping clients think outside of the box, and coming up with new solutions that work for individual dogs and their families. Just like humans, no two dogs are exactly the same!
Here’s to the journey of lifelong learning- and thank you in advance for being a part of it!