About Me
It always led back to dogs...
I feel so truly blessed to have a profession that is my passion!
Over 20 years ago I started my professional journey as a dog trainer, fulfilling a dream of mine as a little girl. When I was 8 years old I wrote an essay stating that I wanted to be a dog trainer when I grew up. My dad, who was a businessman to the core, told me in no uncertain terms that I would pick a more traditional career. As a result, I acquired a degree in interior design and then promptly obtained a job managing an animal supply company.
The next step in my journey was moving cross country from PA to CA to do set design. When I arrived in CA, I quickly realized that set design was not for me and found employment at a dog daycare facility. While working there I met my mentor and lifelong friend Julie Sterling, and she started me on my path as a dog trainer. Through the next several years I took in information and shadowed any dog trainer that would allow me. Along with higher education seminars, books, videos and chatgroups I continued to learn and hone my skills as a dog trainer to develop my own individualized style.
Eight years ago I decided to learn how to ride and train horses, which has humbled me and added a whole new level to my dog training abilities.
Me and mine...
When I was younger, I was asthmatic and allergic to dogs. My pediatrician, who was wise beyond his time, told me to get a chihuahua and sleep with it. He said that my allergies would get better because I would build up a tolerance to the dander...and I did! Ever since then I've had chihuahuas, sometimes a tiny herd of them at once, along with a French bulldog, Dalmatian, several German short-haired pointers and various other mixed breed strays that have passed through.
A few years ago, I decided to up the ante and got a horse who changed my life in a way I couldn't even have imagined! Each one of these animals showed up in my life at the perfect time, gave me skills, and taught me lessons I needed to learn. I am grateful for every one of them! Pete, my Frenchie, had mad dog skills and helped me teach puppies things I couldn't, and taught me and my other dogs how to teach them too. Dinky, my chihuahua, was my best friend and an old soul. She stuck by me through the years when I figured out who I was and how I fit into this world. Louie, my short-hair, in true pointer fashion, taught me that life can be magical if you allow it to be so. Smidge, my newest and youngest, is a new soul. From what I can tell so far, she's here to keep my life lite and remind me to laugh...a lot! Each of these animals had different strengths and challenges which pushed me to build my training and my life skills.
My philosophy, my niche...
As a lifelong chihuahua owner, I realized that it was difficult to find a trainer that took my small dog problems seriously (potty training, nipping, barking, biting, nervousness), and there was not much information out there specific to small dog needs. My perspective clients were having the same issues that I experienced. I also realized that most of these issues could be headed off with early puppy knowledge and training.
The above morphed into what I'm known for...the puppy board and train, which I then realized wasn't just for small dogs anymore. I was able to apply it to all puppies of all sizes by applying different nuances to fit each situation and puppy.
...and then it became personal.
My own personal health journey led me to explore in depth how diet, nutrition, healthy living, and western medicine combined with traditional medicine and tools can impact the body and remarkably change health and mindset. That became another passion of mine and I now incorporate this knowledge for interested clients in creating a healthy happy dog. My animal training journey has profoundly changed my life. It has taught me patience, compassion, humility, and brought me so much joy.
Over the years it has deepened my relationship with my animals, my clients and their animals, my friends and myself. My goal is to be able to share the wealth from that experience with my clients to enrich their lives and relationships with their pets.