talk about rescue dog owner to dog trainer pipeline.
(yes, it's a thing.)
With several stops along the way, of course. First, there was finally graduating from business school and taking a job as a group dog walker (read: hiker) in bear-populated forests. While also interning for local dog trainers and helping run group classes for puppies and reactive dogs (separately, of course). Then, moving off the mainland to accept a management position at a dog boarding facility and restarted their board and train program. Continuing my dog training education post certification and going the extra step (and a couple more years of schooling) to become a canine behaviour consultant. While simultaneously doing multiple virtual apprenticeships with some amazing trainers and behaviour consultants, who also train dogs virtually. Cue lightbulb moment! Next, moving again, and opening my own dog training business, running group classes and private lessons. Meanwhile, working for a different doggy daycare and kennel, doing both day trains and board and trains. Then I went through the process of apprenticing, getting certified, and then working as a canine hydrotherapist. And finally, making the decision to totally revamp my training practice to be entirely virtual.
Why? Because I tried everything else, and I knew this would get better results for my clients. And it has!
My Education, Qualifications, and Affiliations
My Dogs
I am the proud dog mom of three very different dogs, and I am not just talking about their looks.
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My eldest is Velma. This gal has been on the nervous side since we brought her home. She's always ready to finish a walk early and go home. And even more so after having been unfortunately attacked by off-leash dogs three separate times. We continue to work on her confidence and have made great strides! She likes getting herself into food-related shenanigans like tipping over garbage bins, tearing open wrapped presents of chocolates, and trying to use that long snoot to counter-surf.
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My middle child is Kronk. He is a happy lad so long as there is a fireplace on or a patch of sun to lie in. His primary duty is to complete a thorough sniff-spection whenever we return home. While excitable when meeting new people and dogs, he is truly a couch potato at heart. His hobbies include playing fetch in a pool (ball is life), asking for scritches, and making friends with everyone he meets. As a puppy, he had some trouble with resource guarding food, but through management and training, he has learned to take treats nicely around the other dogs.
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My youngest is Lilo. She is definitely our wild child. The definition of full sender. Does not look before she leaps. She may be the smallest, but she has the largest presence. She watches TV, vocalizes at birds, and is always asking her siblings to play. We also conquered a regression in potty training (common amongst puppies who were started on pee pads) in her adolescence. This quirky girl is also our friendliest dog and is super social with everyone.
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These three certainly keep me on my toes. And I am thankful for their private tutelage, continuing the applied canine education begun by my first dog, Frodo.
