FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I fell into this profession completely by accident. I have always loved dogs and been involved with them in some way. I was already working at a dog magazine as the marketing coordinator and did product testing with my dogs. When I got my first Jack Russell Terrier, Harley, I knew that it was a breed that needed a lot of discipline and training so I signed up for classes at a local facility. My instructor was amazing and I learned so much from him in our first session that I signed Harley up for the Canine Good Citizen class and put another one of my dogs in the basic obedience class. I guess he saw something in me and asked if I would be interested in teaching for them. I have a background in public relations and a degree in speech communication so teaching new people came easy to me. It blossomed from there, and a few years later I opened my academy. That was in 1999 and I've been teaching this program since!
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
I want clients to know that choosing a dog trainer is a very personal decision. Their are many types of trainers out there. Always look at their experience and get references. A formal training school can teach many things, but it can't teach the innate ability to read dogs. I think that comes naturally and is a gift that not everyone has. Some programs train the dog, some train the owner to train the dog, and I try to do both. I meet a specific need with my board and train program. It's not for everyone to send there dog away, but if it's for you, choose someone that you are comfortable with and that you get a good feeling from. Fancy surroundings are nice for people, but it's not always where the dog feels most comfortable and thrives. We are geared towards the needs of dogs and we have stuck to that principal for almost 15 years.