FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I help clients raise puppies to be the best they can be, and I support people in need of relief from their dog’s behavior difficulties through custom-tailored training programs. My interest lies in how to solve dog behavior problems through the use of humane, science-based approaches to dog training. Also, I believe in a proactive approach to raising puppies that minimizes common problems and produces well-rounded, confident canines. (Please visit my website to learn more: edk9.com) Although I grew up training and living with dogs from a very young age, my first formal study of animal learning and behavior came while earning my degree in psychology. After which, I began working with dogs. I spent one year studying pack dynamics and canine communication while hiking packs of off-leash dogs in the mountains of Montana. Over the years, I continued to refine my training skills and study the techniques and methods of many top trainers.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I was born into a family of dog owners. My first dog was a German Shorthaired Pointer named Heidi, who was my companion since birth to grade-school. Growing up, my grandpa regaled me with stories of his German shepherds, which competed in the show ring. My dad bred and trained German shorthaired pointers and English pointers. Over the years, our family had many dogs of different breeds, including Boston terriers, a Shetland sheepdog, English bulldog, Rottweiller, and rescued greyhounds. Later, I adopted a rescued Karelian Bear Dog, and today, I have a German shepherd and a lab mix. I've been training and working with dogs my entire life.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
I've worked with families and individual dog owners of all sorts. Many are just trying to figure out how to live with their dog, but somewhere along the way they lost control of the situation and now struggle to manage their dog's challenging behaviors. Some want to be able to walk their dog around the neighborhood without getting pulled all over. My method focuses a lot on proper leash walking, and I show my clients how easy it can be to transform a dog from dragging them down the street to calmly walking at their side. Others are eager to train their dog commands and tricks, and I teach them how they can communicate and work with their dog in an exciting way.