FAQs
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When a new client is referred to me or contact me the first thing that happens is we speak on the phone and do what's called a phone intake. During this conversation, I will gather information such as the clients name phone number email address the dogs name age sex and other pertinent information. The next day just to find out the motivation behind getting this dog and why they love the dog after that we go through and figure out what issues they're having with the dog if they have any medical problems and then we schedule a consult. During the consult I will come out to your house or you'll come out to me I will meet with you your dog and your family, and will have a more in-depth conversation as to what is really going on in the household with the dog and how it affects the other house members. During this time I will also observe the family's interactions with the dog their body language as well as the dogs interactions with myself and the family and his body language. After the consult we will schedule our first session at that point I will bring a training program outline and a treatment plan, specifically tailored to your dogs individual needs skills and personality. During the course of our program we will develop a "relationship built on trust and cooperation".
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Yes, I am constantly updating myself either via online webinars, books, or dog training conferences/seminars- given by well known trainers, behaviorists, and vets- to stay up to date on new positive reinforcement based methods, reinforcements, toys, and equipment.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I started doing this type of work accidentally. During college I was a computer programming major and an accounting minor. My advisor told me that I needed to fill my schedule with one more elective and so I chose to take an animal psychology class. After my first class I was absolutely hooked, I went down to see my advisor and began the journey to changing my major to animal behavior. As with any field you're never truly done you're always learning you're always finding new things that work and that you had no idea about previously especially when working with animals things are always changing and so that is one of the reasons that have kept me in this field is because no two days are the same you never know what you're going to get and it's always fulfilling to see dogs and their families build a relationship throughout my program and graduate a stronger more bonded unit then when they first met me.