My first steps into the dog training world began when I got my first dog during covid. He was a Great Pyrenees/ Anatolian mix (Colorado Mountain Dog). Finnley was a timid dog from the start- he had strong fears with everything that was foreign, but was always trusting when I brought him into uncomfortable situations. As a puppy, he was extremely friendly with people and dogs, and I couldn't wait for him to grow so we could explore the world together confidently. At around 10 months, he began to develop strong fear-based reactivity and began to attack dogs and people over what seemed like nothing at the time.

My heart was shattered. How could this sweet dog behave this way? I had thought nurture would prevail over nature. Friends and family encouraged me to rehome this dog before he did anymore serious damage. It was a lonely and isolating time, but I refused to give up on my dog. 

I decided to reach out to a dog trainer who specialized in reactive and aggressive dogs. I left that first session with eyes full of tears and determination. We worked every day, on every walk, and in any situation I could think of and Finn stepped up to the plate every time.  After a long year of diligently training him, he became a balanced dog. From this training he gained confidence to take on any situation, including off-leash walking, emotional regulation and service dog tasks.

He became all that I had dreamed of and more! 

Our journey was unfortunately cut short after his tragic and sudden passing. This was a difficult experience, but left me with a sense of purpose. I discovered my passion is to help others create the same kind of connection i built with my dog through training.