My goal is to help you communicate with your dog and understand his (or her) needs so that you can enjoy a calm, safe, adventurous, and memorable life together!
Is your dog overly excited when you or other guests arrive?
Is your dog growling when you get near toys, food, people, or places?
Is your pet having trouble with solitary confinement while you’re away?
Is your dog barking or lunging at people or other animals while on a leash?
Is your newly adopted rescue dog having trouble getting comfortable living in your home?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, what will happen if you can’t change your dog’s behavior???
If life with your dog is not what you expected it to be, I can help!
Like many people in pet-related careers, I have fond memories of my early years growing up caring for pets in our home. I lived with dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, doves, hamsters, a couple of Red-Eared Slider turtles, a rabbit, and a horse. I’ve always had an interest in science, more specifically the healing arts, and at one time I considered becoming a veterinarian. Instead, I chose the human healing arts as my course of study in college. I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, studying everything from general psychology to more specialized educational psychology, organizational psychology, child psychology, clinical psychology, and even abnormal psychology. But I also had an interest in biology, medicine, and natural healing.
When I got out of college, I had a chance to try out many of the areas I had studied, including working with children in a daycare center and scouting activities. I also worked in the corporate sector for a bit, but quickly veered toward the healthcare field. I worked in a chiropractic office and learned about herbal medicine and natural healing while owning two health food stores. Life changed direction, and I finally moved into the pet care industry.
Over the years, I saw more and more of the ripple effects of fear-based behaviors in family pets and livestock. With other caregivers referring me to clients whose dogs were aggressive, I set off on a specialized path of education to learn how to ease a pet’s fear and protect myself from dog bites in the process.
Introducing L.E.G.S. and the specialized training of your Certified Family Dog Mediator!
With an education in human and animal learning theory, a background in teaching humans, and over 20 years of experience working with client pets, you can see how I am uniquely qualified to train your dog. Using simple and easy techniques that follow LIFE (Least Inhibitive Functionally Effective) methods, I can safely change your dog’s chaos to calm, and finally give you some peace in your home. If your dog has some emotional challenges, I know a bit about the pharmaceuticals your veterinarian may prescribe for your dog, as well as some of the alternative treatments, so I can work with your veterinarian to help your pet live a better life.
As a Certified Family Dog Mediator, my motivation-based training uses a holistic, force-free approach to your dog’s Hierarchy of Dog’s Needs that helps your dog self-regulate to a state of relaxation! All of the animal photos on this site were taken by me or others who were there to capture my training and enrichment sessions in individual homes or at local animal shelters. You can see how well pets respond to my Fear Free® education and training by looking at the happy expressions on their faces. The most significant change in emotions is evident when you check out the “Reactive to Relaxed” Training Program page on this site, where you can see the “before” and “after” photos of pet dogs I was hired to work with.
I didn’t just decide to start working with fearful animals. My education has been years in the making, and I am not done learning even now. Continuing education keeps you safe and gives my services a value you can count on.
I look forward to meeting you and your family soon!
Currently serving Pickens, Gilmer, and Cherokee Counties, including the communities of Blaine, Hinton, Jasper, Marble Hill, Nelson, Tate, Talking Rock, Ellijay, Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Waleska, and Woodstock
