The Craft

I’m a dog trainer, puppy development specialist, and mentor to dog trainers with over 30 years of experience. Alongside hands-on work with dogs and households, I mentor trainers who want stronger programs, clearer client communication, better training decisions, and a more grounded way to develop their craft.

I care deeply about this profession. I support trainers who want to refine their craft, raise their standards, and build work rooted in skill, judgment, and integrity.

When I started, there was no clear path into this profession. I built my education piece by piece through shelter work, seminars, workshops, hands-on training, and every serious learning opportunity I could find. I know what it feels like to want guidance and not have enough of it. That experience is a huge part of why I believe mentorship should be a normal, respected, and essential part of the dog trainer’s journey.

At the center of my work is a commitment to raising the standard of professional dog training. I want meaningful mentorship to become a more recognized, respected, and essential part of the dog trainer’s journey, because this work demands more than isolated education, scattered experience, or one-size-fits-all methods.

Work & Contributions

I’ve taught dog professionals internationally and created education for both trainers and owners through courses, publications, podcasts, and training media. My work is grounded in puppy development, practical behavior change, shelter dog programs, owner education, and dog training built for real life.

I co-founded and designed the Open Paw program, one of the first nonprofit programs dedicated to educating shelter workers, volunteers, and adopters so that shelter dogs and cats not only find loving homes, but have a better chance of staying there through practical behavior support.

For 24 years, I served as COO and Training Director of Sirius Puppy & Dog Training, the largest family-run training school in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded on the principles of early puppy education. I’ve also developed courses for Dunbar Academy, an online learning platform for pet professionals and dog owners.

Over the years, I’ve taught internationally, spoken to professional audiences, appeared on podcasts, written about dog training and behavior, and developed educational material for trainers and dog owners. That breadth of work is part of what I bring to mentorship: not one narrow system, but a wide, practical view of dogs, people, training, and professional development.

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Beyond Dog Training

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I work internationally and spend time between California, Costa Rica, and the UK. I train and compete in French Ring with my Belgian Shepherds.

Outside of sport, my day-to-day work stays rooted in companion dogs, household life, and the small details that make training practical and livable.