I HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PEOPLE & DOGS

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

  • Dog Walker/ Sitter for dogs with behavioral issues.

    2006-2016

    Owned my own dog walking/ pet sitting business. Serviced areas all over Chicago. Having experience handling dogs all my life (grew up around various working dogs). I started this to pay my way through college/ training school.

    All my clients were dogs who struggled with reactivity, stranger danger, fear, anxiety or aggression.

  • Camp Woo

    2016-2024

    Having graduated training school I wanted to focus on just training. Moved on from dog walking & I switched my services to in my home pet sitting & training. Still focusing on mostly dogs struggling with behavioral stuff.

    I’m incredibly thankful for all the invaluable lessons that these dogs taught me. Having to help dogs like them cohabitate and feel safe around one another gave me some of the best tools under my belt.

  • Lead Handler & Walker

    2011-2016

    Worked for a dog daycare/ boarding facility.

    Structured playgroups, handled onboarding/ temperament testing process for new dogs & clients. Main walker for dogs with behavioral issues. Offered in home boarding services.

  • Junior Trainer & Lead Handler

    2014-2016

    Handler & Junior trainer @ a daycare/ boarding & training facility for dogs with behavioral issues. Assessed new dogs into the program. Balanced & structured playgroups. Implemented training routines for board & trains.

  • Senior Trainer & Behavior Specialist

    2017-2022

    Taught private & group classes. Designed curriculum that implemented basic obedience & real life scenarios. Worked with behavior cases regarding’ aggression, anxiety, fear, & reactivity.

  • Lead Trainer for Safe Humane- Lifetime Bonds Program

    2020-Current

    Love community outreach. Seasonally I work with different youth after school/ summer programs. Our goal is to educate students on “How dogs learn”, best practices for making dogs part of community & mentoring those who seek a career working with animals.

    This program connects shelter dogs from Chicago Animal Care and Control to the community. Helping the dogs get more exposure, socialization & to encourage more people to adopt from our city shelter.

    Safe Humane Non-profit Info

  • One of the founders of Dogs Anonymous

    2024-Current

    Created a non-profit group with 3 other behavior experts dedicated to keeping dogs out of shelters by helping their humans with advice and emotional support. Services offered in both English & Spanish.

    We have FREE weekly virtual support meetings to help people who are struggling with their dogs. We also connect people to a community they can rely on for support.

    We have a FREE crisis text line on Whatsapp that will connect you to one of our 4 behavior experts.

    Our website is filled with FREE educational resources.

    DogsAnonymous.org

SPECIALTY SKILLS/ DOG SPORTS

  • E-collar Training

    Off-leash priviledges is super important for my household.

    After being intoduced to this tool by my mentor- Alex Urbanski- MonkeyPie Dog Training

    I developed my own e-collar system that is easy to follow & geared toward people who want to be active with their dogs. It’s a tool that should be respected & properly introduced.

  • Freestyle Frisbee/ Fetch

    It’s like a game of fetch except you also do cool tricks in between tosses.

    Learning about targeting techniques, lead changes, proper warm ups/cool downs & best practices when playing this game is important for your dog to be safe & properly fulfilled.

    Completed a seminar w/ the amazing & talented AndreaMorrissette.

  • K9 Scentwork/ Detection

    One of the most natural behaviors for our dogs is to use their nose- It’s what they’re best at!

    Learning how to channel that talent can be such a great tool to have for mental stimulation. Scentwork can help build confidence & provide proper fulfillment to reactive or high energy/ drivey dogs.

    I’ve learned my skils from these colleagues. Nosework Specialists

    Mentors:

    Stacey Hawk- Hawk City K9

    Don Blair- Canine Intelligence Academy

  • Bitework

    Getting involved in bite sports has leveled up my understanding & handling of aggression.

    It’s all about channeling drive & putting control when playing with aggressive behaviors. Learning it has given me so many tools/skills to help teams who struggle with reactivity & aggressive behaviors.

    Mentor:

    Adrian Moreno-Chicagoland Protection Dogs

  • Service Dog Training

    After getting some guidance on SD training from a colleague. I was able to self train my own service dog Riot. I now offer help with public access training to clients.

    For online SD courses & task training check out.

    Moth Donahue

    https://www.feywilddogtraining.com/

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  • Bite Work Decoy

    In wanting to learn all things dog, after getting started on the handler side of bite sports, I wanted to understand the other side, decoy work.

    For ring sports, we play with aggresive behaviors stemmig from prey drive- not defensiveness. The role of the decoy is that of prey, but with rules about knowing when & how to apply pressure to the dog.

    Really learning how to move & flow during different exercises. Learning to build up the dog & building trust through the game.

    Mentor

    Adrian Moreno.

    Retired International Multi Championship French Ring Decoy.

    - Chicagoland Protection Dogs

    Click Here

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Essential Training Skills & Behavior Fundamentals

    2015-2016

    The first few courses of training school which cover the science behind dog training. Understanding body language & dog psychology. Introduction to tools & basic skills.

  • Advanced Training Skills & Behavior Mod

    Graduated Training School 2016

    Last course in training school which focused on how to work through behavioral issues involving aggression, anxiety & fear based issues.

  • FetchFind

    Internship w/ one of the first online pet education start ups in Chicago.

    Worked with the founder of FetchFind, Jamie D’amato. FetchFind strived to create pet educational content curated by pet professionals. This online service has become a crucial tool in various pet care services around the country to educate staff on the foundations of dog behavior, safety & ethology.

  • Graduate of a Master Course on Dog Aggression

    Taught by aggression expert, Michael Shikashio CDBC. One the most comprehensive course on dog aggression for trainers and behavior consultants.

    Also a graduate of his “Defensive Handling" course.