ABOUT ME

I am a certified professional dog trainer serving the greater Portland community. I am a fear-free certified professional and graduated with distinction as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), which is the industry leader in scientifically sound, positive, and humane animal training methods.

MY PHILOSOPHY

Animal training is both a science and an art. There are many labels for the type of training that I do: Positive reinforcement training, clicker training, humane training, relationship-based training, and force-free training. Regardless of the label used, I believe dog trainers should adhere to the same standards as medical physicians: First, Do No Harm.

MY MISSION

My ultimate goal is to support clients in creating behavior change in their animals, but I do not use force, fear, intimidation, or pain to reach our goals. In training, we hear the word obedience a lot, while obedience is an important aspect, it’s not the only end goal when I work with my clients and dogs. When curating training plans, I center them around the dog's entire well-being. I adhere to the humane hierarchy and the principles of LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) to ensure that the animals I work with have the highest welfare possible during the behavior modification process. Learning theory applies to all species of animals – including humans – and I am as passionate about facilitating your growth as I am about training your canine companion.