Real Dogs.
Real Families.
Real Change.
Dogs rarely arrive with one neat little problem.
Over the years, families have come to me with aggression, anxiety, reactivity, fear, household chaos, puppies who were making everyone crazy, dogs who simply were not feeling well, and plenty of situations where somebody had already tried “more training.”
My work has changed and expanded over the years because the dogs taught me to look deeper. Sometimes training is part of the answer. Sometimes we also need to look at stress, lifestyle, nutrition, pain, physical wellness, history, relationships and what is happening in the whole dog.
What Working Together Has Looked Like
Different dogs. Different problems. Different families. That is exactly why I have never believed every dog should be handed the same canned training plan.
Rosie Needed More Than “Just Training”
When Melynda reached out, Rosie was dealing with anxiety, aggression toward other dogs and significant excess weight. Their work did not stop at behavior exercises. Nutrition and additional wellness support became part of the plan too.
Rosie went on to lose 25 pounds, improve physically, become much more comfortable out in public and make major progress around other dogs.
Behavior changed.
Health changed.
Daily life changed.
Afraid to Go Outside
Patty came looking for help because her dog was fearful about simply going outdoors. She credits the combination of practical exercises and nutrition suggestions with tremendous improvement.
A Little Dog With a Big Problem
Anna was fostering an eight-pound Maltese who needed significant behavioral help. She appreciated an honest evaluation, a clear action plan and learning what the humans needed to change too.
Two Puppies. Complete Chaos.
Maureen described life with two nine-month-old Australian Doodles as completely out of control. She began seeing change from the first session and soon had much better walks and a far more manageable household.
A Rescue Dog Who Bit Another Dog
Diane reached out after a newly rescued dog bit her older pit bull. Their work included household structure, crate routines, feeding around other dogs, jumping and behavior around unfamiliar people. The dog ultimately became a loved member of the family.
Starting a Puppy Off Well
Meg began working with me when Millie was a puppy and continued as she grew. She described the experience as helpful and encouraging and felt the work gave Millie a strong foundation.
The Human End of the Leash Counts Too.
One of the most consistent things I have heard through the years is that people expected me to train their dog — and discovered that I spent a whole lot of time teaching them how to understand, communicate with and advocate for that dog too.
There are many more stories than I could reasonably put on one page.
See All Google ReviewsThe Work Has Evolved.
The Stories Still Count.
The K9 Coach started in dog training. There were puppies, obedience lessons, group classes, board-and-trains, public outings, service dogs and some very difficult behavior cases.
I’m proud of that work. I’m also proud that I kept learning. The more dogs I worked with, the more obvious it became that behavior does not live in its own little box separate from the rest of the dog. That eventually led me deeper into canine nutrition, natural wellness, emotional support and whole-dog health.
So I am not deleting the old stories because my work looks different today. They are part of how I got here.
A Little K9 Coach History
Some of these came from the earlier training years. Others reflect the nutrition and wellness work that was already becoming part of what I do. I keep them because these families — and these dogs — are part of the story.
Not Sure What Your Dog Needs?
Tell me what is going on. I’ll help you figure out whether the next step is a behavior evaluation, practical resources, wellness support or something else entirely.