I discovered my passion and gift a little late in life.  When I was a child we always had a family dog so I thought I knew what it meant to have a dog.  It wasn’t until I was grown and my first dog entered my life that I really understood.  My first dog, Maverick, was an easy puppy and through training him my passion was sparked and started to smolder.  I didn’t know how to train a dog but knew that he needed to listen to me because he was going to be a big dog.  So, I signed up for my first (of many) training class.  Training came very easy to me, it made perfect sense to me, and training him was a breeze.  I remember being in his obedience classes thinking, “Wow, this dog training thing is so easy, why doesn’t everyone have a well behaved dog?”  Foolish, foolish me.  We then decided he should have a companion, a buddy, a brother and we welcomed Jasper into our lives.  Let’s just say that Jasper was the exact opposite of Maverick.  He isn’t a BAD dog-but he certainly isn’t an EASY dog either.  It was then that I discovered that I barely knew anything about training a dog.  Jasper forced me to learn, grow, and become a better trainer, leader and guardian for him.  The more I worked with Jasper the more I learned about different styles and methods of training.  I had to learn to read dog body language, including signs of stress.  I had to learn how to work with a “reactive” dog.  I came to really understand how important early socialization is for all dogs.  I had to learn to be patient.  As I worked with both of my very different dogs I realized that as much as I was teaching them, they too were teaching me.  As I watched our relationship develop that passion that had been smoldering started to burn.  I wanted everyone to experience what I was experiencing.  A RELATIONSHIP-not just ownership.  To hear what our dogs are trying to tell us.  To learn from them.  To enjoy our dogs.   So, I decided to make my passion my life’s work.  To take my natural ease with dogs and my learned knowledge to help other people improve their lives and the lives of their dogs.  I completed my dog training certificate and continue to expand my knowledge with continuing education.  I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).  I stay current on new research, methods and applications via seminars, DVD’s and literature.

My life’s passion is to change the world.  To teach people to listen, one dog at a time.

Jennifer and her dogs, Jasper(L) and Maverick (R)