let's check: is this the right fit for you?

The inspiration came from over a decade of being in dog behavior combined with my overwhelming experience planning a wedding. Planning for this big intimate event was doable- but very stressful because there were too many time-sensitive tasks and too many opinions. I suddenly realized that this is how new dog owners feel! From purchasing vs adopting your puppy to vaccinations to diet choice to socialization to spay/neuter to ACTUAL training, puppy owners are understandably overwhelmed and well-meaning owners continually miss the most IMPORTANT time-sensitive pieces of puppyhood! As a veterinarian and behaviorist, I decided it was time to use my expertise and skills in the most effective ways: by guiding new puppy owners from start to finish. From health to behavior, I'm here to help and be the definitive ally you need. Think of me as your full-service planner - for your pup!

Time and again, I've seen that the hardest part of GREAT behavior is in its foundations. Unfortunately, this is the part that most owners want to skip. Board and train is powerful because you can establish a strong foundation (the detail-oriented stuff I love), which can then be strengthened by private lessons and video coaching to ensure continual progress! I've created this full service plan because I believe it is the most effective and efficient. Not convinced about online-training? Take a look at this!

1. Full and Partial Puppy Plans: I am your educational guide and your trainer. I do not provide medical services (i.e. I will teach cooperative care and mock injections but I do not perform vaccinations).
2. Behavior Consultations: I provide diagnostic behavior consultations after we establish a legally binding veterinary-patient-client-relationship. If medications are indicated, I will make recommendations and prescribe accordingly. I do not provide training for this service

It depends! It is true that anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, board your dogs, and use compulsion to quickly generate a form of "obedience" in which your dog complies because they want to avoid a correction. Evidence shows that aversive techniques can create distress and contribute to poorer welfare, so I won't do any of this for your dogs. I train by focusing on your dog's engagement and reinforcing them to create lasting habits.  I believe that high quality board & trains help to establish best behaviors quickly. This makes owners' lives easier and it facilitates better dog-human relationships. When done well, it's a win-win!

Depending on your package, you will have a maximum amount of time for communication by phone & online (i.e. 2 hours over 3 months vs 4 hours over 10 months). You paid for it and I will keep track of time, so I encourage you to use ALL of it!

Excellent question! Your puppy can and should leave your house for safe socialization as early as possible, i.e. 8 weeks. Read the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior position statement

This may be true, but what are your goals and how much time do you have? If you are looking for the level of social and environmental stability + handler engagement my dogs have, you will need quite a bit of experience and time. Do you have 10+ years of difficult dogs and years of practicing veterinary medicine to hone your skills? Or a full work day to focus on your pup? If not, don't worry. I do! And that's the difference of "full service/concierge" behavior & training!

This is a good question and it's such a nuanced answer! And we can discuss this together, as a team. Here's an example: My extremely dog-aggressive "Ivy" changed her emotions and her behavior entirely because of positive reinforcement techniques. Punitive techniques did not make it better. The science says it works. My experience will show you it works!

Yes. During my behavior residency, I treated virtually the whole spectrum of dog psychopathologies including fears, phobias, anxiety, aggression. I have a deep understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and medication options. I provide diagnostic behavior consultations for these cases only. I do not provide training for these cases, but, during our consultation, I will refer you to excellent progressive trainers!

No. A dog is a living sentient creature that comes with a unique genetic background that is influenced by its environment and your teachings. I can't guarantee your behavior. I won't guarantee your dog's behavior. It's 100% unethical.

There are really good trainers who excel at hosting group classes and talented folks who are great at problem solving difficult cases. I refer dogs to these trainers all the time! My service, however, is specifically geared towards pet parents who want expert guidance and a full plan so they don't miss the critical windows to shape their puppy's health and behavior. If you have a vision, I'm here to help execute that. You get my years of experience with difficult dogs, my veterinary training, my love for scientific advances, and a focus on YOUR puppy alone! Read more about me here

"Bad" behavior could be do to an inappropriate environment, genetic predispositions (uncontrollable factors), and inappropriate learning. We will discuss mediation possibilities at time of contract signing. Note: We do NOT offer behavior guarantees. That is unethical.

When dogs and cats come to the veterinary clinic, they are often highly stressed. And what should be a simple procedure (i.e. vaccinations or nail trim) becomes a huge stressful-needs-sedation ordeal. Low-Stress handling is how veterinary staff interact with your pet to keep them as calm as possible. But cooperative care allows your dog to be a willing participant in the procedure. I absolutely teach this! If you want to focus on this in your package, we can customize it to your needs

Yes, please! My passion is dog sports and I particularly love obedience. If you have a specific sport or goal in mind, please contact me and we can discuss options for building a strong foundation