Mikie

My interest in training started with a young stray I adopted at six months old who struggled with anxiety and resource guarding. I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped, but she definitely helped me far more than I helped her. Another dog along the way, a Basset Hound named Lucy, was rumored to be “untrainable.” That’s when I put my nose to the ground and began learning about training and behavior.

Just before Lucy passed away, I started volunteering at a local shelter. Less than six months later, I joined their training team. Our only job was to pair up with a dog and work with them until they passed their CGC. It made a difference, but it didn’t feel like we were truly saving lives.

Then I met a dog named Scout, a wonderful dog who, once overstimulated, would bite at anything he could reach. The day he was euthanized, I promised myself I would continue learning about behavior and training so I could save more lives. Over the years, I’ve dedicated myself to teaching volunteers about dog behavior and handling skills to help more dogs find long-term homes.

Now, alongside equally passionate dog trainers, I hope to focus on the dogs, both in homes and shelters, who need more help than most people are equipped to give.

Our little group hopes to offer classes, private training, and ongoing support to give these lives a chance to truly thrive. Eventually, we dream of having a small facility where we can house a few dogs who need out of shelters before their time runs out. We will rehabilitate them and, if possible, find them loving homes. And if not, we want to provide a safe place, surrounded by educated and compassionate people, where a dog can live out its life in peace.