My dog Max, Class Demo Dog

Why am I so passionate about helping you, and your dog with this very real struggle?

VERY LONG STORY - I apologize in advance, but Max is really the dog that opened my eyes to REACTIVE DOGS. He is the reason that I have an understanding and passion for helping you and your dog.

Not all of you know the story about Max, I know some of you do, but I think it’s important for you all to know that I have been there in your shoes with this amazing boy!

Max was in a high kill shelter in Orange County, CA. I lived in Southern California, and had a successful business where I physically ran 8 to 10 miles a day on trails with 14 dogs. I had a huge network of people that loved dogs that followed me, and when I saw the picture of Max on a Facebook post I knew I had to circulate him and see if I could find a home or rescue to save him. I shared him for a month everyday pleading for someone to get this 8 month old boy. Then on the 32nd day of sharing him across my network of people, I saw that his was going to be PTS at noon the following day! I almost physically got sick when I saw it. I sent it out again pleading with my contacts to get him. I tried to sleep that night, and I couldn’t. The next evening his was home safe with us.

I’m going to fast forward………he became my dog, he was a love but shy and not trusting of humans, he was in flight for about 60 days, and so I moved slowly, cautiously and carefully. It took about 2.5 months and he was soon attached to me, loved my Mom and my son Morgan, and my other 2 dogs. He was also wonderful with other dogs when they came into our home. But if I took him on leash anywhere, or in the car he was a different dog, a scary dog. He was unrecognizable, and I knew it was something I needed to address ASAP.

In my car he would bark incessantly, and he was so loud it drove me crazy, and was dangerous. I tried all kinds of training techniques, and nothing stopped this behavior. He was also nuts the closer we got to a location he knew was fun. I pulled up to take him for a trail run at a local trail, and while still driving into the parking lot, he used his teeth to pull the barrier down, then jumped in between the front seats, and crashed through and out my front window - he ran straight at 2 dogs that were coming off the trail with their owners, and I thought he’s going to to attack them, I flew from the car and ran towards them, but before I took 2 steps, he did a full stop, and turned back around to run back to me. He was unpredictable and SCARY!

I started to try and work on walking him on leash only in our neighborhood and not ever take him in the car. It was AWFUL. The lunging, barking, teeth barred and aggressive on leash behavior was perplexing, upsetting and frustrating. He was fantastic with multiple dogs at our home off leash. I’d have 6 to 8 dogs over to play and stay on a regular basis. He was sweet, appropriate in his play, in his manners, just wonderful. But attach a leash or put him in the car and WATCH OUT. One more fun thing he did, he broke through a large plate glass window, in the front of our home. A Fed-Ex guy was trying to deliver a package, and came into our courtyard when I wasn’t home. I got a note to call them, and heard the story of what happened, and found the glass and blood from Max as the aftermath. After that we locked the gate and set up an alternate area so that no one could come in the front gate. Max also did not have access to the front of the house without me. Not idea and or smart in case of an emergency, but I needed to protect anyone coming through that gate, from him. I knew I had my hands full and began to work with him diligently and tried all of the latest behavior modification methods and tools available at that time. I felt like it was hit or miss. Then in March that same year, about 4 months after rescuing Max, I got diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was given a prognosis of 6 months to a year to live. I went through surgery and began 6 months of grueling chemotherapy. My other 2 dogs stayed out of my room, and away from me. They would occasionally check on me, but I think they knew to stay away from the chemo. Max on the other hand, didn’t leave my side. He lay next to me, he walked me to the bathroom, he sat outside the shower, he walked glued to me anywhere and everywhere I went. He even slept above my bald head, keeping my head warm at night. It was incredible. We bonded even more deeply through this process, but I didn’t allow him to guard me or become protective of me.

Fast forward again……chemo was done, I was weak and on a walker when done, but determined to LIVE AND REBUILD MY BODY AND HEALTH.  It took so much work, but I was able to do that and feel good, and strangely learned a lot about my life and health. I began making needed changes.  Part of those changes were to sell my business to the 2 amazing ladies that worked for me, and get the heck out of California! I moved to McMinnville, Oregon to continue to heal. Approximately a year after we moved to the Pacific Northwest Covid hits, and people that are now staying home began to adopt or buy dogs. I start seeing people in my community that are struggling to manage their families, working from home, and now their new puppy or dog. I saw that they needed help, and I decided to to go back to my roots and love of training, and I began to teach obedience classes. We are socially distanced, outdoors and we are learning together, and I loved it and was so happy! I started to take other training courses from other trainers that I admired and respected. I pushed myself to learn new techniques, new tools, new methods, and be able to offer these services or classes to my community. I began to work harder than ever to help my lovely Max, all the while expanding my knowledge and capabilities in dog training. Then I signed up for the course that changed everything for Max and I. The first day was the realization of what I had done to contribute to his reactivity. I cried because it wasn’t clear to me before, and really it should have been, but I felt I had failed him, I failed us. By the 2nd day of one of the in person classes that we completed, I had tears because I saw the shift happening and the slow, but steady progress we were making together. I saw and felt him looking at me lovingly straight into my eyes, he leaned into me, he relaxed on the leash in the presence of any other dogs or people around us. He was allowing me to become the loving leader that he needed. That I couldn’t be for so long, and that he gladly stepped up to the plate to take the role on. But he relinquished that responsibility back to me, and that was the game changer. This is the crux of what I will train you, and your dog to do. It is not easy, and it takes consistency and lots of practice. But it is impactful and life changing.

It has now been 4 years, since he and I were able to move past and away from his Reactivity on leash, in the car, at the front window, and at the Veterinarians office. He and I are now working privately to help others that suffer with this stressful and debilitating behavior. He and I have been able to help more than 200+people and their dogs. I offer private 1 on 1 sessions, as well as a Weekend Bootcamp. We have traveled to Bend, and other cities throughout Oregon, and Southern California, and Tahoe, Nevada. So, this is where you have met us. This is a journey, and I am glad you are here to learn and receive the support you need and deserve. Whenever you get frustrated, or want to give up, or even cry, please remember Max’s journey❤️, and know you will get there as well.