Dog Trainer Bio

I’m the founder of Woof! San Diego. I’m passionate about positive reinforcement training that helps dogs meet their needs and helps humans reach their training goals so they can live their best lives together. 

I started formally training dogs in 2006 after spending time volunteering with a local rescue group. I hung out at adoption events practicing basic training with the dogs in between meetings with adopters, and I loved seeing the adopters’ eyes light up when they saw that the dogs could follow basic training cues. I decided to take my first formal training program through Animal Behavior College, and I gained professional experience by volunteering with local animal shelters and rescues and apprenticing with a professional dog training and behavior consultant before going on to teach pet dogs in group and private training settings. 

In 2013, I earned my certification through the Karen Pryor Academy as a Certified Training Partner in clicker training. Over the years, I’ve taken many courses with professionals in the field to expand my education and experience as well as maintain my certifications through CPDT and KPA. In 2015, right before my daughter was born, I completed the Family Paws Parent Education course to become a licensed presenter of the Family Paws materials and specialize in training dogs in families with newborns and toddlers.

In 2016, I began teaching service dog training classes to incarcerated dog trainers who were training service dogs for veterans and autistic kids through a local non-profit. Later, I provided post-placement support working hands-on with service dog recipients to teach them how to maintain their dogs’ training and fully utilize trained assistive tasks. I’ve learned to apply a trauma-informed lens to my work with clients and dogs and learned many tools for keeping clients engaged in the training process as well as creative training plans to meet everyone’s needs.

That experience has also helped me in my work with pet dogs, particularly for those who live in busy environments among a lot of distractions or for folks who like to take their dogs to do dog-friendly activities in San Diego. Many of the skills that these dogs need are similar to the skills service dogs learn in public access training, and this knowledge gives me a unique perspective that helps my pet dog clients succeed in busy neighborhoods. 

When I’m not with other people's dogs, I enjoy spending time with my daughter (Ellanora) and my partner (Freddy, who is also a dog trainer - you may see him around in class!), and our own dogs (a Yellow Labrador, a Black Labrador Medical Alert Service Dog, and a Pocket Bully), hanging out with family and friends, exploring San Diego, listening to music, reading, and traveling.