meet your trainer

force-free. certified. humane. no compromising.

Like many people, dogs have been a part of my life since it began. Growing up as a neurodivergent child presented many challenges: I often felt isolated from my peers and spent a lot of time alone--or in the company of animals. From hiding under kitchen tables with the neighbor's dog to spending my weekends volunteering at the cat shelter down the street, I consistently found it easier and more fulfilling to interact with pets than their stewards.

I shifted gears for a time to study sociology with the hopes of becoming a therapist. After earning my BA and entering the field of adolescent mental health, I found myself feeling hopelessly drained. Something was missing from my life, though I didn't figure out what until my little family unit adopted our dog, Honey (aka Honey Bun, aka Bunny, aka Honey Bunny Boy).

He was gracious enough to accept me as a student in his reality, and I was reminded of my childhood fantasy of working with animals.

When Honey began to experience reactivity and fear of other dogs and people, I began a deep dive into canine behavior modification. To my horror, a lot of what I came across suggested methods that were either nonsensical or downright cruel. I couldn't believe there were people in the world who called themselves dog lovers and yet advocated for methods that hurt them. Imagine my relief and delight when I discovered that force-free training was not only on the upswing, but backed by science as well! Everywhere I turned I found reputable sources condemning the use of punishment and uplifting the humane methods I'd been drawn to. I enrolled in the Grisha Stewart Academy, renowned for its commitment to gentle, compassionate methods, and later completed the LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course while working at one of Denver's dog shelters. With each book I read and each webinar I attended; each dog I worked with and each friend, coworker, and adopter I counseled, my certainty grew: force-free training is humane, effective, and accessible for all people and dogs.

Let me prove it to you! Your dog will thank you.

"When you use positive methods to train your dog, you build an entirely different kind of relationship than that formed by traditional training methods--a bond based on a foundation of cooperation and trust rather than on coercion and fear,"

Pat Miller

honey's story

meet the dog who inspired YDT from the beginning.

My introduction to dog training and behavior modification came in the form of a reactive year-old cattle dog mix straining at the end of his leash towards the dog across the sidewalk.

Honey joined our family as a young rescue of three months. He spent his puppyhood romping in the snow, nibbling on sleeves, and thwarting all our best efforts to puppy-proof his world.

In his adolescence, Honey began to struggle, as many herding breed dogs do, around people and other dogs. When I began to look into what could be done about his changed behavior on leash, I was horrified by suggestions to drag him away, jerk on the lead, or pinch metal prongs around his neck. Surely meeting our dear dog's fear with pain was not the solution.

Thankfully, after a bit more digging, I discovered the world of force-free dog training and behavior modification, which focuses on science-backed interventions, humane care that prioritizes dogs' fundamental need for safety, and promoting human-dog bonds. I joined the Grisha Stewart Academy and shortly after earned my FDM certification, all the while reading any title I could about positive reinforcement, learning theory, non-violent training philosophy, and more.

The change in Honey's behavior after the introduction of Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Technique (BAT) for aggression, safety cues, and my own improved leash skills was dramatic. Instead of lunging at other dogs and bristling with fear when strangers pass, Honey watches with polite curiosity on a loose leash. By working to make him feel safer, we have addressed the root cause of his reactivity.

I hope to bring the love and respect I have for Honey to my work with your dog. I know they are just as special to you as Honey is to me, and that your standards are just as high as mine are. Let's give your dog the understanding, care, and training they deserve!