I began training service dogs in 1997 as a student trainer for Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe, NM. My work with dogs continued in roles as a groomer and animal care technician from 1999 to 2003 in Aspen and Broomfield, Colorado. In 2003, I relocated to Honolulu, HI to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa, graduating with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Applied Animal Biology & Management in 2009. Following graduation, I returned to Colorado to serve as a trainer for the Colorado Dog Academy in Broomfield.
In 2015, Assistance Dogs of the West invited me to attend Susan Clothier’s Enriched Puppy Protocol workshop, which aims to raise "confident, competent and coordinated canines." Subsequently, I oversaw the Puppy Enrichment Program for Assistance Dogs of the West at Sunrise Springs Resort and Spa, now Ojo Santa Fe, managing the care, enrichment, and training of service dog puppies in an interactive environment and living onsite to implement the program with guests. Between 2015 and 2018, I assisted with the whelping and rearing of 55 puppies, 53 of whom were placed successfully and graduated with public access. The Santa Fe New Mexican published a great article on this program:
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/where-puppies-become-guides/article_74ce9fd3-4669-5a13-886e-eca010bcb4bd.html
In 2018, I accepted a role as Animal Behavior and Enrichment Specialist at Bernalillo County Animal Care Services and Resource Center in Albuquerque, NM. The transition from purpose-bred puppy training to shelter work required development of new skills, including assessing body language, identifying early signs of stress, and modifying a broad spectrum of behaviors. During my tenure, I worked with thousands of animals displaying various behavioral issues such as severe aggression, feral or under-socialized tendencies, separation anxiety, OCD behaviors, and kennel stress.
After five years, I resigned from Bernalillo County in December 2023 to establish my own business. I continue to reside in Albuquerque with my husband and four-year-old son, along with our two rescue dogs. In 2023, I completed Suzanne Clothier's Relationship Centered Training, Treat/Retreat Course for fearful dogs, and obtained instructor certification. In January 2024, I joined Pets for Vets Inc. as Talent Acquisition Coordinator (January 2024 - June 2025) and continue as a Volunteer Satellite Trainer. I regularly participate in educational conferences with industry experts to learn advanced behavior modification techniques. Most recently, I attended ClickerExpo2025 and plan to attend the Aggression in Dogs Conference for a third time in September.
