From a young age, I always knew I wanted to work with animals, but I wasn’t quite sure in what capacity. High school came and went, and I was in a full panic as I watched all of my friends choose to pursue what I viewed as “safe” careers: nurses, accountants, teachers. At the time, I had a job working in a veterinary office and while I loved working with all of the animals, something still didn’t feel right. In 2012, I adopted my first puppy: Nemo. I was in way over my head; I had absolutely no idea how to raise a puppy, but I tried my absolute best. Fast forward a year, I was living in Virginia and picked up my second dog: Bandit, a husky, and the epitome of a nightmare. Constant accidents, screaming in the crate, eating everything in sight were daily occurances. 

*Spoiler Alert: They’ve both turned out to be wonderful dogs.


I continued to work in the veterinary field and although I was falling in love with it, I wanted MORE. I came across Starmark Academy in Hutto, TX and the rest is history. I graduated Starmark Academy in 2016 as a Certified Canine Trainer and Behavior Specialist. Upon graduating, I continued to work at the veterinary hospital holding group classes and working closely with the doctors and kennel staff on establishing a dog handling protocol. In 2017, I moved back up north and accepted a position as a head trainer for a company in Westchester. Throughout my two years there, I was able to help strengthen the bond and enrich the lives of so many dogs and owners.

Realizing I craved the freedom to truly help dogs and owners in need to the best of my abilities, I decided to go out on a limb-and Northern Bound K9 was born.


About

Faqs

WHAT IS “BALANCED TRAINING?”

In a nutshell, balanced training is about creating fair and clear communication so that you can build the strongest bond possible with your dog. 

Our dogs aren’t born understanding this world and it is our job to teach them - through fair training - the appropriate ways in which to exist. It can be dangerous and enabling to ignore our dog’s bad behaviors in the hopes that they will go away on their own. Balanced training is a way to communicate clearly with our dogs, allowing us to show them what is right and what is wrong. We both reward our dogs for behaviors we like and correct them for behaviors we don’t. I will spend time getting to know your dog and figuring out what is rewarding for him. The goal? To motivate your dog to exhibit behaviors that we do want, so that little to no corrections are needed.

WHY CAN’T THE TRAINING TAKE PLACE AT MY HOME?

Environment plays a HUGE role in a dog's behavior. Removing your dog from the environment where there is a history of bad habits makes training so much easier. Why? Because your dog has no track record of practicing those behaviors in my home. Instead of showing your dog what not to do, I can focus instead on showing them the new rules that apply in my home. Essentially, they’re given a clean slate. Furthermore, keeping your dog in a new environment for a prolonged period of time allows them to build up a reinforcement history of new and good behaviors so that they have the best possible chance of long term success. 

I know it can be hard to be away from your dog but you can use this time to relax and to make changes in your environment that will be most conducive to your dogs homecoming. And don't worry! You will be deluged with photos, text messages, social media updates, etc!

How do i choose The Best program for me?

Short answer: Let's chat!
Long answer: It depends. Private lesson programs are great for teaching 1-2 foundational skills if you have time to dedicate to training: progress is up to you and depends on how much time you spend with your dog in between lessons. Our Board and Train programs are set up to be the best of both worlds.  We do all of the "dirty work" of laying the training foundation for several skills (leash walking, place work, and recall) and the subsequent private lessons ensure that all of the training transfers to you. Board and Trains are also the best option if you are looking to change or alter your dog's behavior because that is most easily and most effectively done when we change the dog's environment.

DO YOU OFFER A GUARANTEE?

I guarantee I will train your dog to reach your goals, however, longterm success lies in your hands more than mine. If you practice what I show you, follow through with training at home, reinforce behaviors as instructed, and reach out if you are struggling, you will achieve the results you are looking for. Remember: I will be available to help you with life time support via email, phone, and video calls.

ARE YOU THE RIGHT TRAINER FOR ME?

That depends! I am looking to work with people who realize that they are the true key to unlocking their dog's potential. Environment plays a huge role in a dog's behavior, and you, the paw-rent, typically make up the largest portion of your dog's environment. I’ve been in your shoes myself and I’ve also helped countless paw-rents like you have fantastic, fulfilling relationships with their dogs. In order to facilitate the happiest life for your and your dog, you must be willing to put in the work and make necessary changes. Training is a journey but I will be there with you every step of the way. If you’re interested in working with me, get in touch today and let’s see if we’re a good fit!

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