My Certificates/Achievements
Education • Experience • Dedication
My Journey to Becoming a Dog Trainer
My journey with animals started long before I ever called myself a dog trainer.
I grew up on a dirt road off Corkscrew Road in Estero, surrounded by animals. My family, our neighbors, and the community around me always seemed to have animals of every kind. From a very young age, I found myself drawn to them. I would choose being with the animals over almost anything else.
Even as a kid, I dreamed of one day making a living doing exactly that—caring for animals, understanding them, and teaching them how to successfully live alongside us.
Eventually, I thought:
“Why don’t I just try?”
So I did.
And it worked.
That moment sparked something in me. I wanted to understand more. I wanted to learn why certain techniques worked, how dogs learned, how their experiences shaped their behavior, and—most importantly—how we could teach them in a way that made learning enjoyable for both the dog and their person.
That search for knowledge eventually led me to CATCH Canine Academy.
Where It All Started
When I was 16, I began studying and observing dog training as much as I possibly could. I trained my own dogs, worked with animals constantly, and spent countless hours trying to understand why they behaved the way they did.
My Professional Education
Through CATCH, I was paired one-on-one with my mentor, Mary Frances, who became an incredibly important part of my development as a trainer.
She challenged me, taught me, encouraged me, and helped mold me into the trainer I am today.
At CATCH, I learned to look beyond simply teaching a dog a command. We focused on understanding the individual dog in front of us and finding ways to teach that dog through fun, rewarding, and effective training.
My education wasn’t limited to a classroom.
Throughout my training, I gained hands-on experience through:
🐾 One-on-one private lessons
🐾 Group training classes
🐾 Hands-on work with a variety of dogs and behaviors
🐾 Shelter volunteering and observation
🐾 Working with dogs from different backgrounds and life experiences
🐾 Real-world training situations with owners and their dogs
Working in the shelter environment was especially valuable to me. It allowed me to see dogs who came from circumstances completely different from the dogs I had grown up with.
It taught me that there isn’t a single approach that works for every dog.
Every dog has a story. Every dog learns differently. And every dog deserves to be understood.
From Student to Trainer
After years of studying, practicing, learning, making mistakes, asking questions, and gaining hands-on experience, I eventually took what I had learned and began working with clients independently.
Today, I bring that same passion into every home I walk into.
My goal isn’t simply to teach your dog to sit, stay, or walk nicely on a leash.
My goal is to help you and your dog understand one another.
Because I believe dogs don’t just need to learn how to fit into our lives.
We also have to learn how to understand theirs.
6+ Years in the Making
What started as a childhood dream has grown into a career that I am incredibly proud of.
It took years of learning and hands-on experience to get here, and I am nowhere near finished learning. Dog training is an ever-evolving field, and I believe being a good trainer means continuing to educate yourself throughout your entire career.
I am so excited to continue learning, growing, and bringing that knowledge to the families and dogs I work with.
Thank you for trusting me with your best friend.
To every client, mentor, friend, family member, and dog who has supported me along the way thank you.
You have helped turn something I dreamed about as a kid into the career I get to live every day.
And I couldn’t be more grateful. 🐾
My Certifications & Achievements
