WHO WE ARE
Mission Statement:
I started Pawsitively Balanced to offer something deeper than obedience training. Deep transformation. Not just in dogs but in their owners, relationships and lifestyle.
We’re not here to fix symptoms; we’re here to restore balance at the root. I believe in clarity, timing, connection, and learning how to guide dogs & their people with confidence.
Pawsitively Balanced training isn’t just a method—it’s a mindset. One that’s calm, clear, and built on trust.
This isn’t just about dogs.
It’s about restoring leadership, peace, and possibility.
Serving dogs and their people.
One relationship at a time.
the journey
My name is Tristan, and I’m the founder of Pawsitively Balanced—a dog training and behavior transformation service rooted in structure, trust, and connection.But this journey didn’t start with dog training. It started with compassion.
Growing up, I was raised by a mother who once worked at a zoo and never stopped rescuing animals. Injured birds, orphaned racoons, paralyzed wildlife—our home became a refuge. She showed me how to listen, how to care, and how to respect every life, no matter how small. That’s where I first learned to work with animals—not through commands, but through presence, patience, and quiet responsibility.
Later, I found structure through martial arts and the discipline of gym routines. It wasn’t about competition. It was something to anchor me. When those routines fell away, I felt what it was like to lose direction. I didn’t have a mentor. I had to teach myself to lead, and I learned the hard way how easy it is to fall when no one’s there to guide you.
The first real loss I ever felt was when my childhood dog got loose and was hit by a car. That moment stuck with me. It shaped how seriously I take responsibility. Years later, when I was asked to take in a dog who had severe behavioral challenges and was going to be put down if I didn’t— I said yes. Not because I knew exactly what to do, but because I knew I’d figure it out. That dog didn’t just transform. I did. In order to guide him it forced me to become a real leader. That showed me that transformation is possible—not just for dogs, but for their humans, too. That experience became the spark behind everything I do now.
Since then, I’ve learned from over 50 respected leaders across dog training, psychology, behavior science, and human development. Through hands-on mentorships, seminars, and thousands of hours in the real world, I built a method that works—not just in theory, but in everyday life.
I founded Pawsitively Balanced to give dogs structure, clarity, and calm; but also to give owners something I always needed…real guidance and a fair, grounded leader who listens, teaches, and walks beside you through the hard parts. Training a dog is rarely ever just about the dog and it isn’t about quick fixes or surface-level obedience. The work always comes back to this: restoring balance, building confidence, and helping people become the kind of person their dog would gladly follow.
I am here to help you and your dog write your own story,
one based on connection, confidence, and lasting change.
Since then, I’ve helped owners of all kinds. First-time dog families, seasoned handlers, and people with disabilities who just needed someone to meet them where they were. I’ve worked with high-drive working breeds, misunderstood powerhouses, and dogs multiple trainers had given up on. Each transformation reminds me WHY I do this— because calm minds, strong boundaries and real connection can change lives.
“The world doesn’t change all at once. It changes one ripple at a time. I’m here to be that ripple.”
— TK
LOCATION
DOWNTOWN GRAND BLANC
HOURS
SATURDAY - SUNDAY
9:00 AM-9:00 PM
MONDAY - FRIDAY
10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Contact us
Interested in taking the first step? Need a simple question answered? Contact us below and we will reach out ASAP.