The Grounding Force

When AJ first arrived he was confused, muzzled, & scheduled to be put down, that night, due to some serious behavioral issues that developed as a result of a lack of strong balanced leadership. He was terrified of stairs (yes, stairs!), reactive to everything that moved— people, birds, cars, other dogs, and even leaves in the wind. Walks were chaos. Life with him required full focus, constant learning, and a level of leadership I didn’t yet know I had in me. But slowly, he changed; we changed. As I led, he followed. As I learned to listen to him, he learned to listen to me. Over time, the once fearful & aggresive dog became one of the most trustworthy, stable dogs I’ve ever known.

Today, AJ knows over 100 verbal cues, helps train reactive dogs, and walks with quite confidence. He’s developed real protection dog skills AND has proven his control under real world pressures. Once completely isolated, he now plays fairly with other dogs and helps them find their own balance through his calm, grounded energy.

AJ isn’t just part of the pack. He’s the reason the pack exists. The original role model dog.

The Engagement Specialist

Enzo came from a place of pure havoc. I picked him up from an overcrowded, unkempt, tiny trailer where over 10 dogs lived in filth. The woman told me he’d belonged to a friend, had been abused, and spent months hiding in the woods before anyone could catch him. I’m still not sure what was true— but what was clear & certain was that Enzo had been broken down. When I met him he slinked low to the ground, unsure of every step, and peeing at the slightest touch. He smelled like a dog who had never known care. He didn’t fight me, but he didn’t trust me either.

Still, I gave him a name… Enzo. It felt sweet and bold— a clean break from the life he came from. Later, I found out that Enzo literally translates to “Hank,” the name he came with. As if he was always meant to find his way back, but better. That first night, I bathed him. He was scared, but he tried. Afterward, he gently picked up a dog brush, in his mouth, and brought it to me. That moment told me everything.

My initial plan was to foster him— get him stable, then place him. But he connected with AJ, respected the cat, and leaned into training with heart. Even with his past— a bite history, food guarding, trauma— he showed up and he tried. He still tries. He’s sensitive, in tune, and incredibly intelligent. He reads human emotion like a book. He knows how to reach fearful dogs, how to draw out play from the shut-down ones, and how to meet intensity with softness. He is the engagement specialist between people and dogs— and he does it all with sweetness and deep loyalty.

Enzo was once afraid of the world. Now, he helps others learn to engage with it.

The Play Master

Amirah was never supposed to stay. She was brought in, on a ‘Hail Mary’ pass, for a two-week board & train after multiple bites — to people and dogs. Her owners had been through several trainers already and had her on the max-dose of Prozac. The plan was for her to return after training or to be put down. That week turned into forever.

She came to me as “Raspberry,” likely shortened to “Razzy,” then “Spazzy”— names that matched her chaos… not her potential! I named her Amirah, meaning “princess” or “leader,” because I believed she could rise into something greater. She was explosive, insecure, reactive to shadows and statues, scared of touch, and teetering on the edge of a final decision. But inside all of that, I saw a dog overflowing with drive— she just didn’t know where to put it. So, I gave her a job. I took her off the medication and gave her what she truly needed: structure, leadership, and purpose. It took six months to earn her full trust— six months before I could pet her freely, or correct her without risk of redirection. But everyday, she showed up & she brought her all! Gradually, that storm of intensity became joy, control, and presence. Now, Amirah is the princess of play. She balances the pack with her power, and helps push dogs to new levels of playful engagement. She is still intense— but her intensity is channeled, and her trust is unshakable.

Amirah didn’t need to be medicated or given up on. She needed to be understood & to have purpose— now, she has both.