Columbia K9 Training & Behavior

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Columbia K9 Training & Behavior Reward-based training and behavioral consulting for dogs and the humans who love them!
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Congrats to so many recent in person program gradsšŸ„¹šŸ„³ It has been an honor to watch each one of you grow, learn, and tran...
30/10/2024

Congrats to so many recent in person program gradsšŸ„¹šŸ„³ It has been an honor to watch each one of you grow, learn, and transform through the art of force free dog training. From teaching basic skills to working through severe behavioral challenges, I am so proud of all we have accomplished together. I am lucky enough to do what I love most everyday because of you. Thank you for making my life so specialā¤ļøā€šŸ”„

I am very proud to announce that I am now a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC, with an overall score o...
18/10/2024

I am very proud to announce that I am now a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC, with an overall score of 98% on my examšŸ„¹ā¤ļøā€šŸ”„

Huge thank you to the clients, colleagues, and veterinarians who sent in endorsements, the clients who I chose to conduct my case studies on, along with every single client/dog team who I have had the chance to work with over the past 7 years. I wouldnā€™t be half the person or consultant I am today without having the privilege to work alongside you all and your dogs.

To the dogs that made me think deeper, to the dogs who made me question my methods, to the dogs who encouraged me to get second opinions from colleagues, to the dogs who boosted my confidence, to the dogs who pushed me to learn something new, to the dogs I couldnā€™t save, to the dogs who made me smile on my darker days, to the dogs who gave me a new perspective, to the dogs who gave me a purpose, thank you. I donā€™t know who or where I would be without this career. Frankly, Iā€™d rather not even question it anymore.

As always, thank you for trusting me with your dogs. Thank you for trusting science based methods. Thank you for believing in a future of dog training that is force free. I am so honored and so grateful that I have the privilege to not only do what I love every single day, but do it in a way that I know is rightā¤ļøā€šŸ”„

Our favorite line from  ! A little dirtyā€¦but thatā€™s the way we like itšŸ–¤šŸ˜ŽThis line is a medium width 50ft sport line in t...
12/05/2024

Our favorite line from ! A little dirtyā€¦but thatā€™s the way we like itšŸ–¤šŸ˜Ž

This line is a medium width 50ft sport line in the colors goldenrod and green applešŸŒ¼šŸ It has a standard loop handle with an O ring which is handy when clipping it to a belt! This is my go to line when walking on straight trails, open fields, or just doing some general training at a park. Outside of being a tad dirty, this leash is just as perfect as the day I bought it nearly 3 years ago now. I use my lines all day every day with both my personal dogs and client dogs rain or shine, so itā€™s really important to me that my lines can take a beating and hold their value.

Donā€™t forget to use my code ā€œFORCEFREEā€ when shopping to save some šŸ’µšŸ’µ

Scared shelter dogs finding safety and comfort in my arms is a feeling that will never get oldā¤ļøā€šŸ©¹ Forever honored to do...
05/04/2024

Scared shelter dogs finding safety and comfort in my arms is a feeling that will never get oldā¤ļøā€šŸ©¹ Forever honored to do this work and grateful for the life I have built around itā¤ļø

ā¤ļøā€šŸ”„1 YEAR BACK IN ANIMAL WELFAREā¤ļøā€šŸ”„Itā€™s hard to believe that it was one year ago today that the first photo was taken....
21/03/2024

ā¤ļøā€šŸ”„1 YEAR BACK IN ANIMAL WELFAREā¤ļøā€šŸ”„

Itā€™s hard to believe that it was one year ago today that the first photo was taken. After turning down the offer two other times, I finally agreed to take on a part time position in a municipal shelter to help oversee behavioral health, conduct assessments, provide support for the dogs who are struggling the most, help with staff training, and so much more. My first shift started by teaching the staff about bite safety and prevention, then having a huge ā€œwelcome back to the shelter!ā€ moment as the first dog I was asked to work with literally ripped my hoodie off my body, bit his leash off, and then proceeded to run loose down the hallwayšŸ’€ Itā€™s been an insane year to say the least. My heart has broken and bent and healed and broken again more times than I can count. I have witnessed levels of animal cruelty and suffering that I didnā€™t even realize was possible. I have met so many amazing dogs, learned more than I could put into words, and made some really great friends along the way.

For who donā€™t know, I started my dog training career working full time in a shelter. It was here that I really learned about ethical, force free based training methods. My job was very stressful and being so young at the time, I didnā€™t know how to properly navigate it. After 2.5 years I developed PTSD and a large number of other mental health issues that got so bad that I nearly stopped working with dogs all together.

Iā€™ve come a long long long way since then. While I am still learning and growing, above everything I am proud of my resilience and undying commitment to help the dogs who need it the most. Younger me would be so proud of the person I have become and I think thatā€™s what matters most.

Hereā€™s to 1 year back in animal welfareā¤ļøā€šŸ”„ May I only become braver, get tougher, and learn even more for many more years to come as I continue to grow in the field that both sets my heart on fire and shatters it into pieces day after day.

ā€œTake my soul, take my heartTear me apartIf Iā€™m good for anythingItā€™s all of this sufferingSo use me for partsā€Something...
02/03/2024

ā€œTake my soul, take my heart
Tear me apart
If Iā€™m good for anything
Itā€™s all of this suffering
So use me for partsā€

Something about shelter work feels so sentimental lately, but in a good way. If I canā€™t stop the suffering that the world puts onto animals, then I might as well walk alongside it and do all the good I can. Even if all I can do is brighten the day of one shelter dog or help one semi feral puppy trust humans, itā€™s worth it to me. One dog at a time.

We canā€™t change their past but we can change their future. We canā€™t save them all but we can save them.Iā€™m always here a...
27/02/2024

We canā€™t change their past but we can change their future.

We canā€™t save them all but we can save them.

Iā€™m always here and Iā€™ll always be here.

I couldnā€™t stop fighting even if I tried.

One dog at a time.

My day at the shelter went likeā€¦What an honor to do this life saving work. The comment sections and media may make us ou...
27/02/2024

My day at the shelter went likeā€¦

What an honor to do this life saving work. The comment sections and media may make us out to be dog killing monsters because we work at a shelter that has a 16% euthanasia rate(which isnā€™t high but since it isnā€™t 0% it isnā€™t good enough), however I know the people I work alongside are some of the most caring, kind, supportive, relentless, and strong people out there. I am proud to be a part of their teamā¤ļøā€šŸ”„

Happy Holidays from your dogā€™s favorite cookie dispenserā¤ļøšŸŖAs always, thank you for the endless support. Thank you for t...
24/12/2023

Happy Holidays from your dogā€™s favorite cookie dispenserā¤ļøšŸŖ

As always, thank you for the endless support. Thank you for trusting me with your dogs. Thank you for trusting science. Thank you for siding with ethics. Thank you for allowing me to do what I love most every day. And lastly, thank you for believing in a future that is force free.

Our world is punishing, painful, and cruel. Hereā€™s your reminder that you donā€™t have to be that way too. Letā€™s always teach our dogs (and people) in ways that we would like to be taught if we were in their place. Itā€™s the least we can do.

As a reminder I am OUT OF OFFICE until JAN 1ST. All texts/emails/inquiries will be answered when Iā€™m back and cookie pushing has resumedā¤ļøšŸŖ

That special moment in time when the fear aggressive dog realizes that they are in fact safe with you. Those seconds in ...
16/12/2023

That special moment in time when the fear aggressive dog realizes that they are in fact safe with you. Those seconds in time where we go from, ā€œMaybe we canā€™t save you and itā€™s okay to not allow you to suffer any longer.ā€ To, ā€œMaybe we can save you. Maybe you can make it out of here.ā€

I donā€™t know what changed in those moments of time when you went from growling and lunging at me to finding comfort in my arms, but Iā€™m forever honored to have earned your trust.

I often feel so helpless at the shelter. I am surrounded by hundreds of dogs who need my help and I am only one behavior specialist. How much time can I spend waiting for one dog to realize theyā€™re safe? How much time does the system allow us anyways?

While I feel so small the majority of the time, I know my impact is enormous for the individual dogs who are able to be saved from my efforts. Of course I cannot save them all. Nobody could take on a task that large. But I can save some of them. And to those some, it matters the most.

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