Once I finished college at SUNY Albany, School of Criminal Justice in 2008, I entered the world of adulthood and became a proud dog owner. It was my first experience as a pet parent, and I eagerly started training my adorable puppy named KU$H. As I delved into the world of dog training, I found myself immersed in debates surrounding different training techniques and philosophies. This ignited a deep passion within me to discover the most effective and compassionate methods for training dogs.

Through my study of psychology using research and critical thinking I gained the confidence to become a professional dog trainer. As I continued to learn and practice with my own dog, I expanded my skills by working with other dogs. I started volunteering at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter in New York, where I would walk the dogs and train them in basic obedience to increase their chances of being adopted. I even found a way to safely exercise the dogs by attaching them to my bike. In 2013, I was given the opportunity to supervise play sessions between some of the dogs, and I found that I had a knack for working with the more energetic ones. I also began volunteering with H.O.P.E. Animal Rescue to help foster dogs in need, and I’m proud to say that I’ve personally trained and found homes for many of them.

In 2013, I helped start Priceless Companions Pet Services in Saratoga Springs, New York. Our services were diverse, but initially, I mainly focused on midday dog walks. As our business grew and my experience in dog training expanded, I began packing walking 6-10 dogs at a time and professionally training clients’ dogs in basic obedience commands, leash walking, and socialization. My previous experience as a dog trainer involved one-on-one training sessions with the dogs, followed by private training sessions with the dog owners and their families. My main areas of expertise in dog training have been behavior modification and teaching dogs to obey commands in their daily lives. To achieve this, I primarily used slip leads as training tools and had not yet utilized an e-collar.

After returning to my hometown of Jamestown in Western New York in the Fall of 2022, I decided to take a break from my professional dog training career. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the Training Without Conflict course and approach my new dog training business with a fresh perspective and honed skills. The Priceless Pack was officially launched in December 2023, but that wasn’t the only thing that kept me busy. I started working at the amazing Landmark Restaurant in Jamestown, NY throughout 2023. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer at the Chautauqua County Humane Society, where I help walk some of the dogs that are up for adoption. My goal is to continue volunteering with local rescues and shelters and train some of the dogs to increase their chances of finding forever homes. Of course, I also have to make time for my own crew. My now 14-year-old companion, KU$H, insists on daily long walks around Jamestown and southern Chautauqua County. She used to be my assistant during the pack walking days and is now enjoying her retirement by sniffing around and avoiding her energetic younger sister. WORTHY, the Rottie, will be turning 1-year-old in April 2024. We’re currently working towards her BH title in the dog sport of IGP. In fact, we joined the Schutzhund Club of Buffalo in 2023 to further our training journey.