More than dog training: a mission to empower owners and address the whole dog

Mission

At Mind & Body, my mission is to bridge the gap between how dogs learn, how their bodies function, and how people live with them. By addressing behavior, environment, and wellness together, we can prevent many of the challenges that emerge when those needs are overlooked.

Training and behavior services, including owner education, should begin early, not only when problem behaviors appear. Many people seek training after challenges have already developed. Early intervention allows families to build troubleshooting skills, strengthen communication, and reduce the likelihood of conflict, fear, or unmanageable stress later in life.

Being an educated dog parent with awareness of your dog’s genetics, early development, and learning history is one of the most important gifts you can give your companion. Genetics do not determine destiny, although they shape behavioral tendencies that require informed, proactive care. When paired with a thoughtful and supportive learning environment, dogs can thrive both emotionally and behaviorally.

Whether you are facing complex behavior challenges such as compulsivity, fear, separation anxiety, or resource guarding, or building a foundation with a new puppy, I am here to guide you with patience, understanding, and science-based strategies. My approach emphasizes emotional safety and awareness of the experiences that shape behavior in both dogs and people.

Support for Every Family

No matter your background or starting point, support is tailored to your specific needs and values. The goal is to strengthen understanding and cooperation between everyone in the household, both human and canine.

Each family and dog brings its own set of circumstances, and training should respect those differences. Suggestions are adjusted to meet your individual goals, available time, and lifestyle while supporting progress that feels sustainable for everyone involved.

Common areas of focus include:

• Households with young children and dogs

• Multi-dog/animal dynamics

• Rescued and adopted dogs

• Individuals and families navigating unique life challenges

Common Patterns in Modern Companion Dogs

Dogs function within interconnected genetic, physical, emotional, environmental, and relational systems while adapting to the demands of a human-designed environment. Many of the behaviors commonly described as “problem behaviors” represent adaptive responses to unclear expectations, physical strain, chronic stress, or insufficient environmental support.

These behavioral patterns are prevalent in companion dogs and are not indicators of failure. They function as observable signals that physical comfort, environmental structure, emotional safety, or learning support may require adjustment.

Whether your dog is navigating:

• Heightened vigilance and activity in everyday environments

• Difficulty settling, resting, or shifting contexts

• Resource-related defensive responses around food, space, toys, or people

• Distress during separation or changes in routine

• Repetitive behaviors driven by environmental triggers and heightened arousal

• Sensitivity to touch, handling, sound, or environmental pressure

• Avoidance, withdrawal, or emotional shutdown

Your dog belongs here.

Support should not be reserved for crisis. It is part of preventative care and early intervention, and it is often most effective long before life feels unmanageable.

Dogs Are Emotional Beings Too

Dogs, like humans, are emotional beings with their own experiences, needs, and perspectives. Using human analogies can help caregivers build empathy and gain a more accurate understanding of their dog’s behavior:

“Humans lash out, shut down, scroll mindlessly, snap at loved ones, binge-watch, overwork—and it is called stress, burnout, a rough day. Dogs bark, growl, chew, jump, refuse interaction—and it is called disobedience.”
— Anushree Thammanna

These comparisons remind us that behavior is communication, not defiance. The goal is to understand what the behavior is expressing rather than suppress it.

When Anthropomorphism Helps and When It Hurts

Attributing human traits to animals can be useful when it fosters empathy and helps us relate to them emotionally. It also has limits. Assuming that dogs think or reason in the same way humans do can create misunderstanding and frustration.

Helpful anthropomorphism means recognizing that dogs experience emotions such as fear, joy, stress, and excitement, and that their behavior communicates these emotions. Unhelpful anthropomorphism involves assigning motives such as spite, guilt, or manipulation, which misrepresents their behavior and damages trust.

Behavior Is Often a Symptom of Pain

Research suggests that many behavior concerns are connected to physical discomfort or pain that often goes undiagnosed. These issues are frequently subtle and misinterpreted as behavioral problems.

Common sources of hidden pain include:

• Arthritis or joint discomfort

• Dental disease

• Digestive issues or food sensitivities

• Neurological or muscular imbalances

A dog who growls, hides, or avoids interaction may not be misbehaving. They may be uncomfortable. As with people, behavioral improvement begins when the body feels better.

Behavior Meets Body: Approach the Dog as a Whole

Understanding the whole dog is essential for meaningful progress. This includes awareness of the dog’s physical health, lifestyle, and biological needs.

With education in canine anatomy, structure, and conditioning, I can observe:

• Uneven gait or posture

• Muscle tightness or soreness

• Fatigue, overcompensation, or lack of coordination

• Subtle indicators of physical distress

Behavior also reflects how well a dog’s natural and environmental needs are met.

Key areas of focus include:

• Daily enrichment that supports mental engagement and nervous system regulation

• Biological fulfillment through species-specific and breed-specific outlets

• Exercise that supports rather than overstimulates the body and brain

• Nutritional guidance that promotes behavioral and physical well-being (not replacing the expertise of a certified nutritionist)

Meeting both physical and psychological needs helps reduce behavioral concerns while building resilience, confidence, and overall well-being. These qualities become the foundation for all future learning.

Compassionate, Collaborative, and Customized Care

At Mind & Body, I combine:

• Positive reinforcement and evidence-based methods with an emphasis on environmental support and owner education

• Emotionally sensitive behavioral support for both ends of the leash

• Physical and emotional wellness strategies for both the human and the dog

• Close collaboration with veterinary and wellness professionals, recognizing that each has their own area of expertise

Progress occurs through informed practice, consistency, and patience over time. My goal is to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to continue supporting your dog long after our sessions end.

An Industry Without Oversight: Why Credentials and Commitment Matter

The dog training and behavior industry is unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a trainer or “behavior consultant,” regardless of education, experience, or ethics. The title “behaviorist” also causes confusion, as it formally applies only to individuals with an advanced academic degree, such as a PhD in behavioral science or a veterinary specialty in behavior.

The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) is currently the only professional organization that certifies behavior consultants through a comprehensive case-review process. The Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) credential requires the submission of detailed case studies, verified experience, professional references, and assessment of applied knowledge and ethics. This process evaluates both theoretical understanding and hands-on competence, ensuring that certified professionals demonstrate skill in real-world applications, not just on written exams.

Because titles like trainer, behavior consultant, or behavior specialist are not legally protected, anyone can use them without oversight or formal qualifications. Transparency, continued education, and collaboration with veterinary and allied professionals are therefore critical when choosing someone to help you and your dog.

Choosing a qualified professional involves looking for:

• Verified credentials from reputable organizations rather than membership alone

• Ongoing continuing education

• Transparent, humane, science-based methods

• Clear boundaries of scope and collaboration with other professionals

Setting realistic expectations is essential. Behavior consulting parallels the work seen in human services such as mental health, physical therapy, or nutrition coaching, where recommendations are only safe and effective when the practitioner has a full picture of the person in front of them. When advice is given without understanding history, daily patterns, medical factors, sources of stress, or environmental pressures, the guidance can miss the mark or even create risk.

In canine behavior, the same principles apply. A plan built without an intake is like a therapist offering treatment without an assessment or a physical therapist designing exercises without evaluating the injury. Effective work requires ongoing communication, observation, and adjustment over time and progress comes from consistent effort, reflection, and collaboration. No single protocol fits every dog or every household.

Ready to Begin?

I am excited to walk beside you on this journey. If you are ready to take the next step, please visit my services page to schedule time with me or reach out to me via the connect page.