At Meraki Dog Training, I know that your dog is an extremely valuable member of your family and that when you start struggling with your dog, it can very quickly become a giant frustration where you don’t know what to do. Or maybe you aren’t struggling yet and want to be proactive….either way, I can help you.
As an owner of two dogs and a foster of many others, I know at a very personal level how difficult it can be to find the right training for your dog. I have experienced and dealt with so many behavioral issues with dogs ranging very serious issues to general naughtiness, but here at Meraki, the training is effective and applicable to any behavioral issue, whether it be serious or minor.
The very definition of Meraki is to do something with soul, creativity or love; to put something of yourself into your work. And that is what this is for me; this is more than training dogs. This work has meaning and to me it means keeping dogs in families. It is the heart and soul of what I do. I too have failed animals in the past, but as Maya Angelo says “when you know better, you do better.” That is my goal with this training company….to help pass along what I know to you….so that you too can do better for your dog because these creatures need us and we need them.
What makes this training company different….
Prior to falling in love with training dogs, I spent my adult life pursuing a career in the Human Service field, with the past decade being spent in the Child Protective Service arena. Due to this, I have a deep understanding of and extensive experience in helping people stabilize their lives. I use this experience and knowledge now to help people understand and stabilize their dog’s behavior.
I have sought out the knowledge of, and traveled to see and work with, trainers across the country in order to bring back the most effective training methods out there today. My experience in the Child Protective Service world where I have gained tremendous knowledge about ensuring safety and helping adults and children to stabilize their behavior and lives, combined with my knowledge of dog training creates a unique perspective and approach to training. Experience is something you can gain no other way than to put in the years of work.
The journey that I have been on with my two dogs has not been easy and actually it has often times been met with what felt like road blocks and hard decisions to make. But it was through these dogs that I fell in love with training and because I know how deeply it affected my life, not to mention knowing without a doubt that my dog Bristal is alive because of it, gives me all that much more drive to help other people with their dogs.
First there is Bristal…..
I brought Bristal home from the shelter with visions of taking her to the dog park and on bike trails and to the pet store and really just had thought that this would all be pretty easy. I figured I would have a dog that might need to learn “sit” and “down” and maybe I could teach her a few cute tricks along the way. I was even prepared for potty training issues. But within a few days of bringing her home, I was shocked, and honestly beside myself, when I learned that she was incredibly human and dog reactive. She would lash out violently with very little warning at any dog or human within her line of vision. It was dangerous to have anyone that Bristal wasn’t familiar with enter my home. I knew I was in over my head and needed serious help; I could not afford to make any mistakes with her. If I didn’t find the right help, the only answer was going to be to humanely euthanize her as the damage she was capable of doing given her size and power was frightening. So I set out on a determined journey to help my dog and I firmly believe that without this training, Bristal would not be here today.….this is a dog who would ultimately change the course of my life and training undoubtedly saved hers.
And then there is Harley….
When I met Harley, he was a wild boy….jumping and play biting hard enough to rip clothing and bruise skin. I thought long and hard about whether or not bringing Harley home was a good idea, but there was something special about Harley and I was drawn to him. However, I had a very powerful and reactive dog at home already and so I knew I would have to be at the top of my game to make this successful. To make a long story short, I decided that I was going to do it. I told myself “you are a Child Protective Service Worker and if you know how to do anything well, you know how to ensure safety.” And it was on that belief system, combined with training protocol in place that I began integrating Harley into my home. By making the decision to bring Harley into my life, I have had the privilege of watching him teach Bristal things that she could only learn from another dog. And Harley has continued to add more to our lives than we ever thought possible.