Helping dogs, one owner at a time.
With over 20 years of hands-on experience and a deep passion for canine psychology, Sarah has dedicated her life to understanding how dogs think, feel, and communicate. Her mission isn’t just to train dogs: it’s to teach humans how to truly connect with them.
Because when owners learn better, dogs live better.
More than training: a calling
I have known since I was little that I wanted to work with animals in some fashion. When I was 19, I enrolled in Animal Behavior College.
The curriculum consisted of book work, and volunteering at a shelter under an ABC alumni. While ABC does teach you the foundation of training, most of my experience and knowledge has come from furthering my education - whether that’s from reading different books on behavior and psychology, to observing dogs in a pack environment and understanding how they communicate. Over time, my passion grew enormously towards psychology and behavior. Whether that be in a pack environment or as the solo dog in a home.
I actually didn’t jump right into training other people’s dogs right after getting certified by ABC. I didn’t feel I knew enough to advise others - which led me to attend the North Jersey School of Dog Grooming. I decided I wanted to know everything I could; from skin and coat, to veterinary medicine, first aid, training…pretty much anything dog related. I have owned at least 2-4 dogs of different breeds consistently for over 20 years.
The best way to learn is to immerse yourself in what you’re interested in. In that time, I’ve read multiple books on behavior, watched, what I would think, was every documentary on wolves and wild dogs ever made. I’ve spoken to other trainers working with all different methods, watched different trainers/owners train for sports, shows, and events, to soak up and learn as much as I possibly could from wherever I could.
“I’m still learning, and I always will be. Once someone thinks they have all the answers, their mind closes up and they stop learning.”
After owning my grooming salon for over 15 years, I started to feel that so many dogs and their owners werent benefiting from the amazing relationship that should be had. Communication wasn’t clear and consistent, people were purchasing dogs from terrible “breeders” or getting rescues they weren’t prepared for, dogs were being coddled and worshiped and their anxiety and nerves were through the roof, people were coming to their own (and almost always misguided) explanations for their dogs behavior, and the dogs were suffering for it.
I finally decided to use my knowledge to help make a difference. I don’t just tell you what technique to use, I explain why and how you can properly read and communicate with your dog to help you build the best possible relationship. Dogs give us everything we could need emotionally, we owe it to them to put the effort in to do the same.
If you want to learn about how to speak dog, it would be my pleasure to help you on your journey. I can tell you that you will not be disappointed :-)