About me, Susan
As you may expect, I've been around dogs all my life. I've had purebreds and mutts. They've been healthy and not-so-healthy. I've raised puppies and adopted an adolescent. They've come from breeders, shelters, and rescues. The one constant is that I've loved them all....and they've all been a bit on the larger size, which suits me just fine.
My latest dog (my first girl!) came into my life as a foster. She was renamed Kara and our journey began: first to the vet, then the hospital, then the specialists, then a veterinary behaviorist, back to the vet, and then another specialist. Phew. Lucky for her I was unemployed at the time but my spouse wasn't. When the rescue no longer wanted her, she became ours.
During this time I often wondered what I would have done if I still held my full-time job. Life would have been very difficult— that's for sure.
After my experience, I decided it was time to help others through their journey—whether it's with puppies; adolescents; seniors; dogs learning to navigate this big, scary human world; dogs who prefer a big bubble and little handling; or dogs with medical needs—so they, too, can have a safe and enriching life.
In recent years (i.e., after COVID) I decided it was time to expand my understanding of dog behavior and so I started attending more classes, workshops and webinars. I also enrolled in a couple programs that I am truly passionate about that have the wellbeing of the dog at their heart and makes my heart happy.
Volunteer Work with Dogs
From 2012 to 2017 I volunteered at the Seattle Humane Society. For the 5 years, I was part of the Dog Behavior & Socialization (DBS) Program using positive training methods, including clicker training, to work with and exercise dogs up for adoption.
I also volunteered as a Behavior Program Assistant (BPA). As a BPA, I provided training, exercise and socialization to dogs identified by staff as having behavioral issues and therefore were not up for adoption.
To mix things up, I became a Dog Training Assistant. I volunteered in the Basic Manners 1 class and assisted in Reactive Rover 1 classes. I was also a foster parent.
In 2018 I joined Homeward Pet Adoption Center (HPAC) as a Dog Care volunteer. I then was invited to join the Dog Behavior Team (DBT). And, of course, I'm a foster parent :-)
At HPAC we use positive training methods and employ behavior modification techniques, such as operant and classical conditioning, counterconditioning and desensitization. Generally, we use a clicker to train unless the dog is afraid of the clicker noise, in which case we say "Yes!"
I am so grateful for my volunteer duties because I have worked with hundreds of dogs, of all types, sizes and personalities. You just can't beat that!
Dog Training and Behavior Education
As of March 2023, I have been enrolled in The Practice of Enrichment & Training for Pet Professionals (PETPro) and under the mentorship of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training. My mentor Emily Strong and her business partner Allie Bender wrote the book "Canine Enrichment for the Real World." The book is amazing as is their whole team.
I'm also passionate about Animal Centered Education (ACE) founded by Sarah Fisher. ACE integrates various techniques to enhance animal welfare and education through observation and agency. It emphasizes the importance of observing animal behavior, posture, and nervous system responses in order to tailor and improve interactions and support. ACE encourages guardians to modify their interactions and environments to reduce stressors and support their companion's needs. I'm active in the ACE Training Program and am currently working toward being a Certified ACE Trainer.