In this series, we’ll be chatting with every member of the KeenDog team. We’ll dive into their origin stories, their passions, and the experiences that have shaped them into the trainers you know and love. And maybe we’ll discover a few quirks, too!

Next up, KeenDog trainer, Nicole…

Tell us about your first dog!

Sage is my 6-year-old bully mix. I got her from someone who had an accidental litter of puppies, but they were 9 months old and had never left the backyard or each other. She had a ton of fear which would either cause her to shut down or blow up on dogs. She got me started on my whole training journey and we have been through so much together, training and non-training related changes. She is the light of my life and has been through it all with me, no matter what, she was always my constant companion.

What inspired you to become a dog trainer?

I always loved being around dogs, but my training journey started when I needed to get training for Sage and her leash reactivity. We had been through so many methods and failures that when I discovered behavior modification, I learned that we could change and grow together. I ended up being pretty decent at it and felt like if I dedicated myself to understanding dogs and people, I could be the middle ground to help re-connect broken bridges or help build completely new ones between a dog and their owner. I love dogs, and I love helping people, so I found the perfect way to do both.

What is your favorite thing (behavior, sport, etc.) to train and why?

100% Behavior. I haven't experienced much of the sport world, although I am excited to explore it more. Behavior modification, specifically for challenging dogs, is what brings me the most happiness. For me, there is nothing more fulfilling than being able to connect with a dog that previously couldn't even exist in the world without resulting to shutting down or blowing up and then help them re-connect with their owners and make better decisions for their overall mental health. The first time I saw a dog go from not being able to walk out the front door, being so overwhelmed with fear to finally enjoying an evening walk is what made me believe that dogs CAN overcome their labels, and I've made it my goal to help them.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new dog owners?

It is okay to not always enjoy every second of owning your dog. There are going to be times when raising a puppy that will be incredibly tiresome and annoying. There are going to be times when your five-year-old dog will be stubborn and frustrate you to seemingly no end. It doesn't mean you have any regrets or love them any less. In a way, just like people, dogs are going to have their moments and we have to respect that things won't always be perfect because they are still animals.

What is one thing you wish dog owners knew or understood?

I wish dog owners knew how much their body language and actions communicated to their dog. Allowing young puppies to get away with chaos is setting your adult dog up for failure. Coddling a scared and anxious new rescue dog only keeps them in that state of mind. Balance is SO important. Dogs need to be dogs, but they also need guidance in how to navigate the world.

What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had while training a dog?

This is actually an experience with my own dog, and it was fairly recently. My recent addition, Asterin ,was going to be euthanized due to being deemed unadoptable even after a few weeks of boarding with me at a previous job. Ultimately I ended up keeping her because I couldn't let that happen when I had seen how much progress she made. She has a couple bites on her record and a ton of bite attempts on people coming into the house or walking too close to her on the street (prior to me getting her) and when my parents came to visit a couple weeks ago we did introductions. Not only were there no bite attempts made, but she was practicing very good decision making by walking away if she ever felt uncomfortable. Happy to report that 95% of the time they were there, she was their best friend and actually wanted attention and affection from them where in the past it was either ignore strangers or eat them!

If you were a dog, what breed would you be and why?

I definitely think I would be a border collie. I will get so involved in one task and work myself into the ground if I had to without even realizing it, and I love helping and being around my pack (my friends and family).

If you could only have one dog breed for the rest of your life, what breed would you choose and why?

Dobermans. They are hands down my favorite breed, always have been and probably always will be. I love that they are so versatile. They can be great companions, emotionally and environmentally stable (with good breeding of course), and are GORGEOUS.

If you could train any famous dog from movies or TV, who would it be and why?

The American Bull Dog, Chance, from homeward bound. I feel like he would be SO fun.

Anything else you want the people to know about you? Your dogs? Your training style?

I have been through a lot of training styles when I was learning with Sage, so I am able to give a lot of options to my clients to get to a similar end goal. I have seen a lot of things work and a lot of things not work, or make matters worse, but I am an options person. You aren't always going to be able to work your dog 24/7 and I totally understand that. I am always willing to try and meet my client in the middle if we are struggling to make a change. I also own 3 VERY different personalities under one roof which can be wild sometimes so I think I offer a unique set of skills to help work through many situations people may be struggling with.