Philosophy: I believe that every animal is an individual and every situation is unique. My goal is to find the best solution for each person and animal that asks for my help. I hope to create a more informed and humane environment for pets and pet owners.

Methods: When working with animals I use the Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) training strategy. 

This means that I:

Reward behavior that we want

Do not reward behavior that we do notwant.

Utilize punishment/negative reinforcement/aversive stimulation only when a behavior presents a risk to the pet or others, when said stimulus is as minimal as possible, and if all other options have been exhausted.

What does this look like? 

If a dog sits, we give it a treat. If a cat scratches us, we move away from the cat. If two cats are fighting, we separate them as quickly, but gently, as possible. If a dog growls at people out of fear, we reduce the fear rather than punish the growling.

For a more detailed idea of my methods, please see this description of the LIMA Effective Behavioral Policy by the CCPDT.

I train both the pet and pet owner to create long-lasting, trust-based connections between animals and humans.

My background: I grew up on a Florida farm and had pets for all my life. I have worked with sick and injured wildlife, and spent 4 years with the SPCA of Wake County as an Animal Care Specialist.

I grew up surrounded by family pets, livestock, and wildlife. I volunteered extensively at St. Francis Wildlife Association in Florida, where I helped care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. While there was no training there, (we) had to provide daily care to animals that did not want anything to do with humans. 

Following that, I worked at the SPCA of Wake County in Raleigh as an Animal Care Specialist. The SPCA specializes in helping cats, dogs, and other small mammals that other shelters and rescues cannot place. This can be for behavioral or medical reasons, or even a simple matter of space. I loved working with the cats and dogs that were initially fearful of humans, had difficult behavioral histories, and needed some extra care and attention.