Certified Canine Fitness Instruction & Training
Years of Experience
in Training
My mission is to inspire a deeper bond between people and their dogs through canine fitness and outdoor adventure.
Not only am I a dog trainer, I’m also an outdoor athlete, ACA-certified stand up paddleboard instructor, and author of four books, How to SUP With Your PUP, Paddle Tails, My Dog and Me, and Your Pupy and You. My first experiences training animals happened in an aquarium alongside marine mammal care trainers. In 2011, I earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Mary Washington. A few years later I obtained a dog training certification, and then became a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer. Blending my experiences and education, I’ve developed training programs for dogs and their people that are fun, engaging, and effective.
canine fitness training
It's not just for hard-core agility dogs! Canine fitness training is important for all dogs. Think about the dog you want to start hiking with, the senior dog who needs increased mobility, the puppy that craves confidence building, the service dog who walks miles and miles every day, the couch potato who could shed a few pounds, or the rescue pup who needs a little extra support. It's for any dog no matter where they are in life.
Canine fitness refers to the physical and mental health of dogs. A fit dog has a strong cardiovascular system, good muscle mass, confidence and balance. He is also mentally alert, emotionally stable, and able to perform tasks without difficulty.
A dog's fitness can be improved through a combination of exercise, diet, and training. Sure, regular physical activities such as walking, running, or playing fetch can help maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, and improve cardiovascular health, but fitness training is even more than that!
We can train for movements and behaviors that target specific muscle groups to build stronger more resilient canine bodies. Dog who are in good physical condition are less likely to be injured in physical activity and live on average two years longer than unfit dogs! Here’s a few examples of what your dog can gain from this type of training:
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Increase strength
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Improved balance
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Better proprioception
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Increased coordination
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Mental sharpness
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Closer handling and a tighter bond
Basic manners
No matter what your goals are, you have to start with the basics. In order to train our dogs, we first need to understand how dogs learn, because training is simply teaching! Learning can be defined as a long-term change in behavior based on experience.
Investing in foundation skills and behaviors will make fitness, outdoor activities, and every day challenges easier to navigate. The best place to start with training is with a free 15 minute consultation. From there we can decide what might be best for you and your dog.
Outdoor
adventure training
ADVENTURE DOG- A canine of any breed who is at home on the outdoor patio of a restaurant or hiking up a mountain with a backpack covered in mud. A true adventure dog will sleep soundly in a tent, a hotel room, and in the back of a pickup truck. He’ll wait for you at the base of a climb and outside the supermarket while you pick up those last few items for dinner. He’ll collect more sticks, scars, and stories than titles or ribbons. Confidence is second nature, his bond to you is first. Adventure dogs live a full rich life alongside their people and rarely get left home on the couch.
It's no secret, training dogs to ride on paddleboards is our jam! However we also mountain bike, hike, kayak, trail run, camp, climb, oh and my dogs also ride in bike carts for extended miles. We've got the experience, skills, and knowledge to help you and your dog train for any type of outdoor activity!
