The Beginning (virginia)
I started fostering dogs in 2009 when my husband’s military service allowed my family to settle down on one place. My family wanted a dog and we decided to foster Lucky, a Redbone Coonhound that had endured some severe trauma. Lucky, the sweetest dog that ever lived, had been returned twice to the rescue for failure to bond with his adopters. But Lucky got over that with my family, when I helped him become more comfortable with us and took him for lots of walks in the woods. Within a week he was following me around the house. At the time I had no formal knowledge of dogs, but I knew I liked helping Lucky. Sadly Lucky was old and passed on too soon. But he taught me how to help other dogs. Since then I have been rehabilitating and fostering over 250 dogs and puppies. I have fostered two litters plus momma dogs, which is an invaluable experience to learn about dogs.
Lucky the Redbone Coonhound
My Dog Training Journey
Coltrain, a coonhound mix from a horrible abuse situation, and Annie, the dog that started my training journey.
In 2010, I met my friend and mentor Phyllis Smuland, who assisted me with training two dogs we adopted, Annie and Coltrain. Phyllis is a dog savant, and thankfully shared her knowledge with me. My dog Annie had shown some concerning aggression towards those outside her circle of trust, and Coltrain was not far behind. Phyllis explained how dogs think and understand the world. With her guidance, I was able to train Annie and Coltrain to be social, well-behaved dogs. I went on to foster many dogs with Annie as my helper, at my side. Phyllis and I have since become partners in dog training workshops and many dog-based activities.
In 2012 my family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. This started me down a path that led me deeper into understanding severely fearful and feral dogs. Compared to Virginia, New Mexico is a third-world environment for dogs (and often people). I got involved with People’s Anti Cruelty Association (PACA) by fostering and training dogs. I usually had a pack of 3-5 dogs in my home, living in harmony. Before long, I was involved in choosing the dogs PACA took into the rescue. By choosing dogs that were stable and pro-social, I was able to lower the number of dogs returned and raise the adoption rate, saving more dogs in the process. I saw a need to educate dog adopters and rescuers about dogs and how to improve the dog adoption process both for dogs and the people involved, so I started the Rescue Dogs Responsibly website.
I volunteered extensively for rescues, coordinating foster homes, and running adoption events while starting my professional dog training business in 2014. I also served on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) for 2020. My dog Shiloh was a therapy dog for many years with the SCCV but has retired in the past few months.
The Middle - New Mexico
I often had a couple foster dogs in my house along with my own dogs.
Soon word got around that I could help with fearful dogs so I was called in 2019 about a hoarding case. I was told the dogs were “the most broken I have ever seen” by a seasoned rescuer. I went to evaluate the dogs and decided this description was correct. Dogs were completely feral and had been caged their entire lives. I reached out to friend/mentor Nelson Hodges for assistance. We quickly realized we needed an in-person event to help these dogs. In June, we held the first Fearful Feral Dog Workshop in Las Vegas NEW MEXICO and have had an annual workshop since. This was a deep dive into the minds of feral dogs. But it taught me more about dogs than I could have ever learned working with “normal” dogs. After this I started pulling feral dogs for the rescue and trained some key volunteers to help them. We have managed to rehab dogs, and adopt them to homes, that many thought were unsalvageable.
Feeding the dogs at a hoarding case in Rowe, NM
Since the hoarding case, I have relentlessly honed my approach to helping feral dogs by optimizing their natural behaviors. By studying groups of dogs for years, and working with feral dogs that are untarnished by humans, I have learned more about what a dog is and values. Tipton, a previously feral street dog, has been an integral teacher to me for the last 6 years. He was extremely scared of a leash, but proved to want a connection with people, so I brought him home. He turned out to be the most amazingly smart and social dog (with those he trusts) I have had to date.
I started teaching workshops with my mentor and solo to share what I learned from fearful and feral dogs, and how those lessons can help people and their dogs.
Tipton, a great teacher and companion
The Present and Future
2023 held a surprise move to Sandia Park on the other side of the mountain from Albuquerque to a 13 acre property. Since moving, I have contemplated what I plan to do as a next step.
My mentors and feral dogs, and my training have given me a unique perspective of understanding dogs for who they are and how we can guide them through mutual partnership, while setting boundaries and using benevolent leadership. I want to share what fearful and feral dogs have taught me to help all dogs and their people.
To help share information about our dog companions, I have started a YouTube channel, a podcast, presented at several dog training conferences, and recently taught workshops in England and North Carolina. I also started teaching the Feral Dog Immersion Program with a fellow trainer. This program allows each student an opportunity to experience the connection that can be made with a feral dog using the Nose-Centric system over five days.
In addition to rescue work, I pursue continuous education. I am a Certified Dog Trainer through IACP. I am also a Certified Relationship-Based Trainer through the Canine Human Relationship Institute, meaning I base my training and rehabilitation on building a trusting, mutually beneficial relationship between dog and human. I helped develop a certification in Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) training for the IACP. I integrate the true meaning of the LIMA principle and Cynopraxic training into my work.
My greatest joys, in the dog world, are still from teaching and watching fearful and feral dogs succeed in living happy, fulfilled lives.
Shiloh, my dog that came from Valencia County Shelter. I brought her home after she crawled to me on her belly at the shelter. Her fear of the situation was high but that didn’t deter her love of people. She quickly became unafraid and was a therapy dog for many years.
Online
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Workshops
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