About Us
At K9 Wellness Academy, I understand how overwhelming it can feel when your dog’s behavior seems out of control. Whether it’s pulling on the leash, barking at every little movement, or greeting guests with overenthusiastic jumping, it can leave you feeling stuck, frustrated, and unsure of the next step. You’ve likely tried countless approaches, but nothing seems to work—and I'm here to change that.
I know because my dog was just like that.
And that is exactly why I started K9 Wellness Academy: to make training accessible, effective, and affordable for dog owners like you.
My goal is to help dog owners understand what their dog is trying to communicate and to develop a lifestyle that both can enjoy.
Rather than simply teaching you how to train, we will use your feedback and opinions to shape our training sessions so that you can best understand us.
Training is so much more than just throwing treats at the dog. K9 Wellness Academy is a firm believer and practitioner of relationship based dog training. It is a training method that focuses on improving your relationship with your dog and trust.
Meet the founder
​I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and from a young age I was always drawn to dogs. During my time in Minnesota, I volunteered at an Animal Humane Society. I then moved to California to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Scripps College. While attending Scripps, I interned at a veterinary hospital and researched the relationship between diet and behavior.
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During my senior year of college, I bought a dog as a service dog candidate. However, he struggled with excitement reactivity and as a result I ended up diving into the world of behavioral modification for dogs. We successfully walked across the stage together when I graduated from Scripps College with an honors in Psychology.
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After graduating from college, I completed a shadow program with Shane Murray and became a certified balanced dog trainer through Nepopo and Team K9.
Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Psychology at Pepperdine University, focusing on research in canine behavior. At the same time, I am working toward joining the LAPD’s police K9 unit.
In my free time, I go on hikes with my dog, Remaru, ride my motorycle down to the beach. I continue to expand my knowledge as a dog trainer by attending dog training conferences such as the Canine Science Symposium and conventions hosted by Michael Ellis.
