The founder of Bone Worx

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot

I hear and read these kinds of quotes regularly, and I'm sure you do, too.

In 2014, I was thinking a lot about this, and I started taking stock of my coworkers and friends. Some go to work, punching into an imaginary time clock at 8:59 a.m. (or, more likely, 9:07), walk around in a zombie-like daze until 4:59 (or 4:42), and never really engage in their work, their coworkers, or their passion.

For some, work never stops. They're on 24/7, and they can't look away from their work because it is their life. I don't mean that badly (though some do take it too far). In my experience, those people are genuinely passionate about what they do, and even when they feel exhausted, they thrive under the pressure of their jobs.

Well, I was burnt out. I wanted to make a change! No, I had to make a change. If I didn’t, I would be wearing an orange jumpsuit, eating ramen noodles, and staring at the bars of my prison cell. After 32 years of working in retail, I decided to make that change, so I quit my job and then had a panic attack.

I am passionate about working with people, so in 2015, I volunteered at the Oregon Humane Society and the Pixie Project. I worked with many people and dogs with different behavior challenges.

I founded Bone Worx in 2015, and it wasn't just about business. It was a commitment to dogs and their health and happiness. I believe in building a community of like-minded dog guardians who share this vision.

I graduated from the Animal Behavioral College in 2016 as a Certified Dog Trainer and Pet Sitter. 

In 2016, Doggy Business hired me to work their training playgroups with Doug Duncan. There, I was able to put into practice my dog training skills. The training playgroups were 4 hours each and roughly had 20-25 dogs. This allowed for intense analytic problem-solving and time to create training plans. Understanding and respecting that every dog is different, but they learn the same way was a critical building block. Building an understanding concerning mental and physical well-being was crucial to the relationship's success with each dog. Outside the playgroup, I worked with Doug to help with the cases of fear and aggression. This included canine shyness or confidence issues, reactivity on and off-leash, dog-dog fear and aggression, and human-directed fear. 

2017, I graduated from The Dog*Tec Dog Walking Academy as a professional dog walker.

I earned my Canine Enrichment Technician and Dog Bite Prevention Educator certification in 2021.

I am PetTech certified in CPR and Pet First-Aid. I carry all necessary first aid and fight protocol equipment on all my walks.

I'm a member of the Pet Professionals Guild and Pet Sitters International.

I am committed to continuing my education through workshops, seminars, and conventions. I'm also an active member of the dog training community, collaborating and learning alongside fellow trainers.

Today I specialize in walking reactive, fearful, aggressive dogs and training their guardians. This involves dedicated training and management. Many dogs are sweet and happy pets at home, but when they step into unfamiliar territory with strange people and dogs, they bark, growl, lunge, snap, or quiver in fear, making a simple walk around the block into a scary, stressful situation. Learning about a dog’s behavior triggers and reactivity threshold can be challenging and time-consuming, but you can overcome the leash reactions with patience, training, and dedication.

I have to admit, I came to the world of dogs later in life, oh boy how much did I miss out on in my early years not having a dog by my side. When I brought home my first puppy Stella, I knew there was something special about the bond between humans and dogs. She gave me unconditional love (as long as you have food!), loyalty, and companionship. In return, I wanted to give her the best life possible. A life where I learned to understand and work with her needs as much as I could, learning from her and from pet specialists to ensure that her instincts are nurtured and respected. I loved seeing the expressions, the playfulness, and how she interacted with the world. 

Being a dog guardian can be challenging, and a myriad of information exists. I aim to create a community where we can share tips, stories, and experiences so that you and your dog can pick and choose what will help them in life, the life they deserve!

I wanted a way of sharing all the knowledge I have from the fantastic people I have learned from with like-minded dog guardians. Whether you have a big one, a little one, an old one, or a puppy, our community will be a place where you can get great ideas for new things to do with your dog that you both enjoy.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤️

Here's to many more adventures with our beloved dogs!