MY STORY
I was born in Mexico City, but my life took an exciting turn when my mom and I moved to Atlanta just before I started high school. Having always had a passion for the visual arts, I set my sights on attending the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to study Graphic Design. To my delight, I was awarded multiple scholarships, which allowed me to also pursue a minor in Drawing.
During my time at SCAD, I became deeply passionate about design activism, motivated by the idea of using design for social good. This drive led me to workshops with some of my design heroes, such as Luba Lukova and Stefan Sagmeister. I began my career as a multimedia specialist, but over the next nine years, I gradually transitioned into instructional design, developing e-learning modules for various government agencies, including the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, and the Census Bureau.
In early 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to work for the International Baccalaureate, an international nonprofit organization. This experience deepened my appreciation for education and introduced me to innovative learning methods. Concurrently, I became involved with local animal shelters, initially contributing as a designer to help market adoptable dogs and eventually growing into a fulfilling volunteer role. With the flexibility of a remote job, I could volunteer more frequently, realizing the profound impact even a brief interaction could have on a shelter dog's day.
Driven by these experiences, I decided to pursue a career in professional dog training in 2023. While I continue to enjoy my full-time job, I’ve discovered a new passion—one that allows me to make a positive difference in the lives of both people and dogs, giving me a sense of purpose like never before.
Certifications
Victoria Stilwell Academy - Certified Dog Trainer
VSA is the premier professional dog trainer educational institution founded by world-renowned pet behavior expert and Animal Planet TV star Victoria Stilwell. Taught by Victoria herself and her world-class faculty, VSA’s Online Dog Trainer Course is a rigorous academic and practical study of dog training and behavior knowledge and skills, effective human communication, and business management acumen. The comprehensive course curriculum features multiple learning models and requires students to engage at the highest level via online studies and practical experience and skills assessments under the tutelage of a personal VSA Faculty Advisor. This combination of real-world experience, academic learning and practical applications has positioned VSA as a leader in dog trainer education.
Graduates of the Online Dog Trainer Course emerge from VSA prepared to offer group dog training classes and private lessons on a professional basis. All VSA graduates sign a statement pledging to promote, practice and uphold Victoria’s high level of force-free, reward-based, positive dog training methodologies and ideologies in their professional work.
Trauma Informed Pet Professionals by ABK Learn
I completed an 8-module course focused on understanding and working with traumatized dogs. The course covered various trauma types, neurobiological impacts, and emotional aspects, providing a deep dive into the neurobiological underpinnings of trauma, including how fear is processed in the brain, the effects on survival circuitry, and the influence of trauma on sleep, pain, the gut microbiome, and immunity. It also taught practical skills such as case formulation, trauma history-taking, and creating trauma-informed environments. Additionally, the course explored the use of drugs in trauma cases, principles of synaptic communication, and approaches for reappraising trauma, including identifying triggers, developing reappraisal maps, and using sleep to aid in reappraisal.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed
I’m proud to share that I’ve earned my CPDT-KA certification, which stands for Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed. This certification is a respected, science-based credential that recognizes both knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of dog training. To earn it, I had to provide professional references and pass a rigorous exam covering everything from canine learning theory and behavior to humane training practices and instructional skills.
It’s more than just a test—it’s a commitment. CPDT-KA certificants like me are held to high ethical standards and must follow the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach to behavior change. We’re also required to pursue ongoing education to stay up-to-date with the latest research and techniques. I’m excited to bring this level of professionalism, compassion, and science-based training to every client I work with.
Fear Free - Animal Trainer
As a Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer, I’ve completed specialized training designed to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets during veterinary visits, home care routines, and training sessions. This certification equips me with science-backed techniques to help pets feel safe and comfortable during grooming, medical handling, and everyday life experiences.
The Fear Free program fosters a collaborative relationship between trainers and veterinary teams, allowing me to support pets both at home and in the clinic. I’m trained to prepare dogs and cats for vet visits, assist with in-clinic puppy and kitten socialization classes, and implement vet-recommended care plans at home in a low-stress way.
By working closely with pet parents and veterinary professionals, I help ensure pets receive complete, compassionate care that supports both their physical and emotional well-being.
Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certification
I completed a flagship Certification Program that trained me in essential skills for canine and feline CPR and First Aid. This comprehensive course prepared me to respond confidently to a wide range of emergencies, stabilizing dogs and cats until they can reach a veterinary facility.
The curriculum covered key emergency procedures, such as performing CPR on pets of different sizes, recognizing distress signs, and managing common injuries like bleeding, fractures, and choking. I also learned how to address shock, poisoning, and heatstroke, as well as techniques for safely handling and restraining pets in crisis situations.
Licenses
Licensed Family Dog Mediator - Sheltering Division
I completed a course that applied the L.E.G.S. (Life, Environment, Genetics, Self) framework to dog training and behavior. The course covered a wide range of topics, including ethology, evolution, animal welfare, and the science behind dog behavior. It explored how human and dog worlds intersect, the impact of genetics and environment on behavior, and the challenges of captivity. The course also addressed behavior problems as symptoms of deeper issues and the importance of family dog mediation. It provided practical insights into socialization, learning, communication, and the relationship between operant and classical conditioning, emphasizing the need for compassionate and scientifically informed solutions.
Licensed Dial Guide - The Dial Method
I completed a licensing course focused on enhancing family dog training by integrating The Dial Method. The curriculum covered key aspects such as understanding the "anatomy of the dial" to maximize benefits for clients, filling in gaps that make family dog training challenging, and using family-friendly language to make complex concepts accessible. The course emphasized rebooting family mindsets to secure full buy-in, identifying "hook questions" for deeper understanding, and pairing science with fun to explain dogs' evolutionary needs. It also provided strategies for combating dog bites, setting kid-friendly rules, and creating practical, customized training plans for busy parents. Additionally, the course offered solutions for common training struggles and ensured smooth integration of The Dial Method into family dog training plans.
Education
Aggression in Dogs Master Course by Mike Shikashio
This is a specialized course focused on managing and treating aggression in dogs. The curriculum covered the flow of an aggression case, safety management, and handling techniques, including breaking up dog fights and understanding dog body language specific to aggression. It also emphasized client communication, prognosis assessment, and managing compassion fatigue. The course included expert presentations on ethology, medical considerations, and behavior modification for various types of aggression, including dog-to-human, dog-to-dog, and resource guarding.
Canine Essential 101 by BHARCS
This course focused on understanding and communicating with free-living dogs, or "street dogs," in India. The course emphasized using natural, non-verbal cues like body language, gestures, eye contact, and tone—focusing on what dogs naturally understand. It explored stress in dogs, its causes, recognition, and alleviation without relying on training or restraint. The course also debunked the dominance myth, examined fear-related behaviors, and introduced the BHARCS method for setting boundaries and managing dogs without punishment, yelling, or training. Additionally, it covered ergonomic equipment, outdoor management, and stress-free leash handling using the same non-verbal communication approach.
Somatic Self-Resilience for Worried & Traumatized Dogs 2024 by Laura Donaldson
I completed a 6-week online course focused on introducing transformational, body-based strategies for addressing canine anxiety, stress, and trauma. The course explored techniques such as Grounding, Breathwork, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping, and Touch & Breathe, which are adapted from methods used to treat traumatic stress in humans. The course emphasized the importance of somatic self-resilience in dogs, highlighting the role of innate, body-centered resources in regaining a sense of agency and control after traumatic experiences. By recognizing and developing these somatic resources, the course aimed to equip participants with tools to help dogs heal from trauma.
ACE Module One + Two with Sarah Fisher and Sarah Whiffen
I completed a course in Animal Centred Education (ACE), an integrated multi-modal approach to animal education and wellbeing. Developed at Tilley Farm and inspired by various animal education professionals, ACE focuses on observing an animal’s posture, movement, and nervous system responses and incorporates ACE Free Work, which involves sensory, educational, and enriching activities. The course emphasized giving dogs a choice and a voice within the limits of appropriate options and promoted a rewarding, outcome-independent approach to learning that helps dogs and their guardians develop a love for education.
In addition to Ace Module One, I also participated in ACEing Essentials and Introduction to ACE for Reactivity with Penny Leedal and Sonia Catherall.
RAT - Relationship Assessment Tool by Suzanne Clothier
I am currently enrolled in a course covering the Relationship Assessment Tool (RAT), which provides a new framework for rapidly assessing the dog/handler relationship. RAT examines the patterns of interaction between both the dog and handler, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. It specifically evaluates factors such as pulling, check-in behavior, equipment use, orchestration, directability, accommodation, use of space, arousal, resilience, handler communication, dog-to-dog interactions, and overall connection. The RAT scoresheet offers a clear reflection of these dynamics and guides the development of a Triage Training Plan (TTP) for improving the relationship.
Introduction to CARAT Fall 2024
I am currently enrolled in the Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool (CARAT) course, developed by Suzanne Clothier in 2007. CARAT is a comprehensive assessment system that categorizes behavior traits into multiple intuitive and practical components. It evaluates core traits such as arousal, resilience, and energy, as well as social traits like sociability, social tolerance, and social use of space. The assessment also considers sensory and persistence traits across visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and olfactory modalities. Additionally, CARAT assesses interactive traits like patience and biddability, along with complex traits including social confidence, environmental confidence, and self-modulation.
Resolving Challenging Behavior by Karolina Westlund, phD
In this course, students explored two common behavioral challenges faced by animal caregivers and diverse strategies for addressing and preventing them. We examined how moods influence perception, decision-making, and behavior, focusing on methods to improve an animal's overall mood through enrichment. The course covered various exposure techniques, such as habituation, systematic desensitization, counterconditioning, and biofeedback, to alter emotional responses to triggers. We also discussed operant techniques like antecedent strategies, non-contingent reinforcement, and the Premack Principle, alongside the differences between operant and respondent extinction.
Each module featured in-depth chapters on topics like stereotypies, functional analyses, and separation anxiety, with a detailed focus on the fallout of punishment. This multidisciplinary course combined ethological, affective, and behavior-analytical perspectives and included 10 bonus case studies with renowned experts.
Aggression and Anxiety Mentorship with
This 8-week mentorship, led by Dr. Camille Ward (MS, PhD, CAAB), explored evidence-based approaches to addressing challenging canine behaviors. Topics included human-directed aggression, leash reactivity, fears and phobias (including separation anxiety), multi-dog household conflict, unruly behaviors, abnormal repetitive behaviors, and strategies for stress-free veterinary visits. Designed for professionals, this program provided practical tools and insights to enhance behavior modification and management skills.
Beginning Behavior Consulting Mentorship with Sarah Filipiak
Completed an 8-week mentorship program on behavior consulting, focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis, LIMA, humane hierarchies, and behavioral interventions. The course covered best practices for client intake, training plans, record-keeping, marketing, and professional development, with weekly live discussions, assignments, and expert mentorship.
Memberships
