My first real experience came at our local Humane Society, where I spent hours walking, bathing, and playing with every dog I could. I was the kid who watched Animal Planet instead of cartoons and memorized animal fact books just for fun. When I finally adopted my first dog, a Golden Retriever named Kobe, everything I’d learned started to come to life. Then came Bryant, my second Golden, and together we joined a local Dog Scout troop. That’s when I realized my real passion was understanding why dogs do what they do. I became fascinated by how dogs think and learn, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Training quickly became my favorite way to connect with them and help them grow.

From there, I jumped all the way in. I took classes, went to seminars, volunteered, fostered, and shadowed veterinarians and trainers. I wanted to learn everything I could and help as many animals as possible. I found a deep interest in assistance animals and helped train therapy and service dog teams that made a real difference in people’s lives. I also trained and competed in Flyball, Agility, Barn Hunt, Fast CAT, and Rally with my own dogs. Those experiences strengthened our bond and taught me so much about communication, trust, and teamwork.

Eventually, I decided to turn that passion into something more. I studied animal behavior in college, and after graduating, I worked at a shelter where I focused on enrichment, playgroups, and helping dogs with behavioral challenges.

Now, I get to bring all of that experience into my work at Chewy. I help recruit pets to model in our studio and make sure they feel confident and happy on set.