Companion Dog Work

A reality that we don’t typically think about is that dogs who live as our companions weren’t really “built” to live that particular life. In particular, our Western society puts a ton of emphasis into socialization and training, but unfortunately doesn’t typically consider breeding practices, neonatal development, or the importance of rearing (including the mother and siblings) in the early phases of development. My studies have demonstrated to me that any deficiency in any of the above leads to a subset of challenges. Dog training is not the sole answer to this problem.

Over the years, I’ve visited over 70 dog daycares and dog training schools all across the United States and, as a result of those visits, have learned a lot about what pet owners’ needs really are. Dog training simply isn’t addressing all of these needs. I’ve discovered that the traditional “training” model actually tends to demand too much of the dog which adversely impacts its moral, emotional, mental, and physical well being.

Before I embarked on my professional career, I vowed to find a method that would enrich both the lives of companion dogs and the families of companion dogs. I wanted to create a method that would not sacrifice the basic needs of the dog — food, water, shelter, and love. I made it my mission to provide dogs an opportunity to just be dogs, to create a lifestyle for them that allowed them to thrive. 

After years of research and observation, I opened the Doglando which is not a doggy daycare by any means. Doglando is an enrichment center for dogs. The goal of Doglando is to teach our colleagues and industry professionals how to incorporate enrichment into their dog training or daycare programs. I’m proud to say that at Doglando dogs are living their best life and being enriched every single day.