My love for animals began at a very young age and blossomed into my biggest passion. I began volunteering in animal shelters when I was just 11, which spurred my continual involvement with the rescue community today as well as my advocation for ethical breeding. When I was 18, I fostered a bully mix named Eclipse, who I absolutely fell in love with. She inspired me to start learning about dog training, behavior, and nutrition. Two years later, I adopted my formerly reactive, nervous cattle dog mix, Kylo. This kick-started me into delving into where his behavior came from and the ways I could fix it. 

I began interning under a reputable trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area to gain more knowledge and experience before officially taking on clients. After 2 successful years of helping clients, I decided to branch off and create my own niche business. I am actively pursuing my studies in animal & canine behavior and will graduate in 2023 with a B.S. in Animal Health & Behavior. This B.S. encompasses education in both canine behavior and nutrition and qualifies me to guide dog owners in both areas. Years ago, I began feeding my dogs a balanced, raw diet and I was astounded at the positive results. In conjunction with quality training, nutritious food & restoring the gut biome will create optimal results for your four-legged best friend.

The motivation to found Nature & Nurture was rooted in my passion for educating people on how to accept the dog in front of them and setting realistic training goals based on their dog’s breed(s). I was disheartened at seeing so many dogs at the shelters that were abandoned for having "behavioral issues". I firmly believe that most were because the owners did not have proper knowledge about their dog’s genetics and how it affects their daily needs. 

Take this as an example: A family with two young children buys a cute cattle dog puppy off Craigslist. They don’t train their new little family member, and thus, do not establish structure or boundaries. They did not teach their children how to respect their dog’s space. Not surprisingly, they claim the dog chased and bit their children "out of nowhere". Most dog behavior is not “out of nowhere.” Dogs are very good at giving clear signs they are stressed or anxious, and we need to learn how to recognize them. Suppression of instinctual behavior only acts as a band aid and the behavior will usually return. If you have a high-drive herding breed, leaving their behavior unchecked and undirected will cause them to turn to your smaller animals and children to fulfill their instinctual needs.  

I am enthusiastic about helping dog owners live in harmony with their pet: A well-trained dog has a better life! Aside from enjoying them in your own home, you will have more freedom to bring your dog out in with you. I want to empower YOU to be the ideal trainer of your own dog which will build confidence in yourself and your pup!