About Me
I help San Francisco dogs and their people find more ease, more understanding, and more joy — through behavior support and nutrition guidance rooted in science and empathy.
I started Empawthy because I believe the relationship between you and your dog should feel good for both of you. Not perfect. Not Instagram-ready.
Just honest, steady, and built on trust.
I teach guardians how to support & care for their dogs’ unique needs.
In all honesty, I am more like a dog detective.
And your dog is a puzzle for us to solve together.
I came to this work the way a lot of people do, through a dog who needed help and a system that wasn’t helping.
My background is in science. I hold a Bachelor of Science and spent years studying animal behavior before moving into professional behavior consulting. Along the way, I earned my CPDT-KA and CTBC certifications and completed the Family Dog Mediation program.
But something kept nagging me. I kept meeting dogs whose behavior challenges weren’t just behavioral. They were physical, emotional, and deeply interconnected. Gut issues. Chronic inflammation. Low energy. Skin problems that never fully resolved.
So I started digging deeper. I became a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist through the Feed Real Institute.
Then I expanded my work into trauma-informed care, a science-based approach that draws from psychology, neurobiology, and modern learning theory to understand what dogs are actually experiencing, not just what they’re doing. I am one of the few Trauma Informed Pet Professionals in Northern California.
Those decisions changed everything about how I work. Because you can’t separate how a dog acts from how a dog feels.
Today, I approach every case like a detective, looking at the full picture. Behavior, health, environment, history, and stress. Not just symptoms, but causes. Because when you understand what your dog is going through, everything starts to make more sense.
How I got here
What I believe
Safety before learning.
A dog who doesn’t feel safe can’t learn. Before we work on any skills, I make sure your dog feels secure. That means controlling the environment, reducing overwhelm, and meeting them exactly where they are.
Understanding before obedience.
I’m not interested in making your dog “behave.” I’m interested in figuring out why they’re struggling. Behavior is communication. When we understand what a dog is telling us, we can help them feel better — and the behavior changes follow.
The whole dog, not just the symptom.
Diet, gut health, pain, sleep, exercise, environment, history — all of it shapes behavior. I look at the full picture, not just the thing that’s driving you up the wall on walks.
Empathy for both ends of the leash.
This work is hard for dogs and it’s hard for people. I will never make you feel judged, shamed, or behind. You’re doing this because you love your dog, and that’s what matters.
No fear. No pain. No shortcuts.
I will never use prong collars, shock collars, choke chains, or any method that relies on fear or intimidation. Positive reinforcement isn’t just my method — it’s my ethic.
I understand the temptation to control your dog.
But control is an illusion!
Control your ENVIRONMENT instead.
I explain the concept of being your dog’s bodyguard in this interview with High Tail Hikes, a leash company in Oakland.
Empawthy welcomes all dogs and all families. Every human-dog team deserves compassionate, judgment-free support regardless of your background, identity, or family structure.
Education/Credentials:
CPDT-KA~ Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed After completing 300 hours of training & assisting, I took this exam. I do continuing education every year to maintain my membership.
CTBC- Certificate in Behavior & Training Consultation from the Dog Training Internship Academy This is where I first learned how to be a dog trainer in 2015.
FDM~ Certified Family Dog Mediator~ L.E.G.S Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course Kim Brophey wrote the book, Meet Your Dog. Her professional course taught me how to honor & support the dog’s needs, vs trying to suppress them.
Trauma Informed Pet Professional- A trauma is an event that has a lasting impact on the dog. if your dog is a rescue, it’s fair to assume they experienced trauma.
Completion of the Karen Pryor Dog Professional Program
My training style is strongly influenced by the internationally recognized dog trainers, Amy Cook, Kay Laurence, Ken Ramirez, & Turid Rugaas. I do not control dogs. I build cooperation and collaboration.
Completion of Dr. Susan Friedman's Professional Course, Living & Learning with Animals.
I am a student of Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.
I have several titles with our Papillon through NASDA and AKC Trick Dog.
I am passionate about feeding dogs more fresh food and have completed the Real Food Institute Professional Canine Nutrition course.
I worked at SF Puppy Prep, the SF SPCA & A Well Adjusted Pet.
