About Me
I’ve been animal-crazy since the time I could hold a pencil and draw all of the animals that lived in my imaginary farm, but dogs have always had a special place in my heart. I started training my Nintendogs from a young age, but at 15, my family got their very first dog, and I was finally able to teach fun tricks, build PVC agility equipment, and play frisbee with a real dog. I now have four kiddos of my own: Remi (Golden Retriever), Newton (Ragdoll), Murphy (Border Collie), and Oliver (Domestic Longhair). I actively train and compete in agility/nosework, but also participate in disc, FastCat, herding, and treibball.
My educational background is in chemistry and I am passionate about teaching. I graduated with my B.S. in Chemistry from IUPUI in 2019 and finished my M.S. in Organic Chemistry at Northwestern University in 2022. I participated in every teaching opportunity that I could while at those universities and I completed my teaching certificate at Northwestern in 2022. While I originally intended to become a professor, I realized that the lifestyle wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, and when the opportunity came up to combine my love of dogs with teaching, I took a leap of faith and completely switched tracks.
I currently teach agility, treibball, nosework, and fitness classes at Urban Pooch. I love to learn, and I really like to have an in-depth knowledge of how and why things work. Since starting to train dogs full time, I have earned my CPDT-KA and become a CGC evaluator and FIT DOG instructor. After learning treibball, I have also become a NATE instructor and skills evaluator, and am currently the only instructor in the state of Illinois. I have since also continued my canine fitness training, completing the Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach program (CSCC) through NC State’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
I am always looking to develop my skills as an instructor, trainer, and dog mom. I am passionate about building a strong bond with my dogs and continuing to learn how to communicate more effectively with them, foster confidence, and ensure that they live fulfilled lives. I love sharing the knowledge I’ve gained through my experiences with clients, so I look forward to being able to work with you!
