Hi, I’m Nyki.
Position: Pack Leader
How I discovered my passion for dog training
In 2019 I adopted a dog rescued from the Thailand meat market, Congo. When I met Congo, no one could get within 6 feet of her or she would lunge and snap at you. Around new dogs, she would show excitement first, then as if on a hair trigger, switch to signs of aggression. Now, with proper introductions, she is able to tolerate new people petting her and being around new dogs. While she will probably never be a dog that I can trust to freely roam with new dogs and people unsupervised, she has come a really long way. She is a testament that even dogs that others have written off have the potential to improve. But even with this progress, I was left wondering — what was going on inside her head? Did she have a choice in the way she responded to certain triggers, or was the fear so innate that these behaviors were more like a post traumatic stress response? And my journey into the long term effects of cortisol on the body and brain began. Learning how animal behavior changes under stress, how stress can be transferred to a puppy prenatally, and what this means for the brain as the dog ages. I didn't find THE answer because there's no miracle solution for dogs who have experienced significant trauma. However, I did learn how to better understand dogs experiencing anxiety, stress, fear, and how to better adapt training for the best results. The journey isn't over and neither is Congo's progress.
I am your dog's biggest fan
Working with dogs has made me a better person in every aspect. I am a more patient, understanding, disciplined, creative, and resilient person thanks to the time I've spent with my own dogs, your dogs, and rescue and shelter dogs.
My number one rule when it comes to dog training is you have to be committed to the training. It doesn't require 8 hours a day, it may only be 15 minutes a day, but for that 15 minutes, you need to be completely dedicated. Dogs demand 100% of your attention when you're training and I believe it's the best form of self-reflection. When my dogs aren't listening or are distracted, I know that is not a sign of their state of mind so much as it is mine. It's a reminder to refocus and re-engage.
I've always identified as a "creature of habit" and I can help by creating the right routine for your dog. Having the right routine and structure in place can unlock consistent, positive behaviors in your dog and help keep reactivity at bay. And if you have a stubborn dog, I promise you I am much more stubborn than your dog. I have become a more patient and creative trainer thanks to the "difficult" dogs. Their unique behaviors and responses have forced me to challenge my own notions of conditioned behavior, to acknowledge and appreciate discomfort. Because we can't grow without discomfort. While I will challenge your dogs to sit with their discomfort, they will also challenge me. And we will both be better for it.
The person behind the trainer
I live on the Westside with my partner and our three dogs. When I'm not teaching dogs we like to spend our time outdoors. We are avid campers and enjoy being out in nature (possibly more than our dogs, but they would disagree). My partner and I are currently building an overland trailer so we can have more storage space when road tripping with the dogs. I also do photography and my favorite subject matter is dogs. I take portraits of shelter and rescue dogs to help get them more visibility. Other interests include motorcycles, riding bikes, good coffee, drawing schematics for building things, graphic design (what I actually went to school for), horseback riding, making spreadsheets to organize data, and many, many other things.
The strength of the dog is the pack.
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The strength of the dog is the pack. *
Sesame
Position: Front
Age: ~4
Breed: German Shepherd x Australian Cattle Dog
Sesame started as a very fearful and anxious dog. She has grown into a confident leader who knows exactly what other dogs need. It’s very rare to find a front of pack dog who is naturally gentle, nurturing, and cares more about obeying humans than enforcing her own pack position, but that’s Sesame. She’s an incredibly well-balanced dog who I trust more than any other dog, no matter the situation.
Sesame is now a registered and working therapy dog and holds numerous titles with the AKC. She’s also a very well-balanced at sheep herding and is able to keep the sheep calm and in line.
Sesame was originally found as a street dog and was brought into a shelter with her litter mate, Soba (see below).
Soba
Position: Middle
Age: ~4
Breed: German Shepherd x Australian Cattle Dog
Soba is Sesame’s biological sister and littermate. She was found wandering the streets with Sesame and they were both put in the shelter together until a rescue sponsored them and I found and adopted them. Soba is your typical middle-of-the-pack dog — very friendly and outgoing, wants to play with everyone.
Soba is by far my best sheep herding dog. Which is no surprise given she runs over 35mph. She’s eager to please and learns faster than my other dogs.
In March 2024 Soba had a pericardiectomy — open heart surgery to remove her pericardium from around her heart. We found out she had contracted Valley Fever, but rather than attacking her lungs, the fungal infection had grown in her pericardium and was solidifying the fluid around her heart, causing constriction. Luckily, she responded well to medications post-surgery and she is doing better than ever!
Congo
Position: Back
Age: ~10
Breed: Mix
Congo has experienced a lot of trauma in her life. She has a tattoo with a serial number inside her ear from her meat market days. While she is never going to be a “friendly” dog, she has come such a long way since we adopted her.
When I first met Congo she lunged and snapped in my direction. By the end of the day, I sat on the ground and she laid between my legs. She made an impact on me. From the very first interaction, I saw a dog who was so terrified, she was a shell filled with fear. Her reactivity had consumed her to the point that you couldn't see the dog underneath. My heart broke for her. We didn’t get Congo until a few months later. She was adopted and returned more than once. She’s a cute dog and can be very lovable, but she had a lot of trauma to work through.
When I tell people she is reactive and not friendly, most people respond with disappointment or sympathy. I’ve even been told that maybe she should have been put down. I think that’s a really terrible outlook to have on a dog that has overcome so much. She may not be perfect, but she’s still learning new things every day. I’ve jokingly said on more than one occasion that this dog will be a lifelong project, and I truly believe it. She hasn’t stopped fighting for a better life, and I’m not going to stop trying to give that to her through structure, training, and learning. I challenge her comfort and stress tolerance constantly — putting her in new situations that will challenge her physically and mentally. I do this because when she’s forced into a new situation and is forced to confront her discomfort, she grows. The more I challenge her, the more she is able to self-regulate and de-escalate her reactivity in healthy ways.
Congo is the reason I originally got into training my dogs to herd sheep. She would constantly round up the humans in our kitchen or try to herd the Roomba back to its base. While she hasn’t learned some of the finer techniques of herding, it’s still a great outlet for her and helps keep her herding instincts in check when we’re in the house.
Congo is not a confident dog, and likely never will be. Aside from her trauma, it’s not in her nature. She’s comfortable as a back-of-pack dog. She is comfortable alerting that something is off, but allowing the other dogs to lead.
