I’ve known Amber for a little over a year, but honestly, it feels like we’ve known her our whole lives. We actually became friends because of my dog, Miji. During our daily walks, Amber would see us passing by, come out to say hello, and almost always had a new snack ready for Miji. Before long, stopping by Amber’s house became the absolute highlight of Miji’s walkies. As a close friend and neighbor, I’ve had the privilege of watching Amber care for dogs of all shapes, sizes, personalities, and backgrounds. What stands out most about Amber is that she doesn’t just see dogs as behaviors to manage. She sees them as individuals with their own story, needs, and ways of communicating. I’ve watched her work with a young puppy who was learning that the world wasn’t such a scary place, a german shepherd teen with enough energy to tire out a professional athlete, and a shy poodle who needed help building confidence. She even embraced his love for socks because, as Amber always says, “If the behavior isn’t a problem for you, then it isn’t a problem for me.” She has an incredible ability to respect who a dog is while still helping them become the happiest and most confident version of themselves. As a triple-certified dog trainer, Amber has an incredible amount of knowledge, but what truly sets her apart is how naturally she applies it. She notices subtle body language, respects boundaries, and adjusts her approach based on the individual dog in front of her. She understands that every dog communicates differently and takes the time to listen. One of my favorite examples of Amber’s ability to connect with dogs was with one of my first foster dogs, Blue. Blue came to us extremely shut down and scared. She was overwhelmed by the world around her and didn’t even want to leave her crate or interact with people. Watching Amber meet Blue for the first time was incredible. Instead of rushing in or trying to force affection, Amber immediately adjusted her approach to what Blue needed. She made herself calm and non-threatening, gave Blue space, and allowed her to approach on her own terms. Within just 10 minutes, Blue was willing to take a treat from Amber’s hand, and that tiny moment showed just how much trust Amber had already begun building. What amazed me even more was that Blue remembered Amber every time she came back. A dog who had been so unsure of people had formed such a positive association with her because Amber respected her boundaries and let her choose to trust. That moment showed me that Amber doesn’t just understand dog training techniques but truly understands the emotions behind a dog’s behavior. I have trusted Amber with my own dog, Miji, and I would leave her with Amber without hesitation. Miji has always been an energetic dog with the cutest zoomies in the world, but I noticed she often struggled with truly settling down. She would stay alert and “on” even when she should have been resting. Amber quickly recognized that Miji wasn’t lacking exercise. She was actually missing mental enrichment. I had been giving her plenty of walks, frisbee, and tug games, but Amber helped me realize that Miji’s brain needed just as much attention as her body. She introduced us to puzzles, enrichment activities, and more intentional brain work, and it completely changed how we understood her needs. Since then, Miji has learned how to settle, relax, take better naps, and genuinely seem more content in her day-to-day life. Amber helped me understand my dog better. And Miji absolutely adores her. She might as well be part husky with how hard she pulls just to say hello when she sees Amber. If she hears Amber’s voice on a phone call or video, she comes running from another room trying to figure out where her favorite person is. Once her initial excitement wears off, she settles in with Amber like family because that is exactly how Amber treats her. Amber has also helped me with multiple foster puppies ranging from only a few weeks old to several months old. She doesn’t simply care for the dogs she’s with, she becomes part of their pack. She pays attention to what each dog is showing her they need, whether that is enrichment, confidence building, play, rest, medication, feeding routines, or simply a safe person to trust. Beyond her training skills, Amber is one of the most dependable people I know. She is very much an “early is on time, and on time is late” person, and she brings that same level of responsibility to caring for animals. She communicates wonderfully and goes above and beyond with updates, pictures, and videos. I always know what the dogs are doing, how they’re feeling, and that they are receiving the attention they deserve. I have seen Amber handle stressful situations and urgent moments with calmness, quick thinking, and knowledge that far exceeds my own. I trust her completely, not only with my dog, but with my home and my peace of mind. Amber is truly the best dog aunt to my Miji. She always shows up with Miji’s favorite snacks, a new puzzle she knows she’ll love, or an activity designed specifically around her personality. She remembers the little details that make Miji who she is, including that Miji loves solving puzzles with her paws, and she always finds ways to help her shine. Any dog would be lucky to have Amber in their corner. She combines professional expertise with genuine compassion, patience, and a deep respect for every dog she meets. I cannot recommend her enough.

I have a rambunctious German Shepherd. We got him as a puppy and as he grew we began to realize that we may have not considered the breed enough. Amber came on board and she was more than we could have imagined. She helped us train him, and eventually did some longer board and trains. I have never worried about my dog once with her. She had always been honest, caring and thoughtful. He has developed into a 85lb loving bundle of energy and personality. We love him just the way he is. Without Amber’s help, we would have struggled way more than we did.

Amber has watched my house and my beloved babies more times than I could count. I have an African grey named Artemis that can be pretty testy at times, and is usually a one person bird. Within the first day of being with Amber and her hubby, Artemis was trying to feed Amber blueberries, swinging upside down being a "monkey", and was asking her for head scratches. It took me weeks to get to that point when I first got her! Throughout my vacation I got pictures and updates on how she was doing, and I could tell Artemis was so happy staying with Amber. Amber has also watched my dogs on multiple occasions, they are goldens though so not very high maintenance and easy to please. Our pups ended up becoming the best of friends over the years. There are not many people I'd trust my house and animals with, but Amber has truly set the bar as far as making sure my critters are well cared for and house is taken care of while I'm out of town. She truly is a joy to work with. :)