I have always been an animal lover. I grew up with cats, snakes and a slew of other reptiles. Through my first decade on my own I became enamored with feathered friends, adopting several parrots and caring for a flock of chickens. 3 years ago, my husband and I adopted our first dog, a deaf Australian Cattle Dog, and our whole world changed. Our pup Bunji is the pinnacle of intelligence, athleticism and adventure, but she struggles with reactivity, anxiety and touch sensitivity that took the better part of her first year to work through. Both my husband and myself are former public school educators and our understanding of how learning works combined with our commitment was invaluable as we moved at Bunji's pace through desensitizing and counterconditioning to her many triggers. We learned American Sign Language and together we built up a repertoire of over 25 sign language cues to communicate with. Outdoor travel is deeply engrained into our family lifestyle and Bunji is currently the first and only deaf dog to have completed the whole 740 mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. She is a backpacking champion and the most respectful four legged camper we could ask for. After having Bunji for a year we began fostering dogs and dog sitting as well. We mostly take in herding dog mixes, and while they are with us we gradually expose them to the world and train them using verbal and nonverbal cues. Through working with many dogs I am always astonished by the individual differences between them, even among the same breed. Therefore I believe that seeing each dog as an individual is critical to meeting their needs and expanding their horizons at the pace that is right for them. I look forward to helping enrich the lives of your furry friends with positive adventures in the neighborhood or on nearby trails!