My name is Vanessa, and I have grown up raising, training, and loving(!) dogs with my parents my whole life. I don't have any siblings, so, while my human "pack" has always been quite small, I've always loved and cared for our dogs like they are our family (and they are!). I am currently pursuing my doctorate in clinical psychology and am saving up for a fur baby of my own once I become a licensed psychologist in a couple of years (when I have more time and resources to dedicate to a pet full-time). Occasionally, I also work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) part-time. So, while I have taken steps to be considered qualified to provide professional (therapeutic and medical) services to humans, I am no certified dog trainer (not yet, anyway!). This being said, I have volunteered for the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and Muttville and have had a lot of success training (e.g., potty, discipline, behavioral, tricks) all of our family's puppies and dogs, as well as helping train the puppies and dogs of many close family members and friends. I am familiar with safety and care best practices and effective training methods, as I do a lot of my own research and have added my own flavor to and built on what I learned from the puppy-training courses my family took one of our first dogs years ago. At the risk of sounding too cheesy, I truly do believe that all of these experiences, combined, have taught me how important it is to see each person (or pet) as individuals with different experiences and needs, the value of understanding all of the ways that a relationship (with anyone—human or pet) is a two-way street, the impact of trust and how to effectively build it in a relationship, and so, so much patience. I understand that the most important thing always comes back to recognizing that these pets of ours are family and that they should be treated with respect, care, and love that matches (as best as we can manage) their unconditional love for us.