Meet Our Pack

Meet John

From Service to Passion: Transforming a Lifelong Love for Dogs into a Full-Time Career

From a young age, I have always been passionate about serving and making a difference. At 18, I began my journey as a TSA officer and later joined the USMC Reserves to further my career. After leaving government service in 2018, I worked with private firearms training companies, training local law enforcement and civilians. My dedication to excellence led me to achieve the rank of Sensei in the Chinese Goju system, becoming an internationally recognized instructor.

While my career path took me through various industries—excelling as an A+ Technician in auto-glass and managing teams in construction—I always felt a pull towards something more fulfilling. Despite my success, I yearned to pursue my true passion.

In 2023, I decided to turn my lifelong love of dogs and training into a full-time career. What started as a hobby has now become my reality. My diverse background in training and leadership has uniquely equipped me to understand and connect with dogs, helping them and their owners build strong and positive relationships.

Meet Ariel

From Psychology to Nursing: Balancing a Career in Healthcare with a Passion for Dog Training

I am the youngest of five children in a family of nurses, but I knew early on that the medical field wasn't for me—blood, guts, and bodily fluids just weren’t my thing. Instead, I pursued education in psychology, earning two degrees that led me to a career in mental health. However, I felt the need to do more. Three years ago, I enrolled in the RN program at HACC and now work at the bedside with patients and their families every day.

My journey into dog training began just before nursing school. John and I adopted two amazing dogs, Apollo and Odin, and we quickly fell in love with protection work and the thrill of having well-trained dogs.