My Story
From as far back as I can remember, I have been passionate about animals. I care deeply about them and have always felt a strong connection to them. When I first started my business, I began by providing a compassionate grooming option for dog parents with pets who couldn’t tolerate a traditional groomer. My patience and calm energy created a safe space for dogs to be groomed with minimal stress and anxiety.
As much as I loved this, I decided I was better suited for creating a fun and functional play environment for dogs. As I learned about training, I became engaged in teaching myself about dog body language and dog psychology. This was a huge part of my life that fed my soul on a daily basis and created a massive knowledge base for what I do today.
While I was developing my skills and knowledge, my beloved soul dog, Maple, started to become sick. There were many subtle signs at first, but I didn’t understand the root cause at the time. I eventually learned they were related to her gut health. To manage these symptoms, I was advised by my vet to put her on a limited ingredient diet. This was the true beginning of my journey with nutrition. Because Maple had many allergies, I didn’t have a lot of options. One of my clients suggested I try raw food since the ingredients are generally much more limited than traditional kibble. I hadn’t considered this before (only because of my lack of knowledge) but right away I noticed her improving. I now believe this extended her life by years.
As I learned more about fresh food, I realized I needed to find a canine nutritionist to help guide me in making the best decisions for my Maple. This had been a priority ever since my own vet told me that most veterinarians are not trained in nutrition. After searching extensively, I found a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist (CPCN) I felt I could trust. The more I learned, the more I realized the important role nutrition played in Maple’s health and well-being.
Through this experience, I decided I wanted to become a professional canine nutritionist myself. Around the same time, a company I trust and believe in, came out with a RACE certified canine nutritionist course that was created for veterinarians and professionals in the dog care industry. I jumped on this opportunity and was one of the first people to start the course. I was excited and motivated to learn and to help others understand what they could do to improve the lives of their dogs.
A few weeks after I started the course, my Maple suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at only eight years old. I was devastated. A few months later, I learned that the kibble I had fed her for so long likely contributed to her early death. Some dogs are more sensitive than others and I didn’t know any better at the time.
To this day, I wish I had known more so I could have done better for my Maple. She was my perfect poodle, my best friend, and everything anyone could have asked for in a dog. I was so lucky to have known her for as long as I did. My experience with Maple is why I am so passionate about my work. I want to do everything I can to make sure what happened to my Maple doesn’t happen to anyone and their beloved companion again. It is my mission to help educate others and assist in their journey in creating a forever dog.
