Ana’s journey into the world of pet care began when she applied for her first dog training role at Petco—a decision that sparked a lifelong passion for helping dogs and their owners build stronger, more trusting relationships. Since then, she has trained dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and backgrounds, with a particular focus on those who have experienced shelter deterioration or fear-based reactivity.
Ana’s training philosophy centers around agency and choice—allowing dogs to actively participate in their own learning process. She believes that giving dogs a voice helps foster confidence, resilience, and trust. Her favorite part of training is watching owners, and their dogs learn to communicate effectively, creating lasting harmony in the household.
Her impressive credentials include CPDT-KA certification, Fear Free certification, completion of the Aggression Master Course, and the University of Washington’s Applied Animal Behavior Certificate Program. These qualifications reflect her commitment to science-backed, humane training practices that prioritize both safety and emotional well-being.
Ana’s teaching style is collaborative and transparent. She provides clear communication, instructional videos, and infographics to help clients and colleagues feel confident in their understanding of behavior and training concepts. Her goal is to ensure that both pets and people leave every session feeling supported, empowered, and successful.
One of Ana’s most memorable cases involved a dog struggling with severe fear-based reactivity. Through positive reinforcement, management techniques, and behavioral adjustment training (BAT), she helped the dog rebuild trust—ultimately allowing the owner to resume peaceful walks and even reintroduce the pup to new loved ones.
At home, Ana shares her life with Toffee, her energetic corgi who loves rolling in the grass and playing with his herding ball. Outside of training, she enjoys painting, drawing, reading, and playing dinosaur-themed video games, all of which reflect her creativity and patience—traits that shine through in her work.
Favorite Part of the Job:
“Seeing owners learn how to truly communicate with their dogs—and watching dogs gain the confidence to communicate back. That connection is everything.”
