Business Owner, certified Dog Trainer, Mother, and Dog Enthusiast.

Jessica has been a trainer in the community that you all know and love for the past 13 years. She was a training director for another dog training facility before going out on her own with a vision.

As a teenager, she was introduced to the 4H dog program, then began competing with two dogs in the Protection Sports Association (PSA,) and has assisted in preparing dogs for Highway Patrol. Though she dabbles in other sports for fun, currently Jess is focused on competing with her own dogs, and client dogs in IGP/Schutzhund, PSA, AKC Barnhunt, and Obedience.

Jess is an active foster and has assisted in rehabilitating a vast number of dogs for rescues over the years, including Shelly’s Angel’s Saving Strays (SASS), All About Rescues and Fixin’ (AARF), Blue Ridge Bull Terrier Rescue, and the Bull Terrier Rescue Mission. Jess is currently an evaluator and consultant for Blue Ridge, and the Rescue Mission’s more difficult dogs. By working through the hard cases, Jess has dramatically improved their adoption success.

Jess is the trainer for Isaac Loves His Hooman, non profit service dog organization, who places the dogs with veterans to boost their quality of life, and assist them with daily living.

She is the mother of a eight-year-old boy, has a horse, and five active dogs to keep up with! Growing up on a farm, she has gotten to deeply appreciate dogs that are genetically designed to fulfill not only themselves, but us. Jess has also been very focused, and her passion drives her to better herself as not only a dog trainer, but a coach for humans. Her training “toolbox” is always growing, and her techniques have refined into a comprehensive plan that can be structured for each individual dog’s personality. You will find Jess deeply caring and enjoying the journey that you chose to embark on with your dog!

Jess is not only an AKC Canine Good Citizen, Fear Free Boarding Specialist and Trick Dog Evaluator. She is certified in Pet First Aid and CPR and has passed the Certification for Professional Dog Trainers exam – requiring a minimum of 300 approved hours mentoring, and a comprehensive knowledge assessment test focused on learning theory, client instruction, and husbandry.

Credentials

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Association of Professional Dog Trainers

• AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, American Kennel Club

• American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR Certified

• Association of Pet Dog Training (APDT) Member

  Working titles earned-

• PSA PDC 2018 – Thunderhawk’s Heavy Artillery (Zook)
• Begleithund Test (BH) 2018 – Thunderhawk’s Heavy Artillery (Zook)
• Begleithund Test (BH) 2013 – Envy
• Therapy Dog International, Certified Team (Ruth) - 2013
• Midwest Veterinary Conference – February 2019
• Aggression in Dogs: Safety, Defensive Handling & Training - April 2019
• IGP- OB1- High in Trial (Zook) - 2019
• Debbie Zappia Seminar: Competition Obedience – Dec 2018
• Competition Obedience, Tracking & IPO Retrieve – Dec 2016
• IPO Helper Seminar with James Laney – Oct 2015
• Qualified for IWPA National Championships - 2018
• Jesse Cortez/ Amanda Caldron Working Dog and Helper seminar - 2019
• AKC Barnhunt- Novice Title- 2020
• IGP 1: 90-96.5-86- Nov 2021
• BH- Nov 2021
• PA (protection alert) x2 dogs - March 2022
• FO (family obedience title) x2 dogs - High in trial score - March 2022
• IGP 2: November 2022. High Obedience Score
* WDA FO- Two Dogs- Magnus and Chopper -2024
* IGP 3- 2024 with "Bazooka"
*Do More With Your Dog/Advanced Trick Dog Title x2 
*IGP 1- 2024 with "Joker"


Continuing Education Classes / Webinars –
• Worked Up!- Understand, Assess and Soothe Arousal in Sport Dogs
• Home Alone – Treating Separation
• Pet First Aid and CPR Certification Class – American Red Cross
*CBCC Examination Prep Class
• Normal or Not – Common Behavioral Disorders
• Precision Heeling
* Knock Knock, From Chaos to Calm 
*Chaos to Calm 2 Class
*Fear Free Boarding Class and Certification-2024