A little about me.

Hi, I’m Jill. I’m a lifetime animal lover. I’m a mom to five amazing pooches and two outstanding humans.

I am a Force-Free Dog Trainer.

My dog training career began around 8-years-ago when I rescued our dog Copper, my first real reactive and fearful pet. But I’ve been training marine mammals for many years. Since I can remember, I’ve always loved to be around animals. I’ve come to understand that they have emotional lives just as we do, and our relationships with them are not one sided.

A reactive dog changes your life in so many ways. A walk is a minefield in which we end up stressed, tightening the leash, hiding behind parked cars. I was more than overwhelmed and clearly so was Copper.

I realized my anxiety was contributing to Copper’s, and vice-versa. It was a cycle that I had to break.

I tapped into my network of other dolphin trainers who now trained dogs. In learning to adress Copper’s needs and understand his behaviors, I studied the works of Patricia McConnell, Emma Parsons and Karen Pryor; all trainers who have modified the behaviors of thousands of animals without punishment. I volunteered at the local shelter and saw how much the traditional shelter environment contributed to stress levels and anxiety post-adoption. I continued to educate myself through online trainings and eventually became a certified dog trainer.

With time, patience and the proper conditioning, Copper and I grew and improved together. And I found a passion for helping reactive and anxious dogs in the process. And Paws and Think was born.

-Jill (& Copper!)