"Dogs may not be my whole life, but they make my life whole. Who am I kidding...my dogs are my life."
08/19/2025
🎉🐾💜 Big news… I did it! 💜🐾🎉
I am officially certified with my Advanced Canine Behavior Certification (ACSA-KA) – AAA Accredited through the American Canine Studies Academy!
🤗
This milestone means the world to me because it didn’t come easy. Between still struggling with a TBI, Lupus, and a laundry list of health challenges, there were so many delays in this 2-year course… but I kept going, and I made it. 🙌
I’m endlessly grateful to my amazing clients — the more I learn & grow, the better I can support you and your dogs on this journey called life. 🐾💜
🏆
This certification gave me so much more than advanced canine behavior & psychology knowledge. It taught me how to:
✨ Understand why dogs do what they do
✨ Help human guardians discover their learning styles
✨ Track progress and celebrate growth
✨ Overcome hurdles in the human-dog relationship
✨ And even build a business plan that supports my health and my passion
🫂
A heartfelt thank you to James Conroy & The American Canine Studies Academy for creating a program where busy dog trainers, business owners, and those of us navigating chronic illness can still achieve our dreams.
🥰
And the biggest thank you to Joshua Goodberry for always standing by me, supporting me, and encouraging me to chase my dreams even when the road wasn’t easy.
Here’s to lifelong learning, resilience, and helping dogs and their humans thrive together. 💜🐾
08/19/2025
🥰Making the most of these last few summer days!
💇🏼♀️
Thank you & Abby of for cleaning up the berners & dealing with all that fur.
🐕
We're ready for some cooler temps & relaxing hikes through the woods.
❓️
Are you & your pups ready for fall?
08/13/2025
🎉💜🐾 Happy 1st Birthday to our sweet & wiggly girl, Aurora Bora the Explorer! 🐾💜🎉
😍
From her heart-melting happy wiggles to her “professional clown” antics, Aurora has filled our lives with endless laughter and love. She adores everyone she meets, and she’s never too shy to snuggle — even if it means flopping right on top of you in the most beautifully awkward way possible.
🥰
A huge thank-you to Jenn N John Wilson & Dick Krebs & Lori Krebs for bringing this goofy, loving soul into our lives. 💜 Funny enough — we went to Dicky’s retirement party, and the very next day… we came home with Aurora! Guess you could say it was love at first wiggle.
🐾
We can’t wait to see what adventures Year 2 will bring, sweet girl. Keep exploring, keep loving, and keep those wiggles coming! 💜🐾
08/04/2025
🥰🌾 Celebrated Lughnasadhthis weekend in the best way — with love, laughter, food, and a little bit of dog chaos (my favorite kind 😉).
We kicked it off with brunch with family, then spent the evening with our dear friend Rhonda — complete with delicious food, doggy playtime, and some “fun”🙃 house projects to round it all out.
🤤😋Big shoutout to for fueling us with their unreal Salmon-Mango salad and all the other yummy goodies — SO good! The browines are TO DIE FOR-I mean it they're absolutely delicous & sinful😍
🐶 The dog crew was in full force:
✨ Sweet & sassy little Migo, Rhonda’s recently rescued long-haired Frenchie, charmed us all with his stocky little strut and giant personality.
💃 Aurora, our Berner "baby", had the zoomies and was finally able to stretch her legs playing again (heat cycle behind her!). Hard to believe she'll be 1 year on the 13th🥲
💜 Cooper happily soaked up Aunt Rhonda snuggles — as he should.
🖤 And Byron chose peace in his crate for the evening, still working through his excitement around Aurora. Respect to him for self-regulating when he needed it.
It wasn’t perfect — but it was real, joyful, connected, and full of growth. Just like this season. 🌻
08/01/2025
🌾✨ Blessed Lughnasadh! ✨🌾
The first harvest is here — a time to celebrate growth, transformation, and the fruits of our labor, both in the soil and in the soul. 💛
Swipe through to see:
🌻 Me with some of my favorite humans
🥒 Our garden’s beautiful bounty
🐕🦺 And a few incredible dogs who, just a short time ago, were labeled “aggressive” or “too much” — now building trust, mastering calm, and living fuller, freer lives with their humans.
🌿Lughnasadh reminds us that growth takes time, effort, patience — and sometimes a whole lot of dirt under our nails. Whether it's nurturing a garden, healing the nervous system of a reactive dog, or finding joy in small moments with our chosen family… it’s all part of the harvest.
💫Here’s to the seeds we've planted — and the beautiful things still to come. 🐾💜☯️
07/16/2025
🎉🎂 Happy 4th Birthday to My Lil Mini Cooper! 🎂🎉
🦁💛Our tiny lion-hearted hero in a fluffy Chihuahua body.
💉🐾Cooper isn’t just adorable — he’s also my natural Medical Alert dog & everyday miracle, always tuned in, always by my side, and always ready to help without ever being asked.
He may be small, but his heart, courage, and loyalty are off the charts. He amazes me every single day with his intuition, his heart, and the way he shows up for me in ways no one else can.
He’s taught me so much — about trust, presence, resilience, and unconditional love.
💫🥰From zoomies to snuggles, and quiet moments where he senses what even I can’t — you are my little lifesaver, Coop.
You may be tiny, but your impact is massive — a true hero in a little body.
Thank you for 4 amazing years of love, laughter, and life-saving intuition.
Here’s to many more tail wags, tiny barks, and heroic moments.
😘😍I love you, my sweet, adorable & brave little birthday boy. 💜🎈
ChiWowTown
07/02/2025
🌩️ Counter-Conditioning for Storm & Fireworks Phobia is optimal, but sometimes we need a quicker solution in the meantime.
The goal is to change the dog’s emotional response to the storm from fear → neutrality → ideally, positive association.
🎆FIREWORKS & Storms⛈️
Here are some precautions that pet guardians can take if their pets are afraid of fireworks or loud noises:
🐕🦺1) even if you have a fenced yard, still walk them on a leash until firework season is done. Do not leave them unattended.
🚪2) If absolutely must leave them unattended in your fenced yard - please check the gates.
🔖3) If you do not have an ID tag on their collar > use masking tape and write your name, address and phone number on the tape attached to the collar.
🚫4) If you are having a party, for their life's sake, put them in a room where no one will go in! Put a note on the door "Dog/Cat inside, Do Not Open".
👍🏼5) Make sure your pet is microchipped!
💊6) If you know that your pet is afraid of fireworks consult with your veterinarian regarding the possibility of dispensing anti-anxiety medications which can be given during fireworks season.
7) Sileo® (dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel) is an oromucosal gel formulation of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride indicated for the treatment of canine noise aversion. It's administered between the cheek and gum, allowing for transmucosal absorption
👕8) Another option for pets who are afraid of fireworks is having them wear a Thundershirt, Thundercap or sound canceling earmuffs.
♨️9) Synthetic pheromone sprays and or plugins such as Feliway for cats and Adaptil (formerly called D.A.P.) for dogs are available at pet stores.
💧10) An herbal relaxant called Composure comes in chews or liquid for dogs; the feline version is in chews.
N O T E: It may be worthwhile considering keeping a pet on anti-anxiety medication during fireworks season. We want to give them enough medication to decrease the anxiety but not to make them groggy. It may take trial and error to ascertain the best dose. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&
06/23/2025
☀️ It’s gonna be a scorcher out there today — Cooper got in a little sun time early this morning in his before it gets dangerously hot. The Berners go out for a quick potty break & it's back in the nice cool air for them🔥
🌡️ Heatstroke in dogs is no joke, and it can sneak up fast. Please keep an eye out for these warning signs:
🚩 Excessive panting
🚩 Bright red or pale gums
🚩 Glassy eyes
🚩 Wobbly legs or collapse
🚩 Vomiting or diarrhea
🚩 Lethargy or confusion
If you see any of these, get your dog to a vet immediately.
🚫NEVER give ice water or throw ice water on an overheated dog!!
💧Slowly cool them with room temperature water on paws and to drink.
💡 Instead of risking it outside, here are some safe indoor enrichment ideas to beat the heat:
🐾 Scatter feeding or snuffle mats
🐾 Frozen stuffed Kongs or Lickimats
🐾 Puzzle toys or DIY cardboard shredding boxes
🐾 Short training sessions with their favorite treats
🐾 Tug-of-war or hallway fetch (with non-slip flooring!)
🐾 Scent games like “Find It”
🧊 And always, always offer access to cool, fresh water — I like to freeze some of their bone broth with extra goodies inside for some added enrichment & electrolytes.
Keep those pups safe, cool, and mentally engaged today! 💦🐶
❓️How do you keep your pups cool?
06/16/2025
🐾 Happy Father's Day to all the Dog Dads!🐾
To the ones who:
🦴 Carry p**p bags like it's second nature
🛋️ Give up half the couch (or the whole bed)
🐶 Speak fluent "dog voice"
🌧️ Brave every type of weather for a walk
💜 And love their pup like family (because they are family)...
🥰
You are their hero, their snack dealer, their adventure buddy, and their safe space.
🎉
Today, we celebrate you — the belly-scratchers, the treat-givers, the patient trainers, and the ones who make tails wag every single day.
🤗
Cheers to the Dog Dads — you’re paws-itively amazing. 🐕💙
06/11/2025
🐶Bernerfest 2025 is in the books!
🥰Because life just isn't the same without a & a Chihuahua of course. The pups did amazing and everyone got along well.
😬
At one point Cooper was surrounded by curious, small dog loving Berners & didn't even notice because he was on-the-scent of something in the ground🤣
🤪
Aurora went from a tad shy meeting the other Berners to Miss Social Butterfly & my Beasty Boy Byron was as sweet & passive as ever. I think he was happy to finally be around other dogs his size.
🤗
We're excited to check out more events later in the year.
06/05/2025
Know the signs.
Know the signs of bloat.
06/04/2025
🥵It’s a scorcher out there but your dog still needs YOU — not just the backyard.
🔥 Today’s homework: 5 minutes of intentional bonding.
🚫Not a snuggle sesh
🚫Not mindless fetch
🚫 Not a solo splash party in the pool
🥰
We’re talking REAL CONNECTION💕
✅️Try this instead:
🐶 Tug with rules = hype & control
🚶♀️ Structured walk = sniff + sit + sync
💦 Sprinkler run = shared joy, not solo chaos
You don’t need an hour.
You need ✨️five focused minutes✨️
👍🏼Show up
👍🏼Be present
👍🏼 Bond🐾💜
❓️What activity will you choose?
Share in the comments below!!
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Custom Trained Companions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
You will find that my approach to dog training is different than most trainers who may not go beyond basic obedience. I use a well-rounded approach with the knowledge that all pets and their people are different. My goal is to teach you and your pet how to better communicate, guiding you to a more gratifying and joyous relationship with the whole family!
Hello, my name is Sabrina, and I have been an animal lover all my life. Growing up I always had a habit of rescuing stray animals, and even adopted a calf, I named Chrissy, when I was 10. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with dogs. As a child I would memorize each breed, studying their temperament and the different jobs they were bred for. Though I didn’t originally pursue a career working with animals, my house was always alive with numerous pets.
About eight years ago, after becoming a certified elementary teacher, I was pursuing my Master’s degree, substitute teaching, and working as a part time kennel technician. My life changed when I experienced a severe intestinal infection that lead to a chronic illness. I went from balancing a very busy schedule with work and school, to not being able to walk without assistance. Before getting sick, my husband and I had decided to add a new Bernese Mountain Dog puppy to the family. We brought home our new puppy, Riley Bear, one month after my infection, while my health continued to deteriorate.
I began experiencing seizures, and as they seemed to continue in frequency, we knew something needed to be done. Unknown to us, Riley Bear would turn out to be the solution. Even before he was six months old, Riley was alerting me to these seizures, and would lay by the bathtub or shower to help me out. During a seizure he would lay on me to keep me stable, making the intensity and duration shorter. This began Riley’s career as my service dog, one that he seemed to be predestined for.
Having a service dog over the years has allowed me the mobility and freedom to get out of the house and experience life once again. While my health has varied, the one constant was that my Service Dog was there to support me.
As Riley got older, we began training a second Bernese Mountain Dog to help out and eventually take over. Unfortunately, as amazing as she was doing, due to some health problems she was unable to do Service Work. Luckily, because she is such an amazing dog who still loves to work and has such a sweet, sound temperament, I frequently bring her to training sessions to help out. She has a special way of helping me out by pulling other dogs out of there shell and calming down the more excitable pups.
Along the way, I’ve met & worked with many different trainers with different styles of training. I’ve gone to different puppy classes and worked with many different dogs. I have also learned many new and exciting things during my recent apprenticeship. I feel that these experiences, along with the time I’ve spent with my clients, has enabled me to continue learning and to share that knowledge with people who truly love their pets. I believe it’s important to always be open-minded to new techniques and theories when it comes to expanding your knowledge and growing as a person.
I’m also currently studying to become a Professional Cat Trainer and Behavior Specialist as well, hence the name choice of “Custom Trained Companions,” instead of “Custom Trained Canines.” Why Custom? Because the approaches and tools I use for each dog and their owner depends on what works best for them. As of right now, I mainly focus on working with dogs and their people. I will continue to keep everyone updated on the upcoming Cat Training Programs.
Training truly is my passion in life. Not only does it keep a huge smile on my face, but it allows me to show others who may be suffering from a chronic illness that you can still train and communicate with your dog to build a happy & healthy relationship. I not only enjoy working with my own furry family members every day, but love to meet new pups, big and small, and of course their owners. I can’t help but get a little giddy when I see the “lightbulb” go off in a dog and their owner, that moment when they get what you are asking of them.
Your success is my success, so it truly matters to me that you succeed. I also hope to prevent any more pets from being re-homed or euthanized when there may be simple solutions available to you. I look forward to helping people better communicate with their pets to create a happier and healthier environment for everyone.
Due to my own personal life experiences, I also understand that life can throw you curveballs and you may need a little extra guidance on how to handle such things. I’m here to help you find the solution that works best for you and your dog to live a long & happy life together.
