Kind Animal Services

04/21/2025

Long before I was a trainer I was a groomer. I got to know the stress and fear dogs felt around grooming, the equipment, and handling practices groomers used. I was working for a company that had pressures and time constraints to get dogs done. I used to cry when I got home for all the dogs that were so desperate and so scared.

It was one of those stepping stones on my way to understanding behavior. Today I help dogs learn skills that help them feel more comfortable at the vets & groomer. For those interested in learning what they can do to support their dogs for groomer visits I suggest the free resource https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/.

If your dog’s report card from the vet or groomer mentions that your dog is stressed, aggressive, or otherwise struggling don’t put it off! They don’t just magically get better. Some groomers do offer grooming schedules where they groom more often and take their time. Vet clinics offer fun/happy visits for their clients. Please take advantage of these types of services whenever you can.

Then there are dogs like Bodhi (pictured) who has been labeled aggressive and even some professionals voiced their deep concern for his welfare. I can report, to those concerned professionals, Bodhi is willingly without restraint hopping on my grooming table, and letting me clip, scissor, and restrain him without struggle. He is free to leave the table anytime and he usually chooses to stay. While he definitely lets me know he is itchy and needs a break he remains relaxed while the clippers buzz by his ears, over his paws, or bum.

While KAS doesn’t offer grooming we will provide grooming training, and utility cuts to make sure the dogs don’t develop health conditions because of their lack of grooming. We will also work with your groomer to help them learn how to handle your dog stress free.

Groomers, owners, and vets please reach out to Kind Animal Services and let’s work together to reduce more dogs stress in our care.

For the record, Yes, dogs can and will give give consent even to sometimes uncomfortable procedures if we slow down long enough to let them.

04/17/2025

Krash returned to KAS no fault of her own. I had hoped the home fostering to adopt with would be the it! Life can be a real b**** sometimes and you meet the right person at the wrong time. NOW more than ever Krash must find a home that suits her she CANNOT stay with KAS forever, we are making some big moves and it would be best for her to find her own home. After further consideration I really think a home with another dog would be ideal but not mandatory. She needs space to play and romp. A huge yard or more. PLEASE consider this sweet gal for your family.

03/28/2025

After a heartbreaking return (truly for all of us) Krash is still looking for that perfect forever home. Please help spread the word. She needs a home located in a quiet area as we discovered the constant noise of human life is deeply disturbing for Krash long term.

She would well with a dog friend she can bond with, and trust me when I say, you will want a big yard for them to play in. This dog friend isn't mandatory but Krash will be so sad if she has to endure her beloved human companion having to leave for hours of the day and then have them return too tired to give her every ounce of attention and affection she needs I don't think she can survive alone.

Please share Krash with anyone you think might be interested.

Krash is an adoptable Dog - German Shepherd Dog searching for a forever family near Hood River, OR. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.

03/27/2025

Meet Tucker,
This handsome guy stayed with me for about a week. He quickly earned his off leash adventure badge and didn’t have much to work on but continue to give him the experiences his adolescent mind craved.

There is one thing that is peculiar about Tucker. He is extremely physically sensitive. He loves a good massage when he is expecting it and in the mood but he gets overwhelmed by sensory stimuli easily. His harness feels icky to him. He is shy with hands reaching at him. A collar going over his head. I can only imagine what his reaction would be if we put booties on him.

That being said and because of this unique reaction to touch he is one case where I thought a thunder shirt might help him. Wow and did it! He would get over stimulated and seemed unable to settle in the evenings. As soon as I put the thunder shirt on he passed out snoring.

My goal with each dog I work with is to learn who they are and find a solution that will work for them. Each dog is an individual there is no one size fits all and Tucker is a perfect example of this.

03/26/2025

What’s the fun in stay clean and out of the mud.

(Yes that’s Krash and yes she is back and still looking for her forever home. More in that later.)

Boarding School was full today and what a perfect day to take the dogs out in the woods. Something all these adolescent trouble makers needed.

If you got a trouble maker I would love to help you and them get through this often challenging phase of life.

03/24/2025

If you know, then you know.
Consent is part of being a social creature.

https://www.facebook.com/100063568663018/posts/1218123590316585/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Consent-based care isn’t optional. It’s everything. And last week, someone I trusted chose to ignore it.

My beautiful, gentle 14-year-old Percy came home from his groomer shaking. She claims to use a force-free, stress-free approach. She does not.

Percy is deaf. He's partially blind. He's frail. And yesterday, someone I trusted to care for him with compassion chose to do the exact opposite.

I can't stop thinking about how scared he must have been.

Here's the thing about operating without force or fear - either you're doing it, or you're not. There's no middle ground. There's no "consent-based and compassionate, except when I'm annoyed or want to get the job done quickly."

We had discussed his boundaries extensively. He doesn't like his paws touched. His nails are sensitive. His muzzle and private areas are off-limits.

She knew I'd rather he come home half groomed than been forced through anything.

She KNEW all this.

And yet, for whatever reason, she did the opposite.

She shaved his entire muzzle. Shaved his private areas. Shaved his feet and clipped his nails. All the things we had explicitly agreed she would NOT do if he showed any discomfort.

To do this she would have HAD to restrain him, to force him, to subjugate him to a process that would have petrified him.

This wasn't an accident. This wasn't a miscommunication. This was a choice.

A choice to prioritize her process over my elderly dog's emotional wellbeing.

A choice to ignore his boundaries because they were inconvenient.

A choice to send a message: "Your dog's comfort doesn't actually matter to me, even though I pretend it does."

When a groomer, vet, trainer or any professional who works with dogs puts the end result above the emotional journey to get there, they are failing that dog.

Full stop.

I would rather have the scruffiest dog in town than know my boy spent even one minute feeling afraid and helpless while someone forced procedures on him.

I'm devastated that I couldn't protect him from this.

That someone who used all the right words - "low stress," "positive," "force-free" - chose to do the exact opposite the moment it became challenging.

When we talk about "consent-based care" for dogs, some people roll their eyes. "It's just a dog," they say. "Sometimes you have to just get things done."

But if you've ever looked into the eyes of a dog who trusts you completely to keep them safe... if you've ever felt the weight of that responsibility... you know.

You know that "just getting it done" isn't good enough. Not even close.

I don't care how perfect a groom looks if it came at the cost of my dog's dignity and trust.

I don't care how convenient it is to force a dog through a procedure instead of taking the time to build trust.

I don't care what anyone thinks about being "precious" with my dog's boundaries.

Because at the end of the day, I'm all Percy has. I'm his voice. I'm his advocate. And I failed him by trusting someone who used kindness as a marketing slogan rather than a genuine commitment.

To every professional working with dogs:
Words matter. Promises matter. But your actions matter most.

If you claim to be "low stress", "no fear" or "force free," but get frustrated when a dog doesn't comply, you're not what you claim to be.

If you advertise gentle handling but prioritize efficiency over emotional wellbeing, you're not what you claim to be.

If you think a result justifies trauma to get there, you're not what you claim to be.

All our dogs deserve better. They deserve practitioners who truly understand that consent isn't optional - it's everything.

You have the right to demand that of every professional in your dog's life.

Percy deserved better. And I'll spend every day making sure he never experiences anything like that again.

Because real love means respecting boundaries, even when it's inconvenient.

Real care means prioritizing emotional wellbeing over results.

Really working without fear isn't just marketing - it's a promise you keep even when no one is watching.

If the process isn’t kind, the result doesn’t matter.

03/10/2025

My cheeks hurt and my heart is so proud. I brought Krash into my home 10 months ago. It was a spur of the moment decision I just had to get this beautiful German Shepherd puppy out of the shelter.

She was young (maybe 9-10 months old), she was scared, untrusting, aloof, reactive to dogs, and very rude/rough when you got down to her level. While she retains her bull-in-china-shop personality throughout our time together I uncovered a hidden gem. Under her large and intimidating stature was a gentle, kind, and empathetic dog.

I quickly fell in love with her but I knew unless I somehow bought property and moved to an off grid cabin in the woods, I wasn't a good fit as her final family.

After I lost my own dog, Kira, it was clear I didn't have the capacity to love this dog in the way she deeply needed. To include her into my life and teach her so that she could grow into that space Kira left in my house wasn’t reasonable. I needed to leave that space empty and let my heart heal.

Don't get me wrong Krash has been getting the best possible care, schooling, and enrichment a dog in her situation can get. I transitioned her to a raw diet and witnessed the profound effects that made on her attitude. She bonded with me and started relying on me for guidance. Her fears of things in the world slowly washed away as she grew in confidence in her own ability and her trust that humans are good.

Krash will have a mural on my wall of powerful souls I have had the honor of knowing over the years. Someday when I have my dream facility I plan to print each one of their faces on big banners to hang around the space. Krash is the kind of spirit that guides and teaches. She was truly a diamond in the rough and now she has been discovered by an incredible human who I believe needs her as much as she needs them.

Yes, Krash has finally found her family. I doubt it would have been possible for them to have found her in the shelter and condition she was in at the beginning. Krash is ready to take on the next chapter of her life. She is going to be this little girls childhood dog and probably one that help shape her future. If she is lucky she will look back when she is an adult one day and tell stories of her amazing childhood dog named Krash. Not only this but she will likely become this incredible woman and mom's stable rock through all the ups and downs that are yet to come. This is how dogs live on, by the impressions they make on peoples hearts.

I cannot wait to hear about all the grand adventures and good times. I'm so proud of this dog and as always impressed with my intuition and ability to help dogs thrive as the best version of themselves.

Go forth and do your best work yet, Detective Krash.

03/04/2025

Your relationship with your animals matters. It not only impact your animals welfare and wellbeing it actually affects yours too! When we get frustrated, over commanding, aggressive, and try to use force or even punishment to control others (animals) we too experience the negative consequences of embodying such stressful emotions. If you want to be liked by people and other species including your personal animals? Try kindness, trust, and empathy. Ask don’t command your dog, horse, etc.. If you don’t see why you should try this kind of training for your animals welfare maybe you can consider your own.

P.S. It is really effective with fearful and aggressive animals. Yes, we specialize in some of the most challenging animal behaviors with a high success rate.

02/05/2025

Monday my dog, De Vel Enkira, took her final breath.
4/13/2009 - 2/3/2024
My heart hurts and I miss my partner in life.

She is everywhere and no where all at once...
She occupies every dog bed in my home.
She is standing on every high point on the trail.
I still hear her breathing at night.
I am still holding her in my arms.
We are running in agility, in a conformation ring, Rally, and lure courses.
She is still barking obsessively at the soccer, volleyball, basketball match.
She is standing in the kitchen waiting for her bite of steak.
She is bounding through the snow, catching snow flakes.
She is in my vehicle, riding shotgun, watching the world rush by with a curiously intelligent look on her face.
She is laying outside as the snow quietly falls, refusing to come inside.
She is waking me up at 7:00 am with her nose on the bed huffing and whining.
She is still laying at the edge of the bed or couch while I am unwell.
She continues to stay alert at night when we are sleeping in the car or camping in the woods.
She will forever be the fur-missile, a blur of fur and teeth outrunning most of her components but never quite fast enough to catch the deer in the forrest.
She is Twinkle-toes, lightly treading along the ground, as though her steps landing in fairy dust.
She will remain my dog in service, picking up things I drop, taking my bank statements into the bank, walking herself with her own leash, staying by my side, but always waiting patiently at the door when asked. Assisting me in training, grooming, and dog walking work that I have done over the years.

Kira was my dream dog. My do it all dog. My protector and guardian through some of the biggest growing pains of my twenties. She was a yes-dog, whatever it was I asked her to be she gave her whole life to her work, to me.

In return, I listened and spoke with Kira often doing my best to give her the platform she needed to be her most authentic self. She was employed, in a world where most dogs are currently unemployed. She was almost as free as a dog can be in our modern world. I know she loved me, cared for me, trusted me, and appreciated all that I offered her.

Now Kira joins my other loved ones in my memory and in my heart.
Rest in peace Queen of the Forrest.

01/18/2025

Let’s play a game. How many dogs do you see? Social time with other dogs is an exhausting activity for most dogs. It’s extremely enriching and requires a lot of brain power to be social especially with unknown personalities. However that doesn’t mean that it’s the right activity choice for all dogs. Just like people dogs are usually more social when younger and grow into enjoying only specific relationships they feel safe in. Group socialization for dogs (dog parks/daycares) for dogs over the age of 3 is not required. What’s more important is ongoing quality friendships with dogs and people. How many healthy and strong relationships does your dog have?

01/15/2025

Another educational milestone down. This one has been on my list for some time but I have been very strategic about the courses I take and in what order. I'm proud to announce that while I was already working with aggression cases I now have even more tools to help my clients find successful resolutions to their dogs scary behavior.

If you are struggling with a dog that has bitten people or other dogs for any number of reasons. Contact KAS right away to get help.

01/05/2025

Working and living with a reactive dog is a process, a journey, a lifestyle in many cases. It’s not something that needs to be fixed, solved, or otherwise removed from your dog. Your dog’s reactivity is just their big feelings bubbling over. They are good dogs and many of them (like Krash pictured) are social with other dogs and people. Adolescent dogs have a hard time regulating those extreme feelings and require even more help to regulate them. I see you out there working with your dog, in the public, trying to manage their stress, keep up the good work.

12/28/2024

I think that we forget our dogs like us benefit from time spent in nature. Nature therapy it’s sometimes called. This is your permission to let out your inner child and have some fun, build a fort, and spend time in nature with your dog.

12/19/2024

Sterilization. Spaying and neutering dogs. This topic has come up a lot and weighs heavily on my mind.

Mainstream advice is to desex dogs at around 6 months of age. I’m pleased to hear that many vets and pet owners are pushing waiting until the dog is 1 year. Though I still cannot get behind it.

“Typical canine desexing (spaying and neutering) removes organs that researchers now believe are quite important to overall health in dogs. Studies also indicate that the earlier a puppy is spayed or neutered, the greater likelihood of health problems later in life, from abnormal bone growth and bone cancer to an increased incidence of adversities reactions to vaccines and behavioral challenges like fear and aggression.” [The Forever Dog Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Shaw Becker]

Did you know there are other procedure options if you are seeking to sterilize your dog and prevent accidental breeding? Consider a hysterectomy or vasectomy.

Personally, I have found the most incredible dogs I have worked with were intact. There is something about them that is wise, mature, and intelligent like no other dog.

12/18/2024

Things that will not solve your adolescent dog’s reactivity…
👉 Yelling or verbal scolding
👉 Popping or correcting them with a collar
👉 Smacking them on the butt or nose or anywhere for that matter
👉 Shocking, tapping, or zapping them in the middle of a reaction
👉 spaying / neutering in hopes you will influence their behavior. I.e. calm them down.

What adolescent dogs need most is your understanding and support while they are still not capable of risk assessment and working on their impulse control. Just like teens they are all about immediate gratification and can’t hardly imagine delaying. Adolescent brains are impulsive, how you guide them through this stage of life is what will determine the outcome. Aging will be on your side.

Hold fast to your training plan but be willing to forgive them and yourself when things don’t work out gracefully. I promise things will get better. Try the following:
⭐️ Have a cheat day each week where you and your dog can enjoy something together. (For Milou the pictured dog thats a good game of tug.)
⭐️ Laugh out loud when your dog has an explosive reaction. Laugh at them, laugh at the situation, just notice how absolutely ridiculous this is. Laughing will help you stay calm and not get frustrated.
⭐️ Ditch the agenda! Look don’t try to walk from point A to point B in some set amount of time. Sit often and just hang out in lots of new and interesting places. Don’t you know teens just want to “hang out dude.”
⭐️ Notice and reinforce all their good choices, not just their behavior. When you see them looking across the road at the neighbors cat (but not chasing it) BINGO reinforce them with food, praise, or toy.

If you want more information or help reach out.

12/15/2024

Looking for an awesome family pet dog? You should meet Tucker. This boy blew me away when I met him yesterday. He is currently at but we can’t figure out why. He is friendly, easy going, and such an all around good boy. He is young and athletic but that doesn’t mean he wants to run miles it just means he needs ample play time to help him develop into the well rounded adult dog I know that he is going to be.

12/04/2024

Board and Train programs - Immersion Boarding School - is booking for 2025. We are raising our rates and if you want to lock in our current rate book now, before the new year.

Boarding School is perfect for:
🐶 Puppies 14 weeks and up!
🐶 Gain valuable social and conflict resolution skills
🐶 Learning how to learn
🐶 Manners training and leash training (off leash training if applicable)
🐶 Epic adventures including hikes, camping, and visits to the farm to meet horses, goats, and chickens
🐶 Housed in a home environment not isolated to a kennel when not training

We book up to a year in advance and space is limited because we only take a few dogs max at a time. So our students get one-on-one consistent care and attention.

Call now to book your dogs Boarding School stay.