Our Story
Hello, I’m Jennifer Lavelle. My journey into canine training began with my first dog, Butterball, a six-month-old rescued Shepherd/Collie mix with significant resource-guarding challenges. With guidance from a professional trainer, I worked through his behavioral issues until he became completely trustworthy and a reliable member of my family. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for canine behavior and training.
I continued to hone my skills and began working as a veterinary technician assistant and groomer before joining the Army in 1995. During my deployment to Bosnia in 1998, I had the distinct honor of working with military detection dogs—an experience that confirmed my calling. I started professionally training dogs in 2000.
Jennifer and Blaze
Today, I am a Certified Canine Trainer and Behavior Specialist with more than thirty-two years of experience in the pet industry. Ongoing professional development is a priority, and I regularly attend seminars and workshops throughout the year.
My training philosophy centers on seeing the complete picture—considering both the lifestyle of the owner and the individual needs of each dog. I believe that all dogs are unique, and therefore the method of training I choose will match the needs of the dog in front of me.
In 2009, Blaze and I became a team. He taught me an extraordinary amount about canine behavior and communication. Blaze was also my first Crohn’s alert dog, giving me the freedom to follow my dreams and make them a reality. With Blaze’s assistance, I was able to travel the country training dogs. Blaze had the most confident and gentle personality which allowed him to help dogs across the behavioral spectrum—from fearful and shut-down dogs to highly reactive or aggressive dogs, as well as young puppies learning foundational skills.
Jennifer and Koro
Koro joined my life in 2019 and immediately began learning from Blaze. Blaze taught him everything he needed to know to help other dogs become balanced members of the family. Blaze passed away just twenty days after his final Travel Train in October 2023.
Today, Koro has continued to hone his skills and has become an outstanding puppy trainer. Koro is amazing with assisting to build confidence in fearful dogs and changing the mindset of reactive dogs. Koro also serves as my Crohn’s alert and medical alert dog, providing important daily support that allows me to continue doing the work I am passionate about.