Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Joyce.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
1999: After working in the music industry for 15 years, I was ready for a change. I started Citizen Kanine, a dog walking service, in San Francisco. I provided private dog walks for shy and fearful dogs while their parents were at work.
2001: I expanded to take small groups of dogs out to the beach for daily hikes, combined with obedience group obedience training.
2002: I adopted a very sensitive, high energy herding dog from the SFSPCA, and named him Merlin. Over the next several months, Merlin began to display extremely concerning fearful and aggressive behaviors. I hired some excellent trainers, but no one was really able to help us address the core issues, and Merlin’s behavior continued to escalate.
2003: I graduated from the very first dog walking certification course in the world, known as The Dog Walking Academy. I was so inspired by this course, that I decided I wanted to expand my horizons and become a dog trainer, for my own quality of life, but also in order to help Merlin.
2004: I applied and was accepted to The Academy for Dog Trainers, founded by world renown dog trainer, Jean Donaldson. That summer I received a certificate in Pet Dog Training & Behavior Counseling. I used this knowledge, along with my extensive dog experience to start rehabilitating Merlin. To this day, he’s still my most complex case study, and I’m happy to report that for the majority of his life, he was extremely happy and safe.
2004-present: I specialize in helping shy, fearful, and aggressive dogs (and their owners) have happy and safe lives together. I have not only helped hundreds of dogs, but most importantly, I’ve helped their guardians understand and accept who their dogs are while also forming more trusting relationships as they help them resolve their emotional issues. This work is VERY rewarding. I have a small team of people who help me, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon. I am infinitely grateful to have found these wonderful people.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have to admit, self-promotion is not my strong suit. Any time I have to write about myself, or work on any type of marketing, you better believe I am procrastinating by organizing my sock drawer, because, you know… that is an emergency.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dynamite Doggies! Training & Counseling – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I have an education and certificate in pet dog training and behavior counseling. Although I do train dogs, the main focus of my work is helping people rehabilitate their shy, fearful, and aggressive dogs. I’m often brought on board after a major crisis, but that’s not a requirement for us to work together. No case is too big or too small.
I am known for taking very complex cases, and using highly creative problem-solving methods, with the overarching goal of keeping the dog alive, in the home, and family/community safe and happy. High quality of life for people and dogs is what I’m aiming for always.
What sets me apart is also the thing I’m most proud of. I am able to balance objective honesty with empathy and humor. If people feel safe, they will open up, if they open up and are honest, I can always help them improve their situation. If we are able to laugh together, a positive prognosis for the case is highly likely.
When you sign up with me, I am in it for the long haul. I may be the third or fourth trainer, but I vow to be the last.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Los Angeles for so many reasons. The people are most important highlight for me. The inclusiveness, and diversity are way up there on the list. I have always felt so welcome here, like no other city I’ve ever visited or lived. It is truly home for me.
It’s hard for me to come up with something I dislike, but there is something I feel very strongly about bringing more awareness to, and that’s the atmosphere of dog training. If more people in our wonderful city had a better understanding of modern, science-based dog training, life would get better for dogs and the people who love them. We could also save many more of the hundreds of dogs destroyed daily in shelters in LA County alone. But I’m not complaining about this, I am actively working to change it. That’s on me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dynamitedoggies.com
- Phone: 415-845-8299
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/658026854/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteDoggies/?ref=br_rs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dynamite-doggies-training-and-counseling-west-hollywood?hrid=5X6Jtw9B-IpdDqPphRAlSw&osq=dog+trainer
- Other: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dynamitedoggies/
Image Credit:
Dynamite Doggies
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
