local storiesMarch 24, 2025

Meet Nathalie Aldanaleon of K-9 University

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Aldanaleon

Hi Nathalie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Business from Cal Poly Pomona, I realized my passion for working with dogs, though I wasn’t certain how to pursue it. I enrolled at Animal Behavioral College to start my journey toward becoming a Certified Dog Trainer. In 2019, I launched my own venture, K-9 University.
In 2023, I returned to Animal Behavioral College to earn my certification as a Service Dog Trainer. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to train Service Animals, particularly because I personally needed a Service Dog. When I was just one year old, I contracted Meningitis. The survival rate for infants facing this virus ranges from 5% to 20%, and potential complications can include brain damage, hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, seizures, and delays in speech and walking development. I feel incredibly fortunate that I only lost hearing in my right ear. My life could have taken a vastly different path had I experienced additional complications.
Throughout my life, I have experienced anxiety regarding my hearing difficulties in loud environments. This includes concerns about sitting on the wrong side of the table and my inability to hear people approaching from behind or to my right side.
During my early teenage years, I went through a traumatic experience that left me with a profound fear of men. As I grew older, this fear began to restrict my ability to go out alone. Eventually, I avoided solo outings altogether, relying on friends or family to accompany me for errands, gym visits, or doctor appointments. It wasn’t until I began therapy that I truly understood the extent of the issue I was grappling with on a daily basis.
I always envisioned having a Service Dog someday, but I felt it wasn’t the right moment yet. While I was actively training clients and their service dogs, a friend contacted me about a situation. She mentioned that her client could no longer care for a two-and-a-half-month-old Service Dog Prospect and inquired if I knew anyone who could help. I decided to foster the puppy until we could find him a permanent home. Just a few days later, Pluto became my Service Dog Prospect.
Since the moment he officially became mine, he embarked on the journey to become my Hearing and Psychiatric Service Dog. This path is long and demanding. Raising a puppy is challenging enough, but adding service work to the mix elevates the difficulty to a whole new level. There are days when my mental health, physical well-being, and life circumstances interfere, but I can’t take a day off from caring for an animal that relies on me for survival. Honestly, there were moments when I felt frustrated with him, times when I considered giving up, and instances when I doubted my abilities as a trainer. There were also times I questioned whether I was disabled enough to deserve his companionship.
A year and a half later, Pluto has successfully finished his training program, and we can proudly declare him a Service Dog, no longer in training. While Service Dogs are constantly learning and adapting due to the various situations they face in their careers, completing his program signifies that he is equipped with the skills necessary to handle new challenges.
Pluto’s hearing-related tasks encompass the following: alerting me when someone calls my name, signaling when someone approaches or speaks to me, notifying me of my phone ringing, responding to sirens, and waking me when my alarm goes off. His psychiatric tasks include: providing deep pressure therapy, offering light pressure therapy, helping me ground myself, creating space in crowded areas, guiding me out of buildings, and locating my husband if we become separated. I look forward to expanding this list of tasks as needed in the future.
Many people believe that taking your dog everywhere is glamorous. However, the reality is quite different. Handlers must be mindful of various factors, such as people attempting to distract, engage with, or pet the dog, as well as the risk of others accidentally stepping on them or other pets that could cause distractions or harm.
In recent years, there has been an increase in pet dogs entering places that aren’t pet-friendly. Many people believe it’s harmless to bring their dogs along while shopping. However, the reality is that these dogs can significantly disrupt Service Dogs. Incidents of pet dogs lunging, barking at, or even attacking Service Dogs while they are on duty have been reported. This creates a serious ripple effect for both Service Dogs and their handlers. Service Dogs may miss critical alerts, which can be life-threatening for their handlers. Additionally, the fear from such encounters can hinder their training progress. Most concerning of all, if a pet dog does attack a Service Dog, the latter may need to retire and be unable to assist their handler any longer.
This would represent a significant setback for the handler, as training a Service Dog typically takes one to two years and can be quite costly. Additionally, handlers might not have the financial means to acquire a second dog, resulting in the loss of their ability to live independently.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have found Pluto, who has significantly enhanced my life by fostering my independence. I used to experience panic attacks at the thought of going to, being at, or leaving the gym. I could never go without a friend or my husband, but now I’ve successfully visited the gym alone multiple times! My panic attacks have diminished, and I can run errands with Pluto by my side without needing someone else.
We’ve explored numerous places together, and he has adapted remarkably well to every challenge I’ve presented! While there are still areas where he needs improvement, it’s important to remember he’s not a robot. Recently, we returned from a trip to Nebraska for a family member’s funeral, and now we’re heading to Texas to visit more family. Flying to Nebraska was his first experience in the air, and he did an amazing job. As we travel to Texas, I’m hopeful for another wonderful adventure!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey to where I am today has been quite challenging. Training a Service Dog involves navigating various emotional phases depending on the dog’s personality.
Dogs can be sensitive to different stimuli, including noises and certain gear like dog boots, Service Dog vests, and hearing protection. Since each dog is unique, many factors can create obstacles along the way.
For Pluto, a significant challenge has been his aversion to costumed characters, such as Mickey Mouse. I attempted to desensitize him to this, but it seems I may have made him more uncomfortable. Fortunately, this doesn’t prevent me from taking him on our Disney adventures. It simply indicates that Pluto finds dressed characters overwhelming, and he needs to avoid them. While this might seem like a major issue, especially given the number of characters at Disney, I’ve come to understand that it isn’t as critical as it appears. Pluto is able to handle everything else at Disney—crowds, diverse people, children, loud noises, dropped food, rides, and extended outings. There’s no need for me to feel discouraged about his discomfort with just one aspect of the experience.
I took a long time to accept this, as I wanted him to be flawless, but perfection is unattainable for anyone. I’m hopeful that with time and practice, he will eventually feel comfortable approaching characters on his own. So far, he has met the real Pluto when his friend Sweeney joined us at Disney, which helped boost his confidence. However, I have yet to introduce him to another character, as the goal is to enhance my life, not necessarily to meet characters.

As you know, we’re big fans of K-9 University . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At K-9 University, we are dedicated to delivering the finest dog training services in San Dimas. Our team of skilled trainers utilizes positive reinforcement and balanced training methods. We provide a variety of private and group classes to address any basic level or behavioral challenges, from puppy training to advanced obedience and service dog training. Our tailored approach ensures each dog receives the specific training needed to become well-mannered and joyful companions.
Over the past six years, our company has expanded its offerings to include a diverse range of services, such as Puppy Training, Basic Obedience, Reactivity Training, Behavior Modification, Socialization, American Kennel Club Courses, Off Leash and Service Dog Training.
Last year, we had the honor of being featured on a TV show called The World’s Greatest, where we were recognized as the World’s Greatest Dog Training Company due to our unique methods in training reactive dogs and achieving a remarkable success rate.
The most crucial aspect for clients to understand when selecting K-9 University is our commitment to your success. We design a customized plan specifically for you and your dog to achieve your desired goals. We recognize that each client is unique, so we do not apply the same tools or strategies to everyone.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The future looks very promising. The dog industry continues to expand consistently. I’m uncertain about what a significant shift might entail, but I hope to see changes in licensing. In California, a dog training license isn’t required to become a dog trainer, which I find concerning. I believe that anyone aspiring to work as a professional dog trainer should first study dog psychology and training techniques to ensure they are well-prepared for handling live animals.

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