Story & Lesson Highlights with Paul Owens of Van Nuys

Paul Owens shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Paul, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
I’m blessed to feel true Joy at least once every day. I recently celebrated my 50 year anniversary as a professional dog trainer and every time I say hello to my dog Lulu or greet a new client’s dog I can’t help but smile. It’s been and remains a true Joy to live a life with dogs.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Paul Owens, often referred to as the original “Dog Whisperer,” is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a professional dog trainer. He is a leading advocate of positive, force-free, and nonviolent animal training methods and has been instrumental in advancing compassionate training practices worldwide.

Paul was among the first 27 individuals globally to be accredited as a Professional Canine Trainer by the prestigious Pet Professional Guild Accreditation Board. In 2019, he was recognized as one of the Top 10 Dog Trainers in the United States by TopDogTips.com.

He is the best-selling author of two books and three dog training DVDs which have been translated into several languages and been read and viewed by millions of people around the world.

The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training

The Puppy Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Guide to Early Training and Care

Welcome Home! Ultimate Guide for All Puppies and Dogs (DVD)

The Dog Whisperer Beginning Dog Training Volume One

The Dog Whisperer Intermediate Training Volume Two

Paul’s programs are distinctive in their integration of human stress-management techniques as a core component of dog training. His curriculum has been implemented in prison rehabilitation programs and after-school violence prevention initiatives, reflecting his belief in the powerful connection between human and canine behavior. His Paws for Peace children’s program has helped hundreds of children and dogs build confidence, self-esteem, and safer, more fulfilling relationships.

His public service work includes bite prevention education for children and monthly dog training seminars at humane societies and animal shelters. Paul has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including PBS’s Pets: Part of the Family and the nationally syndicated Pet Files. His articles and interviews have been featured in a wide range of local and national publications, including Self, Animal Wellness Magazine, BARK, The Whole Dog Journal, Yoga Journal, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, LA Parent, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and many others.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Two Quotes That Helped Shape My Growth

1. A Lesson from My Aunt Angela

My Aunt Angela once told me, “Whenever you meet someone, always be kind, respectful, and offer to help if you can.” She paused, then added, “But don’t be careless. You never know who—or what—is standing in front of you.”

As a dog trainer, I often share this same advice when people meet dogs. The principle is identical: approach with kindness and respect, but also with awareness.

An equally important bit of counsel some very wise teachers shared is this: dogs can act as mirrors. They reflect not only the qualities we may need to work on—impatience, resentment, anger, fear—but they also show us a path forward. Through them, we practice trust, patience, kindness, compassion, love, and empathy, becoming more of the person we want to be.

2. A Turning Point from a Yoga Teacher

One of my yoga teachers once offered me advice that became another turning point in my life:
“You’re a good teacher—but you’re holding something back. You must learn to take your fear in with you.”

That insight helped me understand that growth doesn’t come from suppressing fear. Instead, it comes from transmuting it—using fear as a tool for greater awareness, presence, and depth.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
In the early 1970s, at the age of twenty-one, I made a conscious decision to take greater responsibility for my health. Throughout childhood, I had been chronically ill, missing nearly thirty percent of my grade-school years due to severe bronchial asthma. In search of answers, I underwent extensive testing at the Cleveland Clinic, where I was diagnosed with forty-three separate allergies. The medical conclusion was straightforward: medication could manage my condition, but it would likely be a lifelong necessity.

That assessment didn’t fully resonate with me. I had a sense that there might be other possibilities worth exploring.

What followed was a very personal period of learning, curiosity, and self-observation. I sought out others facing similar challenges and explored a wide range of approaches—studying different schools of yoga, making nutritional changes, learning about the emerging ideas around the mind-body connection, and gradually adjusting my lifestyle and environment. I tried to stay open-minded, practical, and willing to experiment. One yoga teacher offered advice that stayed with me: “Practice what you learn here for six weeks. If you see results, you’ll be motivated to continue. If you don’t, throw it in the lake and try something else.” That spirit of thoughtful experimentation became a guiding principle.

Around that time, I came across a book titled Suffering From Illusion: The Secret Victory of Self-Defeat. Its central idea—that we sometimes unconsciously use limitation as a form of protection—struck a chord. This was the early 1970s, when awareness of the connection between emotional life and physical health was beginning to gain traction. I started to recognize how illness had, at times, offered a way to hold back—to avoid risk, effort, or disappointment. Through reflection, trial and error, and more than a few false starts, I came to appreciate an enduring lesson: growth isn’t about perfection, but persistence—showing up, learning, and continuing forward.

Over time, meaningful change took root. I committed to a regular yoga practice, transformed my diet, reshaped my daily habits, embraced a more intentional and balanced way of living, and adopted my first puppy, a Golden Retriever named Tara. Looking back over the past fifty years, I feel deeply grateful for the opportunities that grew from those early choices—especially the chance to help share positive, reward-based dog training, supporting millions of dogs and their families around the world in living safer, healthier, and more joyful lives together.

They say even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. Still, I’ve come to believe that steady effort, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to change can quietly reshape what we think is possible.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Self realization

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Ha!

I remember this from decades ago. The way I heard it was : “What would I stop doing and what would I do differently?”
A dear friend once told me: “Whenever I’m faced with a choice, I decide whether I should ‘feed my body or feed my soul.’ Then it’s just one paw in front of the other until I have to choose again. I’ve discovered I’m a lot better off when I choose the soul route. But I’m a work in progress.” :0)

So personally, Ken, I guess I’m pretty happy and at ease with the flow my life – bumps and bruises not withstanding- as is … but I too am a work in progress. :0)

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: herepuppy_12
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.owens.777363/
• Other: Ken- Pls confirm these work.