16 Paws LLC
133 Cardinal Dr S, Wilmington, NC
133 Cardinal Dr S, Wilmington, NC
I'm a canine behaviorist living in beautiful Wilmington, NC. I've had dogs all my life and in 2018, I quit my job and pursued my lifelong dream of running a doggy daycare. I often take clients that have been kicked out of "big box" daycares and those with anxiety and behavioral issues.
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What do you love most about your job?
I love that moment when you see the weight of the world come off a dog's shoulders because someone has finally communicated with him in a way he can understand
What inspired you to start your own business?
I've wanted to have a doggy daycare since I was 15 (almost 25 years ago!). When I learned about the rise of anxiety, and thus behavioral, issues caused by big box daycare and dog parks, I knew we needed a different model. With my small group daycare, the only complaints my clients ever had was that their dogs behaved better for me, so I went back to school and learned how to share my training techniques with you!
Why should our clients choose you?
I specialize in leash reactive dogs and anxiety driven problem behaviors, such as aggressive looking behaviors or destruction. I use unlimited training techniques, also known as balanced training, which means I not only teach you how to tell your dog what we don't want, but also what we do want, so we can lavish them with praise and affections!! In my lifetime of experience with dogs, this balance consistently creates the canine companions my friends, clients and family members have always dreamed of. If this sounds like your goal with your pup, shoot me a message and let's schedule a meet and greet! I can't wait to work with you!
1 to 1 Dog Training Consultation
My training methods are based on modern canine learning theory. Prior to the past decade or so researchers simply studied wolves and for whatever reason, just assumed dogs were the same. Intuitively most of us can clearly see they're not.
It came as a relief (and a no duh moment!) to most dog lovers, when modern research began to demonstrate time and time again, all over the world, that the terms dominance submissive and alpha seen in wolf populations, simply do not apply to dogs!
In fact, in packs of wild dogs, like dingos, or packs of street dogs, the leader is always the dog with the most friends! The most dominant dog may even be ostracized or in extreme cases shunned.
Research has also similarly shown that in their co-evolution with their human partners over the past 40,000 years or so, dogs have developed cognitive processes more similar to a 2 year old child than their fellow canine, the wolf!
But, there's an important distinction between dogs and children. Ideally our children are going to grow up to have some sort of role in society where they have to make decisions and think for themselves.
The vast majority of our companion animals do not grow up to perform jobs where independent thinking is beneficial. Therefore with most breeds it is simply not in their DNA to be comfortable making decisions for themselves.
The result is then, when we unwittingly force our companion dogs to think for themselves, they become anxious and confused. In most cases this anxiety results in undesirable behavior, most commonly leash reactivity and destructive behavior.
Leadership has absolutely nothing to do with the old school notion of dominating our dog but everything to do with loving our dog!
The fact is, to our dog, the SINGLE most loving, nurturing, comforting thing we can is to put that consistent, loving structure in place. All the snuggles, treats and unstructured play in the world, won't keep your dog emotionally thriving if that leadership isn't there.
​Relationship has to be first on our mind in Every. Single. Interaction. we have with our fur babies. As one of my mentors often says: Lead your dogs, because you LOVE your dogs. Because [to them] leadership IS love.
My goal in our training sessions, is to impart you with the tools, tricks and body language to help you develop that relationship with your dog. Here's to our journey together! I can't wait to work with you!
Doggy Daycare
Good dogs teach dogs best. I'm definitely the headmistress around here, but the dogs are each a teacher of their own class. Naturally, the overarching goal of bringing your pup to daycare is the opportunity for healthy socialization. But here at 16 Paws Paradise, your daycare rate also includes a small amount of manners work and some basic obedience, if needed.
