"The best way to describe Mindy's approach to training dogs is with two words: intentional and purpose-driven."
Foundation
What "well behaved" really means
Many years ago, when Mindy first set out to train her own dogs, her purpose and intent were simple: create well-behaved dogs. "Well behaved" means different things to different people, depending on their perspective.
For Mindy, it meant dogs that did not potty in the house, walked quietly beside her on or off leash, did not jump on people or furniture without being invited, would not run through open doors into the street, came when called, sat and stayed when told, waited patiently for food, and allowed the bowl to be taken away without reacting aggressively.
Those foundational behaviors do not happen by accident. They require the owner to approach the dog and the training process with a clear purpose. The first question is practical and personal: what does well behaved mean to you?
Instinct
Born to understand animals
Mindy was born with a natural instinct for understanding animal behavior. Starting in her teen years, she focused on equestrian training and competitive pursuits. In those days, her dogs were constant companions, traveling across the western states while she trained and competed.
Training her dogs to be well behaved was a necessity. The primary purpose was to keep them safe around horses, so she quickly learned how to use primarily reward-based reinforcement to shape behavior toward the necessary outcome.
Transition
A natural transition into dog training
After retiring from a successful career as a professional horse trainer and competitor, it was natural for Mindy to focus her full attention on training dogs. Over the past 15 years, her competitive focus has shifted to competitive dog obedience and, more recently, field training.
She currently runs a pack of five English Springer Spaniels, all of whom have earned various levels of competitive obedience titles. That foundation has served her Springers well as they head into the field to flush and retrieve upland game birds.
Fit
Is Mindy right for your dog?
If you have—or are thinking about getting—a puppy; if you have a young dog and are challenged with shaping them into a well-behaved pet; or if you have a young field hunter and need to build obedience before advancing into bird dog work, you should reach out to Mindy.
Every dog is different. Every owner has different goals. Mindy's approach is always intentional, always purpose-driven, and always tailored to the dog in front of her.
