Hi, I’m Susan – and this is my rescue dog Izzy, my greatest teacher.
If you’re here, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by life and wondering if adopting your rescue dog was the right decision. Maybe you’re going through a major life transition – divorce, empty nest, job change, or just that feeling that everything is shifting beneath your feet. And now you have this beautiful, traumatized soul looking to you for answers you’re not sure you have.
I’ve been exactly where you are.
Dogs Best Coach™ is a wholistic support space for rescue dogs and their humans — focused on safety, trust, and nervous system regulation for both ends of the leash.
When Life Fell Apart and Izzy Arrived
I’m pushing 50, in the throes of perimenopause, and had just moved back in with my mom right before COVID hit. Getting a dog wasn’t even my idea – I wanted a cat. But somehow my mom filled out a Petfinder application, and suddenly we found ourselves with this 40-pound, incredibly gangly powder keg of energy who was so nervous she shook the entire car ride home.
[March 2023 photos: This was about a month to 6 weeks that she’d been with us. Look how unsure she is. “Am I doing the right thing? What’s expected of me?”]
What followed were weeks of supersonically fast walks, almost schizophrenic-type sniffing, screeching and screaming at squirrels, and this bizarre slow-stalking behavior around rabbits that looked like something straight out of a cartoon. We thought we knew what we were getting into – we’d had retrievers before, and they told us she was a Lab mix who wouldn’t grow much past 40 pounds.
They were wrong about everything.
Those first months were a blur of confusion and exhaustion. Here I was, dealing with my own life falling apart, and now I had this dog who seemed as strung out as I felt. Sound familiar?
The Moment Everything Changed
The breakthrough came when I stopped trying to force traditional training methods that felt wrong in my gut. We’d tried obedience classes with choke chains and corrections – Izzy complied because she’s a good girl, but I could feel her emotional wall getting stronger, not softer. Her vibe was basically “F*ck off!” and rightfully so.
When I discovered positive reinforcement training and started understanding that this “40-pound Lab mix” was actually a 65-pound hound/shepherd/supermutt still growing through puppyhood, everything shifted. But the real game-changer was realizing that we were both dysregulated. My nervous system was just as frazzled as hers.
That’s when I understood the profound truth that now guides everything I do: true healing happens when we address both ends of the leash.
[December 2023 photo: I realize Izzy still looks like she’s doing her own thing, but there was a cat! So I’m impressed she didn’t come out all blurry. And then there’s me. I look tired enough to be a walking zombie.]
From Survival to Thriving
Today, Izzy and I don’t just survive – we thrive. She’s my confident, joyful companion who still has her moments (don’t we all?), and I’ve learned to navigate life’s challenges with so much more resilience and self-compassion.
[September 2024 photo: And there’s Izzy’s smile! That’s what I train for! Of course, she’s still not paying attention to me, but that’s because she’s always busy. Being Izzy.]
Why I Do This Work
I created this work for women who are exactly where I was – feeling overwhelmed, doubting themselves, wondering if they’re failing their rescue dog. They’re often dealing with their own life transitions while trying to help a traumatized animal, and they feel completely isolated in the struggle.
You are not alone. You are not failing. And yes, it absolutely can get better.
What Makes My Approach Different
Unlike traditional dog training that focuses only on obedience, I take a wholistic approach informed by extensive study with leading experts in the field that honors the whole picture:
For Your Dog:
Trauma-informed methods that respect your dog’s history and nervous system needs
For You:
Emotional support, practical tools, and recognition that your wellbeing directly impacts your dog’s healing
For Your Relationship:
Understanding that you’re both teachers and students in this journey
I believe lasting change happens when we address not just behavior, but the emotional wellbeing, nutrition, environment, and nervous system health of both human and dog.
My Learning Journey & Expertise
I’ve invested deeply in learning from leading experts including Susan Garrett (Recallers & Shaped by Dog podcast), Kim Brophy (LEGS method), raw feeding pioneers, and holistic health authorities. Through self-directed study and successful application with Izzy, I’ve gained deep insights into rescue dog relationships, trauma-informed care, and nervous system regulation for both humans and dogs.
My focus areas include:
- Rescue dog relationships and trauma-informed care
- Nervous system regulation for both humans and dogs
- Wholistic approach incorporating emotional wellbeing, nutrition, environment, and nervous system health
For the Woman Who’s Overwhelmed
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, you’re welcome to start here.
Whether you’re just starting this journey and needing gentle guidance… or ready to invest deeply in healing-focused tools… or seeking that sacred connection with your soul dog… I see you.
I know what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning while everyone else seems to have it figured out. I know the guilt of wondering if you’re enough for your rescue dog. I know the exhaustion of trying to heal someone else when you’re barely holding it together yourself.
This work isn’t just about training your dog – it’s about remembering who you are and discovering who you’re both becoming, together.
Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?
If you’re ready to start this journey of healing together but not sure where to start, take my Choose Your Path Quiz to discover which stage of the rescue dog journey you’re in and get personalized resources for your specific needs.
Not sure what your next step is? You can start here when you’re ready.
Because here’s what I know for sure: the same love that brought you and your rescue dog together is strong enough to carry you both through to the other side.
Where all nervous systems learn to trust.
Susan – Wholistic Pet Care Coach
Want to connect? I’d love to hear your story. Reach out and let me know where you are in your journey with your rescue dog – every story matters, and every step forward is worth celebrating.
Get in touch: [email protected]
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