Paisley

I got Paisley as my first dog and she was hard. A Cattle Dog mix who came into my life with extreme dog-reactivity and intensity. At the time working with her was overwhelming, and she certainly was not easy, but she played a big role in shaping how I currently train. 

From the beginning, I had big dreams of doing dog sports and stepping into a community I admired. I imagined having a disc dog, an agility partner, a teammate. But Paisley didn’t come pre-loaded with toy drive, couldn’t be neutral around other dogs, and made basic outings feel impossible at times. I had to learn how to build toy drive as a trained behavior, not just something I could expect. I had to work through her reactivity just to be in public spaces, let alone compete or train around other dogs. She taught me that true progress is slow, layered, and earned. Every breakthrough with her was a milestone that shaped me into the person I am today.

With Paisley, I had to learn the hard way. She forced me to think critically, to train creatively, and to move past frustration into true problem-solving. Thanks to Paisley I am able to navigate the world with my other sport dogs and clients knowing I have the tools to work past any behavioral issues that may arise. 

Paisley is currently living with my parents, though now navigating some health issues, she’ll always be the dog who cracked the door open for me.