Evaluation, training, and support for every dog in our care — and every family that takes one home.
Our behavior team works with every dog that comes through our doors — from the confident adoption candidate to the shy dog who needs weeks of decompression.
Every dog is assessed for temperament, compatibility, and specific needs so we know exactly who they are before they meet adopters.
Decompression time, quiet environments, and patient introductions help dogs learn to trust people again.
Structured handling protocols and one-on-one training give at-risk dogs a real path to adoption.
Supervised group play builds social skills, burns energy, and tells us exactly who's good with other dogs.
Dogs headed to out-of-state rescue partners are evaluated and prepped by our team before they travel.
If a behavior question comes up after you take a dog home, our trainer is available to help — often by phone or email.
Most people think behavior programs exist for the hard cases — the shy dog who won't come out of the kennel, the dog with a food aggression history, the dog recovering from a cruelty case. Those dogs absolutely benefit from this work. But so does every other dog in our care. Structured play, enrichment, and evaluation improve physical health, reduce kennel stress, and give every dog a better shot at being their true self when an adopter walks through the door. The result: faster adoptions, stronger matches, and fewer dogs coming back.
Blanca
Certified Dog Trainer
Blanca leads our behavior program — evaluating every dog, running play groups, and working directly with the dogs who need the most patience. She's also the first call for adopters who run into a training question after bringing their new dog home.
On staff Monday through FridayA few moments from the kennels, training sessions, and community classes.
Training moments, play group highlights, and dogs making progress.
Bringing a new dog home is exciting — and sometimes tricky. If your new family member is chewing things up, struggling with housetraining, or showing a behavior you don't know how to handle, please reach out. Our trainer would rather help you work through it than see the dog come back.
Training, enrichment, and behavior resources we recommend to adopters and anyone living with a dog.
Our trainer works Monday through Friday and sees dogs by appointment. If you're interested in a dog that needs a behavioral consultation — or you're an adopter with a question — email or call with a proposed time and Blanca will confirm.
Our trainer works Monday through Friday and sees dogs by appointment. Share a proposed time and Blanca will confirm or suggest an alternative.
Each of these dogs is in our behavior program and needs a consultation before adoption. With the right home, they have the most to gain — and the most to give.
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