As a fully certified dog behavior consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. I offer private consulting for serious pet animal/dog behavior issues, obedience/manners, and agility training to local and worldwide clientele. I developed a game-changing methodology to help pet parents and trainers develop autonomous snake avoidance behavior off-leash with their dogs via positive reinforcement techniques.  These methods do not involve any use of fear, coercion, or pain on the dog. I evaluate situations from the dog’s perspective — taking into account who they were bred to be with both natural-selection and human-selected pressures, their socialization and learning histories.  We train them to detect both visible and hidden snakes, and teach them to make good behavioral choices through building value in choosing avoidance of the snake. These techniques have been applied by trainers worldwide to teach dogs reliable avoidance of dangerous environmental hazards and off-leash property boundaries using positive reinforcement methods. I also designed, manufactured and marketed a kinder, safer dog head halter — the Gilly Halter.  The Gilly Halter allows dogs to engage in natural movement and behavior while reducing pulling on leash.​

Another part of my work is speaking at conferences and presenting workshops worldwide on dog behavior and training. My work hinges on looking at the animal and their human family from a welfare-based and relationship-based perspective.  The foundation of a good cross-species relationship is understanding the needs and normal behavior patterns of each dog as an individual, as he/she was bred to be. It is my mission to help humans and their pets communicate more effectively to create brilliant relationships with joy, purpose, and fulfillment for all species involved.

Many years before working full-time with dogs, I worked as an intelligence analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and US Air Force Central Command (USAFCENT) over the span of a decade. I enjoyed my work and especially took pride in serving my country. A highlight of this work was connecting with the people I had the chance to meet and work alongside.  Some people considered it a “downgrade” to leave such a career field to work with animals. In making the career switch, the effects of my work are experienced at a more personal level in the homes and lives of individual people and animals.

As I have grown in this career, I have also been fortunate with opportunities to reach a global audience by speaking at events as an industry leader and promoting positive approaches based on needs and wellness. ​No matter how many dogs and people I meet, every dog-human team is unique. No two teams are alike, so every day is a new challenge. It is rewarding seeing the personal milestones and achievements that each animal and their human make — together. People often ask me to “fix their dog”, but behavior does not exist in a box. Unwanted behaviors can stem from internal issues (like genetics, learning, socialization issues), medical issues (pain/discomfort/illness/neurological), or can stem from things in the environment (which is largely controlled by the human and includes the dog-human relationship). Behavior — whether it is desirable or unwanted — is communication about what the animal needs. This is something that I am always reminding clients who may feel trapped by their dog’s undesirable behaviors. But this communication is information that then — after reflection and gaining perspective — presents us with choices for moving forward to address it in a way that brings about happiness and wellness for everyone involved.