
A true dog lover at heart - wether I'm training for 5 P's, pet sitting for Rover, or volunteering with USVSD, my best interest is in the pups safety and overall quality of life.
I grew up with dogs, I've never not had one! When I was 11, I started volunteering with GBD (Guide Dogs for the Blind) and started learning how to train basic manners and gained experience on how to interact with dogs of all ages and temperament/energy levels. Then in 2020, I joined USVSD (United States Veteran Service Dogs) and started puppy sitting. This meant taking the puppy with me everywhere I went (to school, the grocery store, etc) and I was held responsible for safe exposure and continuing the dog's training wherever. In May of 2022, I got my first puppy in training, Dunkin. I had him throughout my entire senior year of high school- he even got to walk across the stage with me at graduation! I sent him in to what USVSD calls "formal training" this past June! Beside my ongoing service dog experience, I've been training and house/dog sitting on a personal level for two years (and counting).
Link to Rover Profile: https://www.rover.com/members/ava-r-dogs-my-favorite-kind-of-people/
Key Takeaways:
Link to 5 P's Dog Training:
https://www.5psdogtrainingcolorado.com/
Key Takeaways:
Volunteering
United States Veterans Service Dogs is a non-profit organization who's goal is to help Veterans return to a new "Normal" after the time they've served for our country. I have been part of USVSD for around 4 years now, after switching over from Guide Dogs For the Blind. I was a puppy-sitter for quite some time, then in May of 2022 I got my first puppy in training named Dunkin, which made me a puppy-raiser. From then on, he was with me 24/7. I took everywhere with me; grocery store, doctor appointments, parks, and highschool. Dunkin went to school with me everyday of my senior year, he even got to walk across the stage at graduation with me! He completed his training with me in June of this year (2023), and was flown out to Louisiana to continue his service dog work there.