About Me

My history as an instructor

• 2003-2007 Snowboard Instructor
  • My first job as a teacher. I learned a teaching style we called explain, show, help, do. First we explain the movements, then we show you how it’s supposed to look, then we hold hands and do it together, before finally the student tries on their own.
• 2010-2021 Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Training for an Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit
  • This is where I first started working with dogs: my own, but also the military working patrol dogs. I helped out with patrol work, set up mass scent discrimination problems, and helped the handlers write standard operating procedures for what to do when their dog indicates on an explosive odor.
  • I learned the value of training records. Certifications are good filters when you’re looking for specific qualifications across lots of people, but training records meet people where they are. When the goal isn’t filtering but showing what someone actually knows, I discovered training records are better.
  • I learned how to take a complex, seemingly impossible situation with extreme consequences and break it down into a series of simple tasks based on priorities. Those priorities were: safety of people, safety of property, and safety of evidence.
  • I learned how to write training plans and scenarios with a purpose: how to meet a student where they are and give them a problem that’s a little outside their comfort zone to maximize learning.
• 2016-Present Level 2 Gracie Combatives Instructor
  • Learning from the top Jiu-Jitsu instructors available to us, I learned to take complex movements and break them down in layers: first showing the movement with little explanation, then repeating it with more instruction as the student is able to pick up more details.
  • We also learned not to assume what people know just because of their years on the mat.
  • We learned the significance of highlighting the most common mistakes before people make them.
  • Certification is long expired, but I’m still using these lessons on and off the mat
• 2021-Present Cloud Engineering Instructor
  • While in school for computer science, I was hired to coach high schoolers for a coding competition. Two of my students landed internships because of their performance in the competition, and I was indirectly offered a job because of my coaching.
  • Since being hired as a Cloud Engineer, I’ve taught several classes on complex subjects such as version control and cloud architecture. In both cases, I’ve practiced fine-tuning lesson plans to meet a wide variety of skill levels on complex tasks.
• With the dogs
  • Military Working Dogs
    • Set up mass odor problems
    • Teach scent discrimination
    • Learned about managing aggression and the safety precautions needed for aggressive dogs trained for violence
    • Learned my first lessons on frustration and drive building
  • Official coursework through the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers
    • 60-hour Obedience Intensive (July 2020)
    • 30-hour Behavior Modification (November 2020)
    • 16-hour e-collar certification
    • Current member of the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers club
      • This is my main avenue of self study
      • If I come across a complex issue, I can forward it to Michael, who is arguably the best in the business

Certificates

My dogs

• 2026-Present Griz
  • High-drive working line German Shepherd
  • Search and rescue dog with Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado
  • Highly trained in all aspects of what I teach. See her training at griz.sh.
• 2015-Present Denali
  • Rescued Husky
  • She’s the one who taught me that force free has its limitations. I used e-collars and light aversive training with her for a couple of years before she became the well-behaved dog she is now.
  • She still trains with me occasionally; however, I can trust her with no collar in any environment. I don’t need her to do complex tasks or be a show-off like Griz, so for the most part her training is done. We mostly train now because she enjoys it. I still use an e-collar with her in environments with prey animals and vehicle traffic. I can call her off a rabbit with a verbal cue, but it’s not worth the risk to me.

My family

• 2019-Present Jade
  • The love of my life. She’s actually a pretty good dog trainer herself.
  • Knows all about the dogs’ diets
  • Can handle any leash for any dog
  • Prefers force free training
  • Has a soft spot for rescues and big fluffy dogs
• 2020-Present Cassius
  • My little man was born in 2020
  • He can handle both dogs on leash, although he doesn’t like to when Griz is in high drive
  • I feel confident handing him Denali’s leash in highly stimulating environments
  • I can trust him to put the dogs in their kennels and feed them, including making them ask for permission
  • He can put the dogs into a sit and make them wait until he gives them permission to enter the house
  • He can play his version of fetch with Griz. She obviously prefers playing with me, but she plays with him all the time