This path wasn’t something I planned — I just wanted to help more dogs stay out of shelters. It started with volunteering, fostering, and getting involved in rescue work. But the more I saw, the more I realized that most dogs don’t end up in shelters because they’re “bad” — it’s because no one ever taught their owners how to lead them.

Everything changed when I adopted Popeye, a mostly blind pit bull mix wasting away in a shelter. I drove four hours to bring him home, knowing nothing about dog training — only that I’d figure out how to give him the life he deserved. He was scared of the world, especially the sounds he couldn’t see, but he trusted me to guide him. Popeye taught me about resilience, advocacy, and what it truly means to show up for your dog.

Two weeks before Popeye passed, I met Olive through The Pittie Project PNW. I remember seeing her and saying how much she reminded me of him — there was just something about her that I couldn’t shake. Popeye needed to be an only dog, so I didn’t pursue it then, but I couldn’t get her off my mind.

At the time, I thought Popeye still had more time. He was fighting a brutal battle with lung cancer, but I didn’t realize how quickly things would change. In hindsight, I think he held on until my husband returned from a work trip — and meeting Olive was his way of helping me find the strength to let go. It felt like his message was, “It’s time to save someone else now.”

When I adopted her, I named her Olive, in his memory. His spirit is still the heartbeat of everything I do — the heart and soul behind Hutter K9.

Olive had cropped ears, intense crate anxiety, and big feelings about the world. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I contributed to some of those struggles while trying to heal my own broken heart. Despite that, she’s always been incredibly balanced and stable at her core — and helping her succeed is what pushed me to learn everything I could about training.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to learn from several incredible trainers, but I’m especially thankful for the team at Method K9, who helped me truly understand dogs — how to fulfill them, how to channel their drive, and how to help them heal from the behaviors they struggle with.

The more I’ve learned, the clearer it’s become:
Our dogs are begging us to step up and be the leaders they need and deserve.

That’s what drives everything I do through Hutter K9. My mission is to help owners build strong communication, real structure, and lasting trust — keeping dogs in homes and out of shelters.

I believe in building dogs that are confident, capable, and fulfilled — and that takes more than love. It takes purpose, leadership, and clarity. That’s also why I train using the heart and soul of NePoPo® — not to suppress who a dog is, but to bring out the best in them while honoring their individuality.

Training isn’t about perfection. Just like us, our dogs are going to make mistakes. They’re not machines — and they don’t need to be. That’s what makes the process so meaningful. Training is a lifestyle. A mindset. A journey — and one that changes both ends of the leash.

I’ve done it all. Whether with Olive, Popeye, or my first dog Dorian (“Monkey”), I’ve made most of the mistakes I now help my clients avoid — from harnesses and dog parks to letting dogs sleep in the bed. My job isn’t to judge; it’s to help people understand why these things matter, and how to make better choices for their dogs.

Dogs haven’t just made me a better trainer — they’ve made me a better human. I’m a better wife, aunty, sister, daughter, and friend because of the lessons they’ve taught me and the growth they continue to inspire every day.

And when I’m not working with dogs, my favorite place to be is outside with my loved ones — whether that’s my family, my dogs, or my quarter horse Dylan, who’s taught me more about energy, timing, and presence than any person ever could.