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 how many dogs end up in shelters not because they’re bad — but 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 would 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 really means to show up for your dog.

A few years later, Olive came into my life. She 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 heart after losing Popeye. Despite that, Olive has always been incredibly balanced and stable at her core — and helping her succeed is what pushed me to start learning 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 for helping 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 HutterK9. 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 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.