Heather Allen

My interest in dog training started over 20 years ago when some behavioral issues exhibited by my first two dogs required me to seek out a professional dog trainer. This experience opened the door to the world of dog training for me. I took what I learned from my training experience and sought out a Canine Good Citizen certification with one of those dogs. We passed with flying colors but when we were done, I realized that my dog did not enjoy the process; that my tight parameters and micro-management was not how he deserved to live and not how I wanted to live with my dogs. This revelation further fed my need for more knowledge.I began to assist local trainers with their obedience classes, and started to research everything I could about canine body language and behavior. I was in search of something. I did not know exactly what that something' was so I started to travel to training workshops and seminars, exposing myself to many different methodologies. This search for knowledge led me to my first of many Training Between The Ears (TBTE) workshops with Mark McCabe. It rocked my world! This method of training was exactly what I was looking for, a complete game changer for me. After my first day of the seminar, I drove back to my hotel on an emotional rollercoaster. I was thinking about how I used to train and wishing that I had known about this system back then. The TBTE method is a way to modify a dog's perception about its environment with the least amount of conflict possible. Being able to remove conflict while working with a dog spoke to my heart. Helping a dog learn to find true relaxation and a healthy emotional state spoke to my mind. When I can help change a dog's mind, and help it let go of anxiety and fear, obedience work can then become a fun event between the dog and handler rather than a chore that caps unwanted behaviors. TBTE has been a true gift to me and has changed how I view dog training. Helping dogs and their owners' live happy, healthy, fulfilled lives was the something that I had been looking for. I am proud to be a TBTE practitioner and am grateful for my mentors Mark McCabe and his wife Stephanie. I will be forever thankful that our paths crossed. My husband and I volunteered for Big Dogs Big Hearts Rescue for many years, fostering over 50 dogs. We have taken in many special needs dogs with issues ranging from medical to behavioral and we have learned so much from the experience. This experience lead me to accepting the role of Foster Coordinator for the rescue and I was involved with the behavioral evaluation process for dogs seeking placement in our program.