Wendy Taylor

As a child, my happy place was on the dairy farm where I grew up. There were animals to play with, and they accepted me unconditionally. In elementary school, there was this one moment ‚'this defining moment' that went all wrong and left me feeling isolated, like I couldn't let anyone know the real me inside for fear of being rejected.As a teenager, I had the opportunity to raise two litters of puppies. I kept one pup from each litter for myself to train and show in obedience, and I excelled in doing so. Despite all the commotion of the working farm on which I lived, I could get my two dogs to focus on our training and respond to my cues. They'd even spend an entire five minutes in sit and down/stays without breaking. Doing well with them at home and in the show ring gave me a great sense of purpose, so I decided then that somehow I wanted to work with dogs for a living. Determined to pursue my passion, I majored in Animal Science in college, fully intending to pursue my dream to become a dog trainer.Well, I got side-tracked. Naysayers, negative thoughts, and logistics made me think that working with animals for a living was an absolute pipe-dream. But, for the next thirty years, I still held onto this belief that one day I would find a way to pursue my dream of working with dogs. It never left my mind.In my 40s I started volunteering at a local animal shelter and couldn't believe how many amazing dogs and cats ended up there. I learned that when many people don't know how to solve behaviour issues, they give up hope for a happy life with their pet. And that got me thinking, what if people had hope? What if they could learn how to communicate with pets?These thoughts took me back to that defining moment in elementary school. It occurred to me that the same thing can happen to dogs when they have a negative experience. They Shut Down.That's when I realized it was time for me to follow my passion and pursue my childhood dream, because I knew I could help people and their dogs live happier lives.I became certified as a dog trainer through Victoria Stilwell Academy, and have since continued learning, adding to my expertise with credentials as a Certified Behavior Consultant for Canines (CBCC-KA), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Fear Free Professional (Trainer), Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT), and Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Now I get to do what I've always loved. I help improve relationships and the quality of life for dogs and their people. I educate people on how dogs think, act and feel, and why they do what they do. I show clients how to develop a mutual respect between themselves and their dogs, and how to have fun while they work together. I also help people who are experiencing behavior issues with their cats.My mission is to give people and pets confidence to live the life they've dreamed, together. That unbreakable bond and freedom to go places together, that's The Life of Riley.