We’re looking forward to introducing you to Taylor Frank. Check out our conversation below.
Taylor, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Without question—working with my dogs. As a dog trainer, that might sound predictable, but it’s the absolute truth. When I’m training my own dogs—whether we’re fine-tuning obedience, pushing ourselves on the agility course, or diving into a brand-new skill—time seems to disappear. There’s a kind of rhythm and flow that happens when you’re completely in sync with your dog. It’s grounding, freeing, and always reminds me why I fell in love with this work in the first place.
That same feeling shows up when I’m training a client’s dog one-on-one, especially through my “Fetch and Train” program. It’s a service I offer where I take a client’s dog out independently to work on training in real-world environments. Don’t get me wrong—I love working with owners directly. But there’s something deeply fulfilling about those quiet moments where it’s just me and the dog. No need to explain or instruct—just reading the dog’s body language, adjusting my approach, and communicating clearly. It’s second nature at this point, and it’s one of the ways I stay connected to my craft on a deeper level.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Taylor Frank, and I’m the owner and trainer of Proper Paws Dog Training. I started Proper Paws in 2017 with one goal in mind: to help people build better relationships with their dogs through clear communication, mutual respect, and trust-based training.
What makes Proper Paws different is that I don’t just focus on training the dog—I focus on educating the owner. So often, a dog’s behavior is a direct reflection of the handler’s habits or misunderstandings. My goal is to teach owners the why behind their dog’s behavior and the how behind training methods that work for their specific dog and lifestyle. Because when an owner understands how to connect with their dog, they’re not just fixing a behavior—they’re building a relationship they don’t get any other way other than training.
Whether I’m working with a puppy learning the ropes or a dog working through reactive behaviors, I tailor everything to the individual dog and owner. That personalized approach leads to long-term success and helps create confident, capable owners who truly understand their dogs.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from a wide range of talented handlers and trainers throughout my life—many of whom supported and guided me from a young age. I owe a lot to those early mentors who generously shared their knowledge and helped shape my foundation in dog training.
As I grew, I actively sought out opportunities to expand my skills by learning from trainers around the world. I’ve worked with sheep herding dogs in Ireland, experienced mushing and sled dog training in Norway, and collaborated with trainers across disciplines and specialties. I believe there’s never just one right way to train a dog, and that mindset has allowed me to stay open, curious, and always evolving.
But above all, hands-on experience has taught me the most. There’s no substitute for working with dogs in real time—reading their body language, adjusting your timing, and learning to communicate clearly. Training requires patience, consistency, adaptability, and a whole lot of humility. Those lessons have shaped not just my work ethic, but who I am as a person.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve experienced was about dog parks. Growing up, they seemed like a harmless way to give dogs exercise and social time. But as I became more experienced—especially in understanding dog behavior and body language—I started to recognize how risky these unregulated environments can be.
Dog parks mix dogs of all breeds, temperaments, training levels, and energy—often without any oversight or intervention when things go wrong. What seems like a minor scuffle or overwhelming interaction can actually be a traumatic experience for a dog, especially during their developmental stages. These moments can create long-lasting behavioral issues like fear, reactivity, or aggression.
Now, I encourage structured and intentional socialization based on the individual dog’s needs, energy level, and comfort. I also work with owners on how to fulfill their dog’s needs in other ways—through enrichment, training games, mental stimulation, and safe social settings—to fulfill their dog both physically and mentally. Understanding this shift has completely changed how I guide my clients and protect their dogs’ emotional and behavioral well-being.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see is what you get. I show up for the owners I work with as my genuine self. Over the years, many of my clients have become close friends. I think that’s a reflection of the trust and connection we build throughout the training process. It’s not just about training the dog—it’s about understanding a family, their lifestyle, their goals, and how their dog fits into that dynamic.
I’ve built a strong community through Proper Paws, and I’m so proud of the people—and dogs—that have come into my life through this work. The relationships I’ve built extend far beyond training, and I think that kind of authenticity is what keeps people coming back and referring others. It’s personal for me, and I think that makes all the difference.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m lucky enough to say I’m doing exactly what I was born to do. I started when I was just eight years old, training and handling dogs in the American Kennel Club. That early connection sparked something in me that never went away. As I got older, I dove deeper—volunteering with rescues, working to rehabilitate dogs labeled “unadoptable,” and helping place them into homes where they could finally thrive. That work showed me how powerful proper training and education could be in changing lives—for both dogs and their people.
In 2017, I launched Proper Paws Dog Training with the goal of turning that passion into something that could make a real difference. And I haven’t looked back. This isn’t just a career—it’s a calling. Training dogs and working with owners is a part of who I am. When I think about my future—five, ten, even twenty years from now—dog training is still right there at the center of it.
What drives me today is the desire to reach more people, not just locally, but everywhere. I want to help owners across the country, even the world, feel more confident, informed, and connected to their dogs. Whether it’s through in-person training, educational content, virtual coaching, or social outreach, my long-term goal is to make quality, compassionate training accessible to more people. No matter where life takes me, dog training will always be part of it—because it’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://proper-paws.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/properpaws.atl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProperPaws.ATL/
