Meet Maria Huntoon of Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Huntoon.

Maria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I knew from the time I was a small child that I was going to work with animals. I was just drawn to them in an inexplicable way. I grew up in NY state and throughout high school, I volunteered and later worked at a local veterinary hospital, in hopes of studying somewhere like Cornell and becoming a veterinarian. However, when the time came I realized I couldn’t afford veterinary school. This ended up being a blessing in disguise! A few years later I actually realized that I was much more interested in psychology and behavior than medicine, and decided to focus on canine behavior in particular. In 2005, I started working for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a guide dog organization in NY.

For nine years I built my passion there, first working as a Senior Instructor Assistant and Special Programs Trainer at our headquarters, and then as a Regional Manager of the Puppy Program at our Canine Development Center. Preparing guide dogs for a future of work is an intensive process and we had to be at the top of our field, so we regularly attended seminars by some of the most well-known animal behaviorists and trainers. Staying at the cutting-edge of science and behavioral development was important to me, and still is.

I loved working in the guide dog field, but I was saddened by the fact that every year there are thousands of dogs that end up abandoned in shelters or euthanized because people don’t understand them. That’s when I decided I wanted to go out on my own and have my own canine behavior consulting business – to help people with their pet dogs who have behavioral issues, particularly rescue dogs that have a lot of emotional baggage. At the end of 2014, my dream became a reality. I started building my business in NY, and in March 2017 moved my business full-time to Pooler, Georgia.

I volunteer regularly with some local rescues such as One Love Animal Rescue and still volunteer in the guide dog field as well with Southeastern Guide Dogs. I am blessed to live my passion every day!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting and maintaining your own business is not an easy task, and when I decided to leave Guiding Eyes to build my behavior consulting business I had a lot of people question why. I’m sure they were just scared for me and wanted to make sure that I would “make it” out there on my own. But I had a calling, a passion that I just couldn’t let be silenced.

When I started building my business in NY, my family and friends finally accepted that it would work out – but then thought my decision to move to Georgia and start my business all over again was crazy! It’s one of the best decisions I ever made! It’s empowering to feed your drive, live your passion, and let others know that you CAN do it and that while yes, it involves a lot of time and commitment, it is so rewarding to do what you love every day on your own terms.

Please tell us about Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services.
As a certified canine behavior consultant, I help clients with all kinds of behavior issues in their dogs. But I really enjoy helping clients with the deep-rooted emotional issues – such as anxiety, fear, lack of confidence, hyperactivity and aggression – that their dogs may have. Particularly rescue dogs that likely experienced some kind of neglect or trauma or dogs that just didn’t get started on the right foot in their current living situation. Some of my clients have said I’m like a “marriage counselor” for them and their dogs.

I offer a very holistic approach and look at all the factors leading into a dog’s behavior, then work together with my clients to help them understand what’s driving their dog’s behavior and how to get to the root cause of the behavior for long-term success. I don’t want to help clients just put a temporary band-aid on a problem behavior, which is what some of your average trainers do by using equipment such as prong collars or e-collars to manage. Often times these tactics can lead to further psychological issues for the dog. I want to help clients understand their dogs, communicate to their dogs more effectively, teach rather than manage, and find harmony with their best four-legged friend!

I’ve recently added a new service to my business as well! Since I work with a lot of clients whose dogs are stressed, anxious or hyperactive, I have studied and worked with an aromatherapy specialist to come up with a specially formulated essential oils blend to relax these dogs. It’s called “RELAX: Take It Down a Notch” and is available for purchase to my clients as well as through my website.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t know that I would have done anything differently. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that any of the downfalls I’ve encountered along the way have only lead me to where I am today. They have been there to serve a purpose, to teach me to persevere, and to challenge me. I couldn’t have had my current success without knowing some challenges along the way, so I am grateful for all of it!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.mghcanineconsulting.com
• Phone: (845) 549-0896
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mghcanineconsulting

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