Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaila Gladden.
Jaila, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had a love for dogs growing up. I got my first dog, that I had for a short time, when I was 11. I immediately began to learn how to communicate with dogs because I deeply loved him but wanted to make sure he was well-behaved. In 2010, My mother and I rescued a lab puppy from our local shelter when I was 14, which I still have today. Shortly after, I personally enrolled myself in YouTube University to learn how to train my new puppy. I’d say I did a great job too considering my age, it allowed me to see my natural talent and love for dogs. Fast forward to 2016, one of my friends found a small puppy wrapped in a blanket on a sofa by a dumpster in the rain. I immediately knew she was mine and named her Pennie, from this moment forward my knowledge of dog training expanded quickly in a short amount of time. We were inseparable, she was so well behaved, and I took her absolutely everywhere with me. In 2017, she had an accidental litter of 6 that changed my life dramatically, considering I was in my senior year of college. I was able to adopt 5 of them out to new homes but decided to keep the puppy that looked most like my Pennie. He was a special boy I named Drizzy. Drizzy is my biggest reason for going to trade school to become a dog trainer. My training style then was treat-based, and that just never worked with Drizzy. I didn’t want to resort to calling my dog “bad” because I didn’t fully understand him, So I went to trade school, graduated as a dog trainer, and immediately started working in my field with a goal of helping people like me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say it’s been a smooth journey so far. I’ve been able to learn and work with some pretty amazing and knowledgeable people that have helped me grow in the field and also look like me.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Heart of a Dog Training?
I’m a dog trainer who specializes in real-world dog training. My goal is to bring balance and understanding into my clients’ worlds. As raising a dog or puppy is a lot of work and takes consistency, dedication, and PATIENCE. I specialize in basic obedience, advanced obedience, puppy foundational training, and behavioral training. I offer private lessons, dog boarding, and board and train programs!
I would say I’m known to be transparent with my clients. As a trainer it’s important to me that we make progress towards our desired goals. Whether that be learning to walk calmly on a leash or addressing separation anxiety, there is a catered plan to guide pet parents through their training journey. And it is my job to be both encouraging but also realistic. Training is a lifelong journey that requires commitment.
I am most proud of how I’ve been able to help people like me. It’s an amazing feeling being able to change the narrative that our dogs are “bad”. My goal is to teach and educate owners to better help them understand that the way we live with our dogs on a daily basis has a huge impact on how our dogs behave and live in the world. I love being able to help bring more peace and balance back into homes. Training is for the benefit of both dogs and humans!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I hope to have a dog training facility where I can teach small, specialized classes. It’d be amazing if it turned into a travel class to help educate more owners!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://heartofadogtraining.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofadog_dogtraining?igsh=MXdodGVid2x4a3lwbw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/RiUQiL37C2sZyat3/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
