Are you there Dog? It's me, Jessica

Hello! My name is Jessica Jaworski. Like many, my journey in dog training started with my own dog. My family adopted Oliver, advertised as a "Yorkie-poodle mix", when I was 10 years old. We knew nothing about dogs or dog training, but I had always wanted one. Since we didn’t know anything, we did not see the warning signs. When we heard the loud music over the barking dogs, smelled the perfume covering the space, and when we had the puppies brought to us rather than going to see them and their parents, we did not know that it was not normal. We just brought home a tiny black and brown fluffball, unaware of the trauma he had already experienced. That was until our veterinarian informed us that Oliver was not TWELVE weeks old as we had been told, but FOUR weeks. Even I knew that was too early. Two weeks later, my family and I were told to check the news- the “breeder” we used had just been busted for running a puppy mill. Hundreds of dogs were at the home we visited, with no regard for their welfare. Our dog, Oliver, had been one of those dogs. It explained why he came to us so anxious and skittish, never wagged his tail, and always took his food somewhere else to eat rather than eat at his bowl. He also had separation anxiety and a knack for escaping. I started working with him to improve his confidence and to let him know that he was loved and cared for. We taught him tricks, but the most important thing he learned was that he was safe. Watching my family dog grow and learn was so fulfilling!

I loved fostering that connection, helping create harmony in the household. However, there was so much I did not know. I was incredibly interested in how his brain worked and how he learned. I started pursuing psychology in both humans and animals. I achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an Animal Behavior emphasis through Seattle Pacific University. There was more to learn, though! So I completed the Applied Animal Behavior certificate through the University of Washington. I worked at a pet store, learning all I could before moving on to something new and working at a dog daycare, and then as a kennel technician at a boarding facility. I kept up with research and studied the science-based method of training. Once I met Shawna, I knew that this was the next direction to go. I had learned so much but needed to apply that knowledge. Working with Shawna these past months has been so enlightening, and has given me even more tools to help dogs to navigate their circumstances. Recently, I completed a certification through Family Dog Mediation, taught by the fabulous Kim Brophey, which encourages trainers to consider ALL parts of a dog when working with them. I plan to continue learning and staying up-to-date on the best research and understanding of the dog world.

My family dog never acted like a “normal” dog. Though he learned and grew, his stressful beginnings consistently influenced his behavior. He still rarely wagged his tail- spinning in circles was his special way of showing excitement. Knowing what I know now, there are many things I would have done differently, but he would never have become the dog that wanted to be petted by strangers, play with other dogs, or wag his tail when he was excited. I desire to help equip families with the necessary tools and expectations, regardless of circumstances, to set the entire household up for success.