PAWSitiveTransformations

One of my passions has always been wildlife rehabilitation. During the COVID shutdowns, life slowed down in a way that allowed us to form some pretty incredible bonds with the animals around us. They became so accustomed to us that I could step onto the front porch and call out, “Squirrel, Robin, Dov, come!” and they would come flying from the trees or scurrying down for breakfast.

In this video, my goddaughter Cadence is carrying things in from the car while Squirrel is absolutely harassing her for snacks. You’ll also see Nubs, a dog I got at a day old and bottle raised… a two-legged hound dog, convinced he’s finally going to catch that squirrel! Then Flint jumps into action, trying to rescue Cadence by swatting at Squirrel with his shirt.

Meanwhile, I’m inside the house silently laughing while recording, trying not to give myself away.

Our life has never looked anything close to typical. It’s been messy, chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes downright ridiculous. But it has also been full of adventures, animals, laughter, and memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I thought I’d share a little glimpse of one of those moments with all of you.

Today Flint and I headed to the dog park, but only because we had the entire place to ourselves! Safety always comes first, and an empty park gave us the perfect opportunity to work on building Lucy’s confidence.

Using the park equipment, we’re helping Lucy learn that new surfaces, movement, and unusual obstacles aren’t scary. The seesaw is a big challenge for many dogs, but confidence is built one positive experience at a time. Every brave step she takes today helps create a more resilient, confident dog tomorrow.

If you listen closely to the video, you’ll hear Flint and me joking back and forth. Now that school is out for the summer, Flint is spending more time helping with the dogs and learning what it takes to run a small business. From filming training sessions and helping care for dogs to learning responsibility, communication skills, work ethic, customer service, and money management, these are lessons that can’t always be taught in a classroom.

When you choose PAWSitive Transformations, you’re not just investing in your dog’s success. You’re also helping support a young man who’s learning valuable life skills, building confidence, and discovering the rewards that come from hard work and helping others.

Thank you for trusting us with your dogs and allowing us to do what we love every single day. ❤️🐾

Ryder is doing absolutely phenomenal!

Today we spent the day training at the Tennessee Aquarium and the surrounding downtown area, and it was the perfect opportunity to work through real-world distractions. Between the River Market, food vendors, merchants selling their products, children running and playing in the fountains, and all the exciting sights and smells, there was no shortage of challenges!

One of Ryder’s greatest strengths is also one of the things we’re working on most right now. Thanks to the incredible foundation provided by , Ryder is extremely social and loves people. He wants to greet everyone he sees and soak up all the attention, pets, and affection he can get!

While we love his friendly personality, we’re focusing on impulse control and teaching him that he can’t run up to every person he meets. Learning to stay focused, make good choices, and look to his handler for direction is an important part of becoming a well-mannered companion.

I’m incredibly proud of how far Ryder has come. Days like today are a great reminder that training isn’t just about commands, it’s about helping dogs learn how to navigate the world successfully. Ryder continues to impress me, and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next!

Somehow while digging through my video editor, I found throwback clips I never posted and this one hit me right in the heart.

This is Flint working with AK, a beautiful Belgian Malinois. Looking back at these videos is wild because you don’t realize how much time has passed until you see it in front of you. His voice, his confidence, his handling skills, his patience with dogs… he’s grown and changed so much.

I’m so incredibly proud of the young man he’s becoming and the skills he’s worked so hard to learn over the years. Watching him grow up alongside these dogs has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

Part of me wishes time would just slow down for a little while.

These old videos are such a reminder that all the little moments matter.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at PAWSitive Transformations.

Today I just want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you to every single person who has trusted me with your dogs, supported my small business, shared my posts, recommended me to friends, believed in my training, and helped this dream continue to grow. Your support has done far more than help build a business. It has helped provide for my family, helped support our nonprofit efforts through Atypical Place for Transformations, and allowed me to continue giving back to our community and neighbors in need.

To all the moms out there, whether you’re raising children, rescuing animals, fostering, mentoring, surviving, healing, or simply showing up every day with love in your heart, I hope today reminded you how important and appreciated you are.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with love, laughter, healing, peace, and time with the people and animals who matter most to you.

Thank you all for being part of this journey with me. Truly. 🐾