Meet Sarah Dugger | Founder & Animal Trainer at Good Dog & Co. | Professional Pet Training

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Dugger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the science of behavior. I’ve become such a behavior nerd since working with animals and learning how to communicate with them from my inspiring teachers. Training animals is like being in this feedback loop of body language, prompts, treats, and respectable space. I’m inspired by how resilient animals can be. From my zoo keeping years, I had a couple of hawk friends who spent over 20 years being so afraid of people, that when their enclosure door opened for a water change, they would fall to the floor. Those same hawks are now taking food from people, crate training, and hopping on a scale voluntarily. I used a similar training plan to befriend an Italian greyhound that was afraid of his own shadow as well as with a lynx who refused to come out from hiding when people were approaching, and even a lizard. I’ve seen so many animals overcome difficult conditions and become empowered with a diverse skillset and reinforcing lifestyle. Their body language goes from indicating fearful emotions to being happy and enthusiastic about learning. And it is so cool to be a positive influence in their life. Since switching from zookeeping to pet training and consulting, my latest inspiration comes from seeing my clients have success with their pet. The same pet that was driving them bonkers during our first phone call. Helping others understand how behavior works has become my new purpose, and I love it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Good Dog & Co. brings my training skills, knowledge of behavior, and 10 years of experience working with a variety of species to the pet community. While a majority of the market seems to be geared towards dog behavior, I am also prepared to take cases that include cats, birds, reptiles, and small and large mammals. I’m hoping to extend my reach to all types of pets. Positive reinforcement training requires a special skillset in understanding body language, mastering the art of two-way communication, applied behavior analysis, environment arrangement, and shaping behavior. It involves applying the latest technology of behavior change, which means I am constantly continuing my education. I am lucky, in a sense, that my career has crossed paths with advanced trainers and behavior experts. I’ve been so fortunate to learn from my teachers and build on that foundation. On one hand, these things set me apart from the punishment-style, traditional training techniques that is still prevalent in our society, but on the other hand, I am a part of a community of scientists. I’m not reinventing the wheel or inventing anything new. The science of behavior has been around for over 100 years, and I’m just excited to do my small part in helping people understand behavior, and learn an effective, humane way to communicate with their pets and teach the behaviors they want to see.

Starting this business was both easier and harder than I expected. The hardest part was transitioning after burning out in the zoo field. If you are in the care field, you may understand what a challenge it can be. However, things did seem to fall into place right when I was ready. The checklist of to-do’s were seamlessly checked off. My early clients reignited my joy in the animal care field, and people seem really invested and hopeful in continuing what they learned with their animals. Of course, it’s not always happy endings, so I’ve been careful to set realistic (but still optimistic) goals and boundaries along the way.

Good Dog & Co. services Colorado Springs for In-Home Training and offers virtual coaching sessions world wide.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would have to make a zoo trip to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! The staff are the kindest, most dedicated people you may ever meet, the behavior program is state of the art so you can feel good about supporting a good zoo, and the animals have a natural backdrop since their home is situated on a mountain. The views throughout the zoo will leave you in awe. My favorite spot to grab a beer at the zoo is in Pizza with a View.

We’ll have to drab dinner and drinks at Ivy Wild one night. Upstairs you can enjoy Bristol Brewery, cocktails in the Principal’s Office, or head downstairs for Axe and Oak whiskey. It’s a unique environment since it’s backbones are a high school building.

I love supporting the local shops around Manitou Springs, too. It’s a great place to grab souvenirs, enjoy strolling through a mountain town, grab a bite, and even check out some trails in the area.

Lastly, we will have to take my Australian Shepherd, Sophie, on some of her favorite trails. She makes the best tour guide! (Most of the time) Garden of the Gods, Crag’s trail, and Red Rock Canyon Open Space are a few of our favorites.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My first Shoutout goes to my husband, friends, and family. Starting a new business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance would have felt impossible without my support system, their encouragement, and their help.

My behavior mentors who have shaped my training skills, philosophy, and values over the years are all deserving of Shoutouts. Dr. Susan Friedman, for being so gracious and masterful in sharing her knowledge, with a special nod to her Living and Learning with Animals course. Andrea DePaoli for being my marketing mentor and graphic designer. She captured my brand artfully and effortlessly. I’m gracious for her talents. Wouter Stellard and the Animal Programs Team at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for introducing me to high level training programs and animal care. Emily Insalaco at Denver Zoo for empowering me to start training projects with “challenging” individuals. Rick Hester and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo team for fine tuning my skills and prompting dialogue around behavior that I will carry with me through my career. Karen Pryor Academy and Dog Biz for preparing me for pet training with my KPA CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) certification and useful business tips.

Website: www.gooddogandcompany.com