Emily Annis (she/her)
KPA CTP, FFCP
Hello! I’m Emily, a dog trainer, dog and cat mom, INFJ, and high-masking neurodivergent human who tends to spend a lot of time thinking about nuance, behavior, and why we do the things we do.
I began my journey as a teenager, volunteering at an animal shelter—an experience that completely changed the direction of my life and career plans. I went on to work in shelters, emergency veterinary medicine, and animal orthopedics, all while walking dogs on the side. It was easy to fall in love with supporting animals, learning how they communicate, and helping them feel more capable in the world. In 2023, I officially launched my business, and it's thrived ever since.
My first dog showed me how much growth comes from navigating complex behaviors. I learned a lot about behavior (mine and my dog's!) and how to approach the challenges with compassion. It wasn't long until I began my journey in animal training and behavior.
Because the dog training industry is ever-evolving and unregulated, I’m committed to continuing my education and keeping up with current research and real-world application. At its core, my work is about helping dogs and their humans build a better connected life through kind, evidence-based practices. In a world that can sometimes feel a little scary, I want to be a steady source of understanding, safety, and offer the ability to adapt. That goes for the dogs I work with and the people who love them.
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me with my partner and our dog and cat. I love quiet walks in nature, exploring thrift stores, reading, and listening to good music or a podcast—ideally with a coffee and a sweet treat nearby :)
Qualifications:
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Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner
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Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
Areas of Expertise: Reactivity, Basic Foundational Skills, Managing Stress in Urban Environments, Dog-Cat Introductions & Management
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Meet Darwin
Karen Pryor Academy Canine Graduate
helping me earn my KPA certification. Over our journey, he completed a series of two-day workshops, numerous training demonstrations, and performed a chain of ten behaviors. He LOVES clicker training, performing,
Darwin's a 6-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He's also my joyful, resilient training partner,
and making people smile. Like many dogs, he has big feelings around other dogs at close distances. We celebrate his progress every day.
Rusty's social, affectionate, endlessly curious, and the heart of my dream to one day offer cat training services. His adventures can be found on his instagram: @crustyinthewoods
Rusty's a 9-year-old orange tabby, beloved foster-fail, and a walking reminder that cats are far more capable than most people imagine. He enjoys daily walks on his harness, and also LOVES clicker training.
Meet Rusty
Heart Cat
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Training Philosophy & Inclusivity
I believe our dogs are always doing the best they can with the information they have in the environments we place them in. They're always learning whether we're intentionally teaching or not. By paying close attention to patterns of behavior, we recognize that what gets reinforced gets repeated. In the training space, we'll strive to create conditions where the choices we want our dogs to make are so achievable and clear that they want to make them. I also want to prioritize the welfare and experience of the canine and human learner. Training should be an experience that strengthens the human-canine bond, never to diminish that relationship. When we know better, we do better for each other.