My journey into the dog training world began when I got my first dog during COVID. He was a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd mix, often called a Colorado Mountain Dog.

Finnley was timid from the start. He was deeply fearful of anything unfamiliar, yet he always trusted me when I guided him through uncomfortable situations. As a puppy, he was incredibly friendly with both people and dogs, and I couldn’t wait for him to grow up so we could explore the world together with confidence.

But around 10 months old, things changed. Finnley began developing intense fear based reactivity. Seemingly out of nowhere, he started aggressively reacting toward dogs and people, sometimes escalating into attacks over situations that, at the time, I couldn’t understand.

My heart was shattered. How could this sweet dog behave this way? I had believed nurture would prevail over nature. Friends and family encouraged me to rehome him before he caused serious harm. It was a lonely and isolating time, but I refused to give up on my dog.

Instead, I reached out to a dog trainer who specialized in reactive and aggressive dogs. I left that first session with tears in my eyes, but also with determination. From that day forward, we worked every single day: on walks, in public spaces, and in every situation I could safely create. Each time I asked him to rise to the challenge, Finn stepped up.

After a year of consistent, dedicated training, he transformed. Finn became a balanced, confident dog who could handle the world around him. He learned emotional regulation, reliable off leash skills, and even service dog tasks.

He became everything I had dreamed of and more.

Our journey together was tragically cut short by his sudden passing. Losing him was one of the most difficult experiences of my life, but it also gave me clarity. Through our journey, I discovered my purpose: helping other owners build the same trust, connection, and transformation with their dogs that Finn and I built together through training.

- Emily Burke