I grew up on a farm in Central Illinois, and we always had dogs and various pets around. While attending the University of Illinois, Rebecca and I met while working together. Upon graduation, I worked in restaurant management, never feeling fulfilled.
Meanwhile, we were gifted Delilah, our golden retriever, and our lives would never be the same. After having multiple negative grooming experiences, Rebecca decided/realized she could do a better job, and she began her educational journey learning to style pets. During this time, she encountered a dog training school, and she believed I could become a trainer. Shortly before our daughter was born, I attended the Tom Rose School for Professional Dog Trainers in High Ridge and finished first in my class. I polished my skills under some of the best dog trainers in the country while working at Kennelwood South County. In 2016, we realized our dream and opened Grateful Pets.
I enjoy training puppies as much as I do “problem” dogs. My passion is helping families communicate better with their dogs and seeing the positive impacts a well-behaved dog can have on a family.
