In the summer of 2014 a tiny, my Dad drove me over three hours to collect a tiny, 10-week-old puppy from the far reaches of Long Island. From the moment Oliver arrived he challenged everything I knew about dogs and all of the careful research I had done to prepare for his arrive. Urban anxiety lead to trouble with house training, hyper social arousal made having guests difficult, and possessive aggression, present even at this tender age, threatened the peaceful relationship I imagined we’d have together. I did not, despite my best efforts, end up with the dog I wanted. But thankfully, he was precisely the dog I needed.

Oliver taught me 90% of what I know about dogs. The rest came from my time at School for the Dogs in the East Village, the incredible clients who have trusted me with their dogs over the years, and my relentless quest to know more. What I learned about dog behavior in those early, often terrible months with Oliver, is that behavior change can be a beautiful thing. It can be full of joy,