Meet Jessica Powell | Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant

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

Hi Jessica, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Surprisingly, the dog training industry is completely unregulated. There is no governing body that ensures dogs are handled and trained using the most up to date, low stress and ethical methods. Private organizations will have their own protocols of course, generally created subjectively from within. Behavior is a science just like medicine, but trainers don’t have to be licensed, obtain particular credentials or follow a code of practice in order to operate, like a veterinarian or surgeon would for example. It’s actually very sad and frustrating because anyone can advertise themselves as a dog trainer, charge an extortionate hourly rate or even wind up on TV influencing the public and their pet parenting decisions and yet actually have no real education behind them. There are of course credentials you can and should obtain as part of your professional growth, such as a relevant college degree, or certification via one of the well-known and reputable organizations that will leave you with letters after your name such as BSc, MA, CPDT-KA, KPA, IAABC, CSAT or CBC and therefore prove that you take your profession seriously. Dog parents should look for those things or at least feel empowered to inquire about a person’s educational background and experience before working with them, given the overwhelming ocean of online resources that they have to fish through in order to find something that looks good. I know reward-based trainers such as myself would appreciate a stronger code of ethics for professionals to adhere to, but not everyone can agree on what that looks like unfortunately and it is an ever-evolving industry.

What should our readers know about your business?
Proud Paws Dog Training provides private, one on one, in-home coaching services for dog parents. This means that our clients receive assistance with their dog’s behavioral challenges in a way that’s individually tailored to their needs and lifestyle and of course to the needs of their dog(s). Working within the home is the most comfortable setting for both parties and often where many of the training priorities lie. It also allows a much stronger foundation of learning to be set before things are taken out and about, if that’s the goal. We work with young puppies, adolescents in their ‘terrible teens’, newly adopted dogs, and seniors who may be in need of more mental enrichment now that they are physically less able. This also might include issues such as, jumping, barking, leash manners, counter-surfing, child-dog interactions, reactivity and fear. What I think sets us apart is our holistic approach to dog training. It’s not just about pin-pointing the specific core of the problem or that specific behavior we don’t like, but also taking a well-rounded assessment of the dog’s day-to-day, including their health, their diet and their stress levels. We teach them a broad set of skills and coping mechanisms for life in general so that they can better handle any situation, in addition to the one that is most pressing. This also puts the pet parent much more in-tune with their dog. Relationship is an important concept in training, which is why we like the parent to be present. It has to be a learning experience for both the dog and the human, otherwise success will only be short-lived. Training has to be fun for everyone involved too and I think that really helps people manage their stress levels with the process.

Being a business owner and working with two different species as your students is a constant learning experience too. I am where I am today because I recognize that and have a great support system, both personally and professionally. Compassion fatigue is a major problem in my industry so that support system and the work-life balance is so vital. And that certainly has led to some major lessons. I used to work in the behavior dept. of a shelter and gave it absolutely all of my time and headspace, it’s hard not to when you care so much and you bare some very heavy burdens emotionally. It’s easy to carry that through to the private sector too because I LOVE my job, but I’ve realized that I can provide so much empathy, compassion and support to my clients while also protecting myself from getting burned out and having personal boundaries for the sake of my health.
As much as we would also like it to be, not everything is within our control. For example, how much a client participates, the pace at which the dog learns, the environment in which that learning has to take place, all the variables that affect the outcome… but what matters most is me feeling like I have provided the best education to my clients as possible, seeing that great bond develop between them and their dog and results that are going to keep that bond intact.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmm, I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a home body nowadays and am very proud of the summer patio oasis my boyfriend and I are creating for entertaining, but shortly before the pandemic I did have a Welsh friend of mine from school come to L.A for a few days with her new husband and there were definitely some key places I wanted to take her. The nice thing about this city is that there is also something for every personality. For international newcomers like her, we of course had to include the beach and a taste of Hollywood glam so we went to Santa Monica pier, had lunch at the beautiful restaurant and hotel ‘Shutters’ and rented bicycles to ride up and down the shoreline. In the evening, we got dressed up and had dinner at ‘Pump’ in West Hollywood (owner Lisa Vanderpump is also a huge animal welfare advocate) and then later drinks at the ‘Chateau Marmont’. Of course that’s a combination I would probably save for my tourist friends though. I might also include a walk down the lesser known Venice canals, a drive up to Neptune’s Net in Ventura, the architecture of Carol Avenue where Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was filmed and a summer movie at Cinespia in the Hollywood Cemetery.
I personally also love a peaceful outing to Lake Shrine in Santa Monica, a casual walk along Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, a hike or a horse-back ride through Griffith Park and a day out at Point Magu up the Pacific Coast Highway. There is still so much of California to see though both outdoors and in and a plethora of gorgeous vintage, historical bars and restaurants in L.A to try. Things are always growing and changing here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, that’s a tough one. We all stand on someone’s more experienced shoulders to get to where we are going right? And every day I feel like I learn something from someone whether it be another trainer,/behavior professional a motivational speaker, a loved one, a client and of course the dogs 😉 I think I have to go back to where it all began though and mention my Animal Behavior Professor, Mr. Mark Beeching who as it happens was also a professional dog trainer and business owner even though we covered a variety of species and subjects in our classes. I studied with him through the entirety of my undergraduate degree at Hadlow College in Kent, England and his passion for science, behavior and for teaching was so inspiring. He always had time for his students, was thoroughly engaging, encouraged creativity and his guidance was invaluable. I’ll never forget him.

Website: www.proudpawsdogtraining.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proudpawsdogtraining

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-powell-5294a9135/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proudpawsdogtraining

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/proud-paws-dog-training-tujunga