Phoenix, Arizona
I was born in Pomona, California in 1973 and was raised in a small town called Landers, CA. This is where I found my lifelong passion and love for animals. I grew up on a working farm where we raised what we ate. This is also where I learned to communicate with animals on a level most humans can not. Despite knowing I had the heart in working with animals, I initially went into the medical field for a 25 year old career helping the community one person at a time. Burn out led me to reevaluate my path.
I started as a pet sitter, where at one pivotal moment in that job I was viciously attacked by a client’s dog. Determined to better understand canine behavior and the role humans play in that, I found a mentor and worked with him to better understand and eventually established my own dog training business. Coming into my 5th year as a dog trainer, I am one of the many few that specialize in aggressive and reactive dogs.
I am also the only dog professional that has created and teaches employees in various industries on safely encountering dogs during work, from delivery drivers, real estate agents, to home health aides.
About Heather
Hi, I'm Roxzee!
Where furry paws go to train!
Board & Train
Board and Train services are perfect for dog owners who do not have multiple hours per day to dedicate to training their dog or perhaps have a dog that has bigger behavioral problems that are best handled by a professional.
2 Week Board & Train
Our two-week board and train program is designed to establish the fundamentals for any dog with uncontrollable behaviors and who needs to learn manners as well as a solid on and off leash obedience foundation. This program is not designed for dogs with serious behavioral issues such as high anxiety, fear or aggression or reactivity.
During the 2 weeks that your dog is here with me they will learn:
-
Crate/kennel manners (no more barking, whining, or rushing to get out)
-
Food manners (teaching your dog to be polite and wait for their food)
-
Door/Threshold manners (no more escaping or rushing out the front door)
-
Sit and autosit
-
Down and down/stay
-
Structured walking (aka: "Heel")
-
Short distance recall (aka: "Come")
-
Go potty on command
-
Focus, attention, and engagement
-
Place/Mat (safe space when not in kennel or on leash)
-
Remove problem behaviors (trash diving, poop eating, counter surfing, digging, chewing, demand barking, etc)
This program comes with a 2-3 hour hands-on go-home lesson at the end of your dog's stay with me.
During this lesson, you'll learn everything you need to know to maintain and further improve your dog's foundation of training they learned with me.
You'll get a go home packet with all the information, worksheets, and more. All training equipment is included in this package if your dog requires training equipment. Two (2) 30 minute 1:1’s in home or at the facility weekly follow ups after you get your dog back will be scheduled at the go home visit. These are great to clarify or revisit anything that needs to be addressed after the go home visit.
6 month weekly group training sessions are also included in the price.
$2,999
4 Week Board & Train
Our four-week board and train program is our most popular. The extra two weeks gives us time to guide dogs through behavior problems without pushing them too soon. Each dog is unique and has their own personality. If we expect too much before your dog is ready for the challenges, it puts extra stress on your dog and can hinder our relationship and set the dog back. We want to make sure your dog has a solid foundation of trust and clear communication, so they are receptive to our guidance when we put them into situations they have struggled with in the past. The four weeks also allows us to work and rehabilitate any anxiety, fear, separation anxiety, aggression, dog or human aggression, resource guarding, and leash reactivity.
This training package is for dogs who need basic obedience and have behavioral issues or for dogs with no behavioral issues but you want off-leash obedience.
Perhaps your dog will lunge and bark at other dogs when they see them, maybe they have separation anxiety and will bark non-stop, or maybe your dog has an extreme fear of loud noises or other stimuli. This is also a great start to puppy training.
During the 4 weeks that your dog is here with me, they'll learn everything in the 2 week Board and Train including:
Counter conditioning to minimize reactivity to triggers
-
Desensitization protocols to minimize the intensity of emotional response to triggers
-
Confidence building
-
Higher level of reliable obedience in commands
-
If training for off-leash obedience, conditioning to the e collar and increased proofing in recall plus longer distance
This program comes with a 2-3 hour hands-on go-home lesson at the end of your dog's stay with me.
During this lesson, you'll learn everything you need to know to maintain and further improve your dog's foundation of training they learned with me.
You'll get a go home packet with all the information, worksheets, and more. All training equipment is included in this package if your dog requires training equipment. Two (2) 30 minute 1:1’s in home or at the facility bi-weekly follow ups after you get your dog back will be scheduled at the go home visit. These are great to clarify or revisit anything that needs to be addressed after the go home visit.
(*note: depending on the severity of the dog's behavioral issues, additional time may be required. However, the price will be $600 for an additional week vs $1,200 for an additional week)
$4,999
6 Week Board & Train
For the most phenomenal results and most rewarding for your dog in their purpose is our six-week board and train program. The more time we have to fine-tune your dog’s training, the better habits that will be formed. This program is designed for all dogs from puppies to older dogs. This program is also mandatory for dogs with extreme behavior problems such as red zone aggression, severe separation anxiety, or any dog with a bite history. Extra weeks may be recommended depending on the severity of the unwanted behavior and the dog’s overall state of mind.
This program comes with a 2-3 hour hands-on go-home lesson at the end of your dog's stay with me.
During this lesson, you'll learn everything you need to know to maintain and further improve your dog's foundation of training they learned with me.
You'll get a go home packet with all the information, worksheets, and more. All training equipment is included in this package if your dog requires training equipment. Three (3) bi-weekly 30 minute 1:1’s in home or at the facility weekly follow ups after you get your dog back will be scheduled at the go home visit. These are great to clarify or revisit anything that needs to be addressed after the go home visit.
(*note: depending on the severity of the dog's behavioral issues, additional time may be required. However, the price will be $600 for an additional week vs $1,200 for an additional week)
Payment arrangements are available with final payment due on the day of drop off.
$6,999
K9 Handler for Weddings & Photoshoots
What Is A Wedding/Photoshoot Dog Handler?
Wedding/Photoshoot Dog Handlers provide complete dog handling and assistance throughout your event, including on-leash exercising, hydrating, and pottying.
For the couple that wants an exclusive experience, we can create a customized package to allow you to have us at multiple events that combine our other services like pet sitting, boarding and overnight stays.
We offer a variety of pricing options to fit any budget or event, including proposals, photos, rehearsals, weddings, vow renewals, and receptions.
To personalize your event, we include a complimentary consultation where we get to know you, your dog, and your story. We will also discuss the best way to feature your dog at your event.
If you desire, we can escort your dog down the aisle and work with your photographer to capture the perfect wedding photos with the entire family.
To further enhance your experience, we offer several upgrades including a chauffeur service that will transport your dog to and from your venue, adding an additional Wedding Dog Attendant, and extending your services an additional hour.
For the couple that want an exclusive experience, we can create a customized package to allow you to have us at multiple events and combine our other services like pet sitting and overnight stays when the reception ends, and the honeymoon begins.
Why Hire A Wedding/Photoshoot Dog Handler?
Our Wedding/Photoshoot Dog Handler has cultivated exclusive relationships within the wedding industry to ensure access to the best pet-friendly vendors, venues, and photographers not found anywhere else.
All of our Wedding Dog Handlers are covered by our exclusive insurance and bond policies that most venues require. Each has multiple wedding experiences, so they know where to be and what to do during all phases of your event.
Simply put, celebrate with your family and friends, and leave the tails to us!
$200 per event
INCLUDES:
2 Hours at event, 1 Pet, 1 Pet Attendant, 60 Travel Miles (round trip) ****
& Event Insurance
UPGRADES:
$75 per additional hour at event *, $25 per Pet at event
$75 per Hour per additional attendant, $2 per Mile (additional mileage)
$2 per Mile ** (additional mileage/pet), 5% Off Pet Sitting ***
Boarding $75.00 a night ***, Overnights at your home $100.00 a night ***
Travel ****
SERVICES:
Free Phone Consultation, Planning Assistance, On-Leash Exercising
Hydrating, Styling, Dressing, Aisle Escorting, Photo Assistance
Feeding, Pottying and Curbing, Petting Sitting, Boarding
EVENTS:
Proposals, Photos, Rehearsals, Weddings, Vow Renewals & Receptions
* $75 per hour when requested at event
** 10 mile minimum | $10 for additional pets
*** Visit series starting day of event only
**** Hotel + Airfare or Milage + $350 / day
Boarding
After your dog has completed any of the above training programs, they are welcome back to come visit while the paw parents go out of town or away on vacation. They will get daily group training with the other dogs here (boarding, and training) and any 1:1 attention to their training, as needed. This keeps your dogs skills up while you are away and you won't have to worry about them regressing in their training or picking up any other new bad habits.
Our Happy Clients
Heather’s knowledge of dogs and their behaviors is out of this world. She’s taught my severely aggressive dog Chowder how to be able to coexist in ANY very busy, dog saturated environments as if she's never had a problem before. I NEVER imagined being able to take Chowder for walks let alone enjoy them myself. Now when I take Chowder out for walks or just going to a local coffee shop to enjoy coffee on the patio, these are my newest favorite times of the day. I can’t thank Heather enough for the gifts and tools she has given me and Chowder through her training programs. SHE’S WORTH EVERY PENNY and then some. Don’t sleep on this training, get your life back and go enjoy it with your fur baby.
Derek - Scottsdale, AZ
Karie D. - Scottsdale, AZ
I don’t even know where to begin. Heather came to the rescue for me and my son. She took care and trained my son’s 1 year old Golden Retriever while he started a new job. She is the BEST!!! She is knowledgeable and can help you with what is best for your dog. I wish I could take Heather with us to our new city. I was across the country and Heather even went a step further and helped my son navigate his new city. The dog was trained so well and continues to behave. THANKS SO MUCH HEATHER. Have no idea what I would have done without you.