Hello, I’m Julia, the human behind Unleashing Kindness. After a very successful career in advertising, I’ve decided to take the plunge and dedicate my energy to matters of my heart.

A life-long animal lover and dog guardian for over 20 years, it wasn’t until my Bordoodle girl Stevie joined our family that I realized I had this whole dog training thing backwards. What must to come first is a relationship, trust, confidence, a fear-free and psychologically safe start to a young dog’s life, and throughout their lives. Once you get there together, training is a breeze.

Most behavioral issues can be prevented and—depending on the severity—reverted simply by treating our dogs differently. By learning to understand their language first, instead of just expecting them to come preinstalled with ours. By recognizing their individual needs as emotional beings who have to learn to navigate the world of a different species (us), usually at a very early age.

Dog training and canine psychology are finally increasingly mirroring the evolution of human childcare—shifting away from outdated dominance-based models and embracing science-backed, compassionate approaches rooted in trust, and emotional wellbeing.

Just as modern parenting moved beyond punishment and control toward nurturing relationships, secure attachments, and respectful communication, my approach emphasizes cooperation, choice, and positive reinforcement.

I recognize dogs not as beings to be managed or controlled, but as sentient learners shaped by their environment, biology, and experience—deserving of the same care, patience, and empathy we've come to value in raising children.

This isn’t anthropomorphizing them, it is meeting them where they are. As dogs.

If you—like me—have been given bad advice before and want to explore a kinder approach, I’m here for you. There’s no judgment. And it’s never too late! As humans, we have the privilege of choice, of changing our minds, of admitting we didn’t know something, or even (!!) that we were wrong!

If you want to set your puppy up for a rich, confident, happy life in harmony with you and your family, or need help with a challenge you and your dogs face, get in touch. If I can’t help, I will help you find someone who can.