There is a kinder, calmer, and more ethical way to life with dogs

Hello, we’re Julia and Stevie, the human and the dog behind Unleashing Kindness.

After a successful career in advertising, I turned my energy toward matters of the heart. A lifelong animal lover, it wasn’t until my Bordoodle girl Stevie joined our family that I realized I had the dog training thing backward.

What must come first is a relationship built on psychological safety and confidence-building.

Once you get there together, cooperation follows naturally.

Most behavioral issues can be prevented or reversed by understanding dogs’ language, recognizing their individual needs, and supporting them as emotional beings navigating a human world.

I am a Canine Behavior Consultant, currently completing certifications as a Dog Trainer & Sensory Enrichment Coach (Nordic Dog Trainer School in Norway), Foundational Postural Analyst (Galen Myotherapy in the UK), and Calming Signals Specialist — studying directly under Norwegian dog trainer legend Turid Rugaas.

My approach emphasizes choice, calm, and confidence, seeing dogs not as automatons to program, but as family members and eager learners shaped by their environment, biology, and experience.

This isn’t anthropomorphizing — it’s respecting their needs as highly intelligent, sentient creatures.

Whether you’re setting your puppy up for a confident, happy life or working through a challenge with your dog, I can help — and if I can’t, I’ll help you find someone who can. If you’ve received bad advice before and want a kinder approach, I’m here with no judgment.