Hi, I’m Heather.
I’m the founder of For the Love of Dog, and dogs have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
What started as a childhood love for them eventually became a career I never could have imagined.
And it all began with a dog named Fairway.
Where It All Began
My first dog, Fairway, was a Sheltie—and one of the earliest reasons I fell in love with dogs.
Long before I knew anything about training or canine behavior, I was fascinated by the connection we could have with them.
As I grew up, that fascination only deepened. From participating in 4-H in Texas to spending time working with dogs through pet sitting, veterinary clinics, and animal shelters, I kept finding my way back to them.
What I didn’t know then was that those early experiences were laying the foundation for something much bigger.
The Experience That Changed Everything
Meeting Rob.
In 2010, I started For the Love of Dog as a pet sitting and dog walking business.
I loved what I was doing, but I also recognized that some of the dogs and owners I worked with needed more guidance than I knew how to provide.
So I reached out to a local dog trainer.
My intention was simple: I wanted to learn about his approach and have someone knowledgeable I could confidently refer my clients to when they needed additional help.
I had no idea that one decision would change the direction of my career.
That trainer was Rob Peladeau of NexGen K9.
Rob opened my eyes to an entirely different way of understanding dogs. He taught me how dogs communicate, how their instincts and experiences influence their behavior, and how we can learn to speak their language rather than expecting them to simply understand ours.
A Whole New World of Dogs
I began sitting in on Rob’s training sessions, helping with his board-and-train dogs, and learning from dogs with an incredible range of temperaments and behavioral challenges.
From puppies and senior dogs to those struggling with extreme fear or aggression, every dog had something different to teach me.
I also had the opportunity to experience another side of dog training through Rob’s work with police agencies and their K9s.
I learned about scent work and controlled aggression, and even participated as a decoy during training scenarios—playing the role of the person the dogs were tasked with finding.
Seeing what dogs were capable of when their natural instincts were understood, developed, and given purpose was fascinating.
But one of my greatest learning experiences was still to come.
Then Came Zoey.
Rob found me a foster puppy to raise.
And let me tell you, she was a handful.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just observing training sessions or helping with someone else’s dogs. I was responsible for raising, teaching, and living with a challenging young dog every single day.
Through patience, consistency, and plenty of learning along the way, that once-challenging puppy developed fantastic obedience and became reliable off leash.
Watching her progress was incredibly rewarding, but what stayed with me most was how much our relationship had grown through the process.
As my knowledge and confidence grew, so did For the Love of Dog.
I continued offering pet sitting and daycare while gradually taking on my own training clients.
What began as a business centered around caring for dogs had grown into something much deeper.
What Keeps Me Doing This
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching dogs and their people grow together in ways that never get old.
I’ve seen dogs go from being a constant source of frustration for their families to becoming dogs their owners can’t wait to show off.
I’ve watched owners who once felt overwhelmed become confident, capable, and genuinely excited about what they can accomplish with their dogs.
And I’ve seen firsthand just how much dogs are capable of when someone takes the time to understand them, communicate clearly, and give them the guidance they need.
It’s not just about teaching a dog to sit, stay, or walk nicely on a leash.
It’s about the relationship that develops along the way.
That transformation—on both ends of the leash—is what I love most about this work.
For the Love of Dog Today
When I moved from California to Florida in 2021, I found myself entering a new chapter, both personally and professionally.
It gave me an opportunity to rethink what I wanted For the Love of Dog to look like, while building on everything I’d learned through years of hands-on experience, mentorship, and continued education.
Today, my focus is on providing a more personal, intentional approach to in-home dog boarding, with training opportunities for dogs and owners who want to take that next step.
I don’t believe every dog needs the same routine, the same activities, or the same approach.
Some dogs thrive through play and physical activity. Others need mental challenges, confidence-building experiences, or simply a predictable environment where they can relax.
I want to know what makes your dog tick. What motivates them, what challenges them, what they enjoy, and what helps them feel secure.
Because the better I understand your dog, the better I can care for them.
For me, caring for dogs has never been just about watching them. It’s about understanding who they are, respecting their needs, and giving them the opportunity to thrive.
Before, walks were stressful. Now our dog is more socialized and much easier to walk.
Tani Cligny
I have a hard time with walks and socializing and she managed to train them in less than a week!
Evelyn D