Meet Our Trainers

When she was a kid, Emma was the one at family parties off in a corner with the dog. Not much has changed, though now she’s in the corner with her dogs and a computer, running the Happy Dog show. When you contact us, Emma is likely the first person you’ll be talking with.

Her career working with animals began when she began walking dogs and, later, when she started teaching classes with Heather. Once she was back from Edinburgh, Scotland, where she earned a Masters of Science in Animal Behavior and Welfare, she and Heather co-founded Happy Dog Institute in 2009.

For years, Emma specialized in canine aggression and anxiety and developed HDI’s group classes with Heather. As an instructor, she was beloved for teaching guardians how to understand animals from the animal’s perspective.

Today, she handles the back end of the business, which is what she loves best. A serial entrepreneur (since age 11), Emma is motivated by a love of people, animals, self-employment, problem-solving, and community. In other words, running Happy Dog is the perfect job for her.

Emma lives in Olympia with her family and three dogs, Winston, a “super mutt,” and Pickle and Artichoke, both Miniature Dachshunds. (They also have three cats and two goldfish).

Training and Certifications:

• Masters of Science in Animal Behavior & Welfare from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,University of Edinburgh, Scotland (MSc)
• Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
• Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT)
• Family Paws certification + too many hours navigating babies, toddlers, young children and anxious dogs to count!