About Me
Dreaming of having your very own furry snuggle buddy but you have been too overwhelmed and have no clue where to start? Well, that’s where I come in 😀
I'm Nathalie, a lifelong dog enthusiast and owner, and your soon-to-be guide on the exciting journey to dog ownership. Whether you've been dreaming of having a dog for years or just recently decided to welcome a four-legged friend into your life, I'm here to make that transition as smooth and joyful as possible.
Why I do What I Do
Growing up, my best friends had four paws and wagging tails — in case you’re interested, our first family dog was a Bouvier des Flandres. That friendship taught me the incredible bond and happiness a dog can bring into our lives. But growing up and getting more dogs, I also remember the overwhelming process my family went through to find the right dog — a whirlwind of breed research, training tips, and endless opinions from well-meaning friends and internet forums — well, the latter was for later dogs because, you know, born in the 80s 😅. I have learned a lot from years of having dogs in the family while growing up.
Over the years, I have figured out a big problem among dog owners: wrong choices! Have you ever experienced, with family, friends or just in your neighbourhood, out of control dogs? Excessive barking, hyperactivity, destroying furniture, just to name 3 things…that is usually caused by people not being able to provide what their breed needs. Many people take a dog because “it’s a cute one” or because they are dead set on a specific breed — e.g. when Disney's 101 Dalmatians remake came out in 1996, they were purchased by people everywhere!
Yet they get a breed that does not suit their lifestyle.
Simply put: ‘Don’t take a husky if you’re a couch potato’. If you pick a breed that is not compatible with your life(style) this will cause problems that snowballs: eventually, the dog will start to display unwanted behaviour, like being destructive or excessive barking, causing much stress on the dog, the owner(s) and potentially neighbours.
When this happens, a dog owner has 3 options:
1. Ignore it —> which means continuous stress on everyone, including the dog.
2. Fix it (or try) —> this usually means with the help of a dog trainer, which will cost you time, money and patience.
3. Dump the dog —> when things become too much, many people will, sadly, dump their dog in a shelter.
Have you caught on to the solution yet? Making the right choice from the beginning, and choosing a compatible breed, will minimise the risk of your pupper being in an unsuitable home leading to behavioural issues that then require a lot from you in terms of patience, time, energy and money. I do what I do for both owner AND dog.
Over the years, I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge, done a ton of research and have done courses to learn about dog behaviour. Now I’ve made it my life’s mission to simplify the whole ‘getting a dog’ process for others and making sure that you make the right breed decision. I believe that everyone deserves the companionship of a dog that fits seamlessly into their unique lifestyle, including my fellow neurodivergent friends who may might need extra help sifting through ALL that info out there! After all, the right match can lead to years of unconditional love and mutual understanding.
