It starts with a spark
You know your dog. Let’s figure out what to try next. TOGETHER.
Practical education, tools and resources to help you notice more, get curious, stay curious, and make thoughtful choices for the dog in front of you.
EASIER vet VISITS • Better CARE AT HOME • better days together
That Dog Friend helps dog parents build confidence through joyful enrichment, cooperative care, and everyday adventures.
Discover what motivates your dog and take your first step on the path.
What if Things Could Feel Better?
For you • for your dog • for everyday life
Your dog doesn’t need perfection. They need someone willing to notice, stay curious, and learn alongside them because so much of life happens between the big moments. Vet visits. Nail trims. Weekend adventures in a new spot. Rainy Tuesdays.
When everyday life becomes a little easier, there’s more room for joy.
Maybe You Already Have the Spark…
Your camera roll is basically dog paparazzi.
You “accidentally” bring home one more toy.
Your home, your yard, your whole life is one big dog park.
You wonder what your dog is trying to tell you.
That curiosity? That’s the Spark.
Spark • Steady • Shine
Every journey along the path looks different. The guideposts don’t. Start where you are. Move between them whenever your dog, your day, or your question changes.
SPARK
Give me something good to try. One clear next step.
You don’t need all the answers. You just need one small success that makes tomorrow feel a little easier. Discover what motivates your dog. Build confidence one doable step at a time.
STEADY
Help me build this into real life. A few tools, practice and support.
You’re beginning to notice patterns. The little wins start adding up. Confidence grows through practice, curiosity, and everyday life together.
SHINE
I want to understand more. A deeper dive into the why and your dog’s patterns.
Not because everything is perfect. Because you understand each other better. Vet visits feel more manageable. Adventures feel more enjoyable. Little moments become favorites.
Already Have the Spark?
Let’s turn it into a starting point.
The Motivation Go Bag is a simple way to notice what lights your dog up, capture what helps when life gets hard, and choose your next small step.
That’s being That Dog Friend.
Meet the That Dog Friend crew
Different guides notice different things. Together, we can help light the path.
🧠 ELLI
PERSONALITY
Thoughtful. Curious. Quietly brilliant. If she went to college, she’d major in theoretical physics.
SUPERPOWER
Puzzle solving. She has never met a puzzle she didn’t want to solve. No matter how many tries it takes.
IN HER MOTIVATION GO BAG
Spray cheese, ear rubs, a lick stick, and a plan.
ELLI ASKS…
“What do you think your dog is trying to tell you?”
🌀 PEPPER
PERSONALITY
Bubbly. Adventurous. Unapologetically joyful. If you tried to send Pepper to college, she’d take perpetual gap years instead.
SUPERPOWER
Making joy contagious. She has an uncanny ability to make ordinary moments feel like celebrations. She reminds us that the best learning often happens while having fun.
IN HER MOTIVATION GO BAG
Freeze dried minnows, butt pats, and the open road.
PEPPER ASKS…
“What would make this more fun?!”
🧐 THERESA
PERSONAL MISSION
Helping people better understand the dog in front of them so life together becomes easier, more joyful, and more connected.
SUPERPOWER
Turning behavior science into practical, encouraging next steps that real people can actually use.
IN MY MOTIVATION GO BAG
Curiosity. Caffeine. Treats for Elli and Pepper. More enrichment ideas than one person probably needs.
THERESA ASKS…
“What’s one small step that would make tomorrow easier?”
Always Learning. Always Curious.
I believe the best educators never stop being students. I’m grateful to learn from these organizations, educators, and educational programs, and you’ll see their influence throughout everything we create.
What is That Dog Friend?
That Dog Friend is real life education helping people like you understand the dog in front of them through enrichment, cooperative care, motivation, and everyday adventures.We start with curiosity, then build toward easier vet visits, better care at home, and better days together.
🐾 It also features two of the most fabulous dogs on the planet, Elli & Pepper. Admittedly, we might be a tad biased.
Find Your Next Step
You’re here because you want to better understand what’s behind the extra long sniff session, the sudden zoomie, or the unexpected freak out. Follow that curiosity to find your next step toward becoming That Dog Friend.
LEARN
Discover Being That Dog Friend courses and resources
Practical learning to help you notice more, understand what matters, and know what to try next.
GET CONNECTED
Join the That Dog Friend Clubhouse
Become a member of our online community where you can learn from fellow clubhouse members, join live learning events, and get to know the crew.
WORK TOGETHER
Because better care happens together
Turn what you notice into useful conversations, shared plans, and better outcomes with the animal professionals in your dog’s life. At home, in the clinic, and everywhere in between.