Embracing Imperfection: The Story Behind The Imperfect Paw

The Imperfect Paw is shaped by real, lived experiences — the kind that push you, teach you, humble you, and ultimately transform you.

And that’s where the heart of The Imperfect Paw truly began.

The Imperfect Paw isn’t just a place to learn cues, build manners, or troubleshoot behaviors.

It’s a community.

A space for education, empowerment, and honest conversations.

A place where rescue support matters, where lived experiences matter, and where both the dog’s and the human’s wellbeing sit at the center of every decision.

This business was shaped just as much by my own dogs as it was by science and education — especially one dog in particular: Snow.

Why The Imperfect Paw

The name came from Snow — my sweet, complex, sensitive Bichon and one of my greatest teachers.

Snow is not the dog people expect a trainer to have. She’s not calm in all situations. She’s not always social. She’s not the golden-retriever poster dog for obedience videos.

Snow has anxiety, behavioral sensitivities, and has experienced periods of reactivity.

Living with a dog like Snow, while being a perfectionist and a trainer, created a pressure I had never experienced before. There were moments when I felt judged. Moments when I judged myself even harder. Moments when it felt like her behavior was a reflection of my competence, my knowledge, or my worth as a professional.

But here’s the truth learned the hard way:

Dogs are individuals — not walking business cards.
Their behavior is shaped by genetics, environment, learning history, stress, health, and so much more. And no amount of expertise removes their right to be who they are.

Snow’s Journey

Snow’s anxiety didn’t appear all at once. It came in small waves — influenced by genetics, life experiences, previous training methods, and more.

Hypervigilance. Sensitivity to quick movements and people. Unease around other dogs. Moments of explosive barking.

I found myself constantly analyzing her behavior — not out of curiosity, but out of fear that I was doing something “wrong.” I wanted to enjoy my life with her, not feel overwhelmed by caregiving. And I’ve been at the bottom with her, feeling more like a caretaker than a person who gets to enjoy their own dog.

And if you’re a dog parent who has ever felt that… you’re not alone. But imagine feeling that as the professional who’s supposed to “know better.”

For a while, I pushed for progress. I pushed for “better behavior.” I pushed for answers.

But the more I pushed, the more Snow told me she wasn’t ready.

The turning point came when I stopped asking, “What should she be able to do?”
and started asking, “What does she need right now?”

That shift truly happened when Pocah came into my life. While Pocah may have added some stress to Snow’s world, she also reignited my joy in training, working with, and simply enjoying my own dogs — not just my clients’ dogs. Pocah helped me see Snow through a different, softer lens.

I shifted my expectations. I adjusted my goals. I stopped tying my worth to my dog’s reactions. And the weight started to lift.

As I let go of perfection, Snow began to thrive.

She showed me what she was capable of when she felt safe, supported, and understood — not pressured.

I started enjoying her more deeply. I began celebrating the tiny wins. And the progress I saw didn’t come from pushing harder, but from listening better.

Snow didn’t just help me grow as a trainer — she reshaped my entire approach to dogs and their humans.

Imperfectly Perfect: The Heart of This Space

Snow, Pocah, and I are imperfectly perfect — learning together every single day.
Some days are smooth.
Some days are harder.
But every day is full of growth, honesty, and connection.

That energy is what defines The Imperfect Paw. Not perfection. Not unrealistic expectations.Not quick fixes.

But progress, compassion, science, community, and real-life understanding.

Because no dog is perfect — and no human needs to be either.

My passion is helping clients understand this and reach this mindset with their own dogs, especially when behavioral sensitivities are involved.

The Imperfect Paw exists to support that journey — to align with training plans, build confidence, and be the extra set of hands and heart both ends of the leash sometimes need.