From the Heart Dog Training

Hands to Paws, LLC is a dog training program designed to give owners lasting results through practical, positive, and relationship-focused exercises. Owner, Heather Kitchen, is an experienced teacher and knows that training is an important part of any dog’s life. She believes training should be enjoyable for both the dog and the owner, helping to positively enhance their relationship.

Heather was just 14 years old when she first fell in love with training dogs. At the time she was a dedicated horseback rider when her circuit decided to have a competition for dogs around the show. She entered her 3-year-old lab into the competition and started training her through 4-H obstacles. When the day finally came to compete, Heather noticed many owners were struggling to control their dogs. They were either yelling at their dogs for obedience or relying on a tight leash to keep them under control. Heather, however, knew that her dog didn't need the leash. She confidently removed it and together, she and her dog completed the trail course with ease. In the end, she ended up getting first place with 98/100 points! After that, Heather knew she had a natural understanding of dogs and wanted to work towards helping others bond with their animals through understanding, instead of ownership.