ABOUT
Meet Matt
Matt is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Professional Service Dog Trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Shelter Behaviorist with a passion for building strong bonds between humans and their dogs. Through years of working in shelters in California and Nevada, Matt has become a specialist in cases of complex shelter behavior ranging from hyper-arousal, aggression, fear, anxiety and stress related behaviors. He believes all behavior is a symptom of something much larger. To get to the solution of your dogs struggles we must look at the entire picture to ensure we come to the kindest and most humane solution. Teaching dogs emotional regulation techniques are Matt's bread and butter. There is no such thing as bad behavior, only maladaptive responses to nervous system stimuli that even the toughest cases have the ability to learn.
Since returning to Reno, his previous home for 10 years, Matt has spent time with the SPCA of Northern Nevada and the Nevada Humane Society playing integral roles in ensuring the needs of Reno's homeless dog populations are being met. Matt has spent countless hours with thousands of dogs working through concerns stemming from lack of training, enrichment and prior life experience or trauma. Matt is an Alumni of the University of Nevada, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics and Mathematics. He believes this background in science prepared him with the skills necessary to break down complex behavioral cases with care and attention to detail.
Currently, Matt is a founding member of the Shelter Dog Training department at Northern Nevada's largest service dog training organization where he holds the role of Shelter Dog Trainer. He plays an integral role in supporting the organizations life saving mission of training shelter dogs as service dogs to support Veterans of the US Military effected by PTSD.
Outside of work, Matt shares his life with his own two dogs, Pheni and Ember, who accompany him on outdoor adventures and provide him with a sense of purpose. When he’s not with them, you'll find him embracing the challenges of CrossFit or exploring the Northern Nevada desert.
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Meet The Girls
Pheni
Hi! I’m Pheni, short for Phenix or Phoenix in French. I met my dad on December 2nd, 2012 at the Vacaville Animal Shelter and we’ve been inseparable ever since. My dad says that I’m a Carolina Dog, also known as an American Dingo, which makes sense because I’m a wild girl. I love going on camping and hiking trips with my dad and we’ve been to 7 different states! We’ve lived in two states together, I like Nevada more than the California hustle and bustle, snow season is my favorite. But as long as my dads around, I’m just happy to be there. He always tells me that I was His phoenix rebirth and that I gave him a new outlook on life but I always tell him that he did the same for me. He’s told me for years that one day he's going to run a huge ranch in the Nevada desert and rescue other dogs just like me, all because of me! How cool is that?!
Ember
Hi! I’m Ember! I’m new here. I met my dad in August of 2022 and boy oh boy has my life changed. My dad says I got my name for being the spark that re-lit his fire for working with dogs. I spent my first 5 months in the shelter system so, my dad and I have spent tons of time together working on building my confidence in new places as well as helping each other work through social anxiety. I’m my dads #1 training student and I love to learn new things! The training exercises we do together are so much fun and they give me a positive alternative to things like neighborhood walks when I’m not feeling so confident from time to time. My dad tells me I’ve been the best helper for him to read dog body language because I am so expressive. He says he watches my behavior to let him know what games to play and that’s really helpful for me so I can be confident that he knows how to fulfill my needs.