In this series, we’ll be chatting with every member of the KeenDog team. We’ll dive into their origin stories, their passions, and the experiences that have shaped them into the trainers you know and love. And maybe we’ll discover a few quirks, too!

Next up, KeenDog trainer, Meagan…

Tell us about your first dog!

My dad was a firefighter and the first dogs I remember from my childhood were a pair of Dalmatians we had named Flame and Alex. They were the perfect loving family dogs, and Flame especially bonded to me pretty much from the beginning. She took her role as my protector very seriously and was by my side for all her life and launched my love for dogs from an early age!

What inspired you to become a dog trainer?

I was the appointed “dog person” in our family through most of my life- I cared for and trained all our family’s pet and working dogs, and my first job in college was in a kennel. I never had a job that wasn’t dog related after that! In my 20’s I got a pittie pup who was attacked twice by off leash dogs and eventually became incredibly dog aggressive. After spending years educating myself on how to help him, I took a leap of faith and applied for a job as an assistant to a dog trainer in Charlotte who offered behavior modification hoping to learn more. It didn’t take long to figure out I had a passion for helping fearful and aggressive dogs and I’ve been doing it ever since!

What is your favorite thing (behavior, sport, etc.) to train and why?

I’m a behavior modification girl all the way, specifically working with dogs with fear aggression. Each dog I’ve worked with has brought a new challenge that required me to think outside of the box and try to learn and develop my skills along the way, and there’s something so fun and rewarding that comes along with that. Plus, I’ve worked with many dogs who were on their “last chance” and seeing them and their owners succeed and get to do all the things they never thought possible is amazing, especially after I spent years feeling the same way with my aggressive dog.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new dog owners?

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH whatever breed of dog or puppy you bring into your life! Genetic stereotypes are real, and while good training certainly helps a lot of things, if a breed isn’t a good fit for your lifestyle and capabilities, it’s going to be a long hard road.

What is one thing you wish dog owners knew or understood?

Our dogs aren’t robots and they have bad days too! I think people (owners AND trainers alike) get caught up in the expectation of perfection, and it’s so important to always strive for improvement and growth while not letting frustration or bad moods get in the way. Just take a deep breath and try again later!

What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had while training a dog?

It was more of an ongoing thing, but for most of his life, my pittie could not be around other dogs without attacking them and we thought we’d never be able to have any new dogs in our home until he passed unless we always locked him away. But after a lot of work and time, we got to a point where for the last few years of his life we were able to have him interact with client dogs (he especially loved puppies) and grow our family of dogs to 5. Seeing him live his happiest old man life with his pack was such a joy for us!

If you were a dog, what breed would you be and why?

As unflattering as it might be, I probably relate most closely to chihuahuas! I’ve got a lot of anxiety at times, usually need some time to warm up to new people, and I definitely can be a little spicy from time to time! But like my chihuahua Corona, I’m tenacious and loyal, always on the go, and always there for my people!

If you could only have one dog breed for the rest of your life, what breed would you choose and why?

I’d probably have to stick with a breed like a Springer or Brittany Spaniel- I love their drive, how intelligent and fun they are, and they’re excellent pets outside of their capacity for working. My first “all my own” dog was a Springer I got in college, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a dog compare to her.

If you could train any famous dog from movies or TV, who would it be and why?

I was OBSESSED with the Dogue de Bordeaux from Turner and Hooch when I was a kid and always wanted the biggest dog I could get my hands on (which my dad firmly shot down) which is probably why I have two guardian breeds including my Boerboel, Bishop, now.

Anything else you want the people to know about you? Your training style?

I’m in awe every day that I get to do this fun, amazing job that I love so much. All I want every single time I work with my clients is for you guys to enjoy your dogs and have as much fun with them as I do. It’s so easy to overthink or get flustered, but it’s really just about building your relationship with your dogs. So, I’m going to get a little silly, make you laugh and stop worrying so much about every little thing and just make sure that you and your dog are set up for success and offer you support every step of the way!