Sarah (She/Her) was born and raised in the Twin Cities. While her school days were spent in the metro area, she spent much of her summers in the outdoors of greater Minnesota. From a young age she was curious- relishing in learning about the science of the world around her. As she neared adulthood, Sarah’s ideas for a career narrowed to working in psychology or with animals. When she chose to become a veterinary technician and discovered the area of veterinary behavior medicine and behavior therapy for pets, she was overjoyed that there was an interdisciplinary field that married her desire to help people and animals.
Sarah became a Certified Veterinary Technologist in 2010 while working at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. In 2011, she began work in a 10+ doctor primary veterinary clinic where she solidified her passion for behavioral care when she saw how the human-animal bond can be strengthened with a better understanding of how different species communicate (humans, too!). In 2019 Sarah began working full time for Veterinary Behavior Specialities of MN, helping hundreds of families work toward their behavior goals. Since 2019, Sarah has acquired several specialty certifications in animal behavior which fortify the spectrum of resources and knowledge she shares with the families she helps.
Sarah’s Approach to Training
“Coaching is a work of heart” is how I approach the pets and people I work with! While there are many approaches to training and behavior change, focusing on teaching a pet what to do is as crucial as knowing what you don’t want your pet to do. It’s often easier to promote those “to-do’s” with a better understanding of your pet’s natural behaviors by following the L.E.G.S. and “Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE)” models.
The L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) model offers insight into your pet as a whole. A Family Dog Mediation approach expands your behavioral “tool kit” so you can better understand your dog for life, as well as future dogs who may join your family. (The L.E.G.S. model may be specifically geared toward dogs, but I apply the same concepts to kitties!)
The “LIFE” model is an ethical, modern, reward-based training approach that understands and highlights the natural behaviors of your pet while reducing negative interactions that can damage your relationship.
These models help me emphasize not just The Five Freedoms welfare of your pet, but your welfare as well. I understand personally how a pet’s behaviors can negatively impact your quality of life, and how little time and energy most pet parents have to work on their pet’s behaviors. I’ll focus less on precise physical skills or daily 15-minute training homework, and more on how to incorporate short, simple behavior patterns into your current routines with your pet. After all, most of us can only spare a few minutes here and there with our busy lives!
Sarah’s Animal Inspirations
CHUNK
Sarah’s behavior inspiration began with her first heart-dog Milhouse, a long-haired Mini Dachshund. Better known as “Chunk“, Sarah had to learn quickly about how to care for the specific medical needs of this breed, as well as how to support a pup that had mild separation anxiety and was fearful of other people. Sarah lost Chunk to lymphoma in 2011.
FEN
Sarah and her husband Travis adopted a Husky-Lab mix named Fen in 2012. After the loss of Chunk, it took time for Sarah to bond with Fen, and it took time for Fen to acclimate to the chaos of being taken away from the only family and environment he knew before transported within the shelter system. Once past those hurdles, Fen and Sarah took walks every day- rain or shine, bringing joy to each other’s lives. Over the decade Sarah was privileged to have Fen in her life, she grew to better recognize what “normal” dog behaviors can look like.
HAZEL
Later on, Sarah’s live-in mother adopted a Chi-weenie named Hazel. Hazel came with a myriad of behavior concerns- hyper-arousal behaviors, fear-related aggression, and moderate separation anxiety among the list. Balancing safety from bites for my mother on blood thinners and Hazel’s multiple behavior medications was a revelation in how challenging life with a behavior-needs dog can be. Hazel crossed the rainbow bridge in 2023.
DERPY
The next addition to Sarah’s family was a reservation dog who started out with many names- Thunder, Max, Albus, Alby…and finally Derpy. Life with Derpy has had it’s ups and downs. He, too, needed to adjust to a house-bound lifestyle. Impulsivity and person-specific separation anxiety have been part of his journey so far. The most recent challenge in Derpy’s life is the addition of a human baby in 2025. Life with a baby means daily routines and patterns have gone to the wayside- something anxious dogs need. These life changes have further expanded Sarah’s appreciation for how to navigate life with a behavior-needs pet.
TESLA
Throughout the years, Sarah has had the honor of helping care for some family and friend’s pets. All of them live within her heart, some taking up larger real-estate. She could make a whole page dedicated to the “cousins” she’s loved. Tesla was one of those pets. “Derpy” in his own way, he was unique and lovable (foreign body ingestions, attention-seeking behaviors and all!).
Credentials and Memberships
Click links below to learn more about Sarah’s credentials and memberships
Course Certificates and Presentations
Master Course- Aggression in Dogs
KPA Better Veterinary Visits
American College of Veterinary Behavior 2024 Practical Behavior Forum
Aggression in Dogs Conference 2024
“Persistent Myths- How Old Advice Create Problem Behaviors”
Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians Annual Conference, February 2023
“Behavior Answers: It Depends!”
Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians Annual Conference, February 2023
“Food as an Exam Tool”
Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians Annual Conference, February 2023
“Why Yes! You Can Train a Cat! And Why You Want To!”
Animal Care Foundation of Minnesota Fall Conference, October 2021
“They’ll Grow Out of It! Or Will They?”
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference, February 2025
“Collaborative Behavior: How Vets, Tech, and Behavior Clinics Work Together”
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference, Co-Presenter, February 2025
“The Next Level of Body Language: Having Conversations with Your Patients That Build Trust”
Animal Emergency & Referral Center Spring Seminar, Co-Speaker, April 2021