Dog Trainer, Owner

After graduating with a degree in Chemistry and Biology, Haruka worked as a middle and high school science teacher. While teaching, she experienced the power of dog therapy which sparked an interest in the dog training industry. She certified as a personal handler and Therapy Dog Trainer to train her own dogs to become certified therapy dogs. Together, Haruka and her dogs visited schools and workplaces for stress reduction. She found the therapy work changed her dogs’ behaviors for the better and realized there were more benefits to dog training than she expected.

Haruka then made the decision to leave her position as a teacher and attended Playbow Dog Trainer School. Here, she learned Basic Obedience training theories, Clicker training, Positive Reinforcement training, and gained valuable hands-on experience training all breeds, sizes, and ages of dogs. She also gained experience teaching group Basic Obedience training sessions.

During this time, Haruka became an active volunteer at Yokosuka’s Animal Rescue center, PAWS. There, she learned positive reinforcement is not the only answer for training. She worked with the other local dog trainers who also volunteered at PAWS and began to understand the benefits of aversion/consequential training methods. This was solidified after researching global training methods through her membership of the IACP, an organization that fosters the exchange of knowledge between dog trainers on a global scale with the goal of improving the dog training industry.

Haruka is always learning and growing in her mission to help dog owners create a lifelong bond with their dogs. She has seen first-hand through her volunteer work with PAWS and experience with military families how behavioral issues and bite cases can tear dogs from their families. This has ignited a passion for Haruka; she truly enjoys the challenge of training through even the most severe behavioral issues. While she enjoys working with all dogs, she finds it most fulfilling to work with dogs with behavioral problems and helping families overcome them together.