Freedom Found Dog Behavior & Training

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United States
McHenry, IL
Freedom Found Dog Behavior & Training

Helping reactive and sensitive dogs build confidence and connection through off-leash adventures, training retreats, and behavior support. Based in McHenry, IL.

All dogs deserve a full, joyful life.

09/02/2026

Schedule update!

Posting well enough in advance to let everyone know!

We will be on vacation from November 3rd to the 15th and will not be available for bookings during that time.

We've not had any time off since April and it will be very much needed! That way we will be back and refreshed for the holidays!

Thanks for your support in this business. I love this little community!

08/29/2026

I haven't shared much lately because there has genuinely been so much going on. It's time for a full update.

On June 28th, Rumor was set to have elbow and shoulder surgery. She went in, had a CT and ultrasound done, and they ended up not doing surgery because the results were inconclusive. She was diagnosed with "medial shoulder instability."

That same night, Roulette went into respiratory distress and needed an emergency vet visit.

Rumor started rehab for the shoulder diagnosis. She wasn't improving with rehab and rest.

Roulette had another emergency visit, this time for ripping out his dewclaw.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, the van I'd bought turned out to be a dud with a blown cylinder head, and the dealership refused to do anything about it.

Roulette then got bit by another dog on his paw. Another emergency visit.

Rumor kept getting worse, not better, and I felt like no one was taking it seriously. So we pushed for a full body CT. Turns out she doesn't have medial shoulder instability at all. Her shoulders and elbows are completely normal. The actual problem is in her lower spine: degenerative disc disease at the lumbosacral junction with nerve compression on her right L7 nerve root. That's what's been causing her pain and lameness this whole time.

So then came the search for a neurologist and a real plan to treat the actual issue instead of the wrong one. We've now had both consults and we're moving forward with an MRI along with a series of epidurals. Rumor gets her first epidural on 9/8, another 2 weeks after that, and a final one 4 weeks after that. Along with all of it, a smarter rehab plan built around what's actually going on.

And in the middle of all of it, Roulette's puppies were born. Nine perfect puppies, six boys and three girls. Yes, I am absolutely keeping one, a little girl, and I already have her name picked out. I'm so excited to bring everyone along on this puppy raising journey.

We also finally got rid of the dud van and replaced it with a 2023 Chrysler Voyager with a great warranty. I'm out about 7k on the first one, but that beats what it would have cost to replace the engine. I decided not to pursue legal action against the original dealership. It would have taken time and energy away from Rumor's care, Roulette, the puppies, and my client dogs, and I need to protect that time right now.

I've also been having issues with my email. I believe it's resolved now, but if you've been waiting on an email from me that I sent and you may not have received, please send me a message.

To everyone who has followed along, been a client, checked in, or shown patience while I've had to reschedule or adjust things, thank you. Truly. Rumor, Roulette, and I feel so supported by this community.

We are now booking for mid to end of October and November. If you have dates you need, reach out soon so I can hold them for you.

08/25/2026

Photo dump of dogs in the past few months!

Love each one of these as my own 🧡 All these dogs I’ve been blessed to leave a little impact on their lives and they are welcome back at any time.

These aren’t in any particular order!

I’ve got some fun updates for you all soon. But for now enjoy 🥰

08/17/2026

I know it has been a while since I posted and I will have some fun updates soon!

But wanted to give you all an availability update.

I am FULLY BOOKED for August and September.

I am taking BOARDING ONLY for mid to late October.

Board and Trains will resume in November.

As always, thank you for trusting me with your doggos. I love them all to bits. If you need boarding for the holidays, NOW is the time to start looking at the calendar.

Please don't wait last minute to book.

07/06/2026

I have 3 spots opening up in Freedom Found Circle, my membership group for guardians of reactive and excitable dogs.

If you've ever felt like you're on an island with your dog's big feelings, this is the group I built so you don't have to be.

Here's what's included for $150/month:
▪ Monthly Zoom group calls
▪ Real life skills work and practice with safe dogs in the Chicagoland area
▪ Full access to the Thinkific video library
▪ A private community group for support between calls
▪ Discounts on treats and chews through group orders
▪ Discounts on my monthly webinars
▪ Biannual 1:1 Zoom check ins with me to set goals for your dog
▪ A profile in the Total Welfare app to track your dog's wellbeing

This is for guardians who are ready to keep learning, keep showing up, and build real skills alongside other people who get it.

Only 3 spots. DM me to get started or if you have any questions. There is still time to get in on the action for July.

07/02/2026

A lot has happened around here lately and I have been meaning to get you all caught up.

First, Freedom Found has a new name. We are officially Freedom Found Dog Behavior & Training, with a brand new website to match at freedomfounddogs.com. Same work, same heart, same welfare-first approach. Just a name that finally reflects what we actually do.

Second. We got the van. The Freedom Found mobile is here and I am so excited about what this makes possible. This has been a long time coming and I could not have done it without everyone who supported this business, purchased the anniversary special, and especially my dad who took a full day off work to drive to the city with me in the rain, inspect the car, and then do it all over again at a second dealership. It was a whole adventure. Dad, thank you.

June was honestly the craziest month this business has ever had. We are finally starting to see the other side of it. Rumor had a procedure on the 29th and is recovering, very reluctantly.

A few availability notes. I have one board and train spot and some boarding space open in August if you have been on the fence.

And finally, our next webinar is coming up fast.
Born to Chase: Understanding Prey Drive, Predatory Behavior, and Your Dog's Biology
Live on July 15th at 7pm Central
$39.99 / included with the All Access Pass
Register at freedomfounddogs.thinkific.com/products/courses/born-to-chase

If your dog loses their mind over squirrels, rabbits, or anything that moves, this one is for you.

06/12/2026

One year of Freedom Found.

Honestly, besides my dogs themselves, this business has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. And I cannot put into words how thankful I am for every person who has trusted me with their dogs, supported this business, shared my posts, referred friends, or simply believed in what I am trying to build here.

Freedom Found was built out of frustration. Out of tears. Out of exhaustion. Out of watching dogs struggle while their actual needs were overlooked. Out of seeing dogs set up for failure instead of being understood as individuals.

I needed an outlet to train the way I believed dogs deserved to be trained. To create a space where behavior wasn't treated as disobedience but as information. Where dogs could be seen as whole living beings with needs, emotions, genetics, and personalities.

And somewhere along the way, Freedom Found became exactly that.

But at the center of all of it was a dog who is no longer here.

This business exists because of him.
And losing him at the beginning of this journey changed me forever.

I think we've done a pretty good job honoring him.

Every dog that gets more freedom.
Every dog that learns how to feel safe again.
Every dog that gets understood instead of punished.
Every dog that gets to simply be a dog.

That's part of his legacy too.

This past year has been nothing short of incredible, emotional, overwhelming, exhausting, fulfilling, and deeply meaningful.

And I'm really proud of what we're building here.

As we head into year two, we've expanded our services at every stage, including the launch of our Puppy Prep Program and Pro In Your Pocket (more on that to come).

There are some exciting things in the works. A few projects are taking longer than expected, but trust me, they're coming. 😉

For now, I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for trusting me with your dogs.
Thank you for supporting my business.
Thank you for believing in my vision.
Thank you for allowing me to do work that I genuinely love every single day.

You've helped build this.

And I hope you know how much that means to me.

Here's to year two ❤️

06/10/2026

Hey everyone!

A little update for anyone looking to book!

Boarding and board and trains are fully booked for the rest of June and all of July. I do have boarding availability opening up in August, but board and train is booked through August as well.

If you are looking for in person sessions, I am booking into July right now. My schedule is full through June 30th, but if you want to get on the calendar or need support before then, I can absolutely work with you virtually in the meantime.

Adventure walks for July and August are going to be scheduled once I have surgery dates confirmed for Rumor. July is going to be a slower month for us as she recovers and I want to make sure I am giving her what she needs during that time. I will keep you all posted as things get sorted out.

As always, reach out through the website or DM me directly to get on the books.

Photo of Rumor by Black Dog Bytes

06/04/2026

I am going to say something that might ruffle some feathers and I genuinely do not care.

DO THE FU***NG PAIN MED TRIAL.

I have a dog in my program right now. She came to me for biting people in the house when being touched. Which, yes, that is a serious behavior. But before we do anything else, we do the right thing. We rule out pain first. So we sent her to the vet for a full workup. X-rays. The whole thing.

Hip dysplasia confirmed.

And the vet cleared her.

"She is not limping. The hip dysplasia does not seem to be bothering her."

She is biting when touched. She is crying out during normal activity. She cannot settle. She is escalating.

I am not a vet. I want to be really clear about that. But I have been doing this long enough to know that not limping does not mean not hurting. Stoicism is a survival mechanism. Dogs are wired to mask pain. That is not a green light. That is a dog doing exactly what dogs do when their body hurts and nobody is listening.

And here is the thing I keep coming back to. I wrote about this a few months ago when my own back was out and I noticed how much shorter I was with my dogs. How sounds that never bothered me suddenly did. How Rumor's normal snuggling felt impossible. My behavior changed because my capacity changed. Pain does that. To all of us.

Research out of the Autonomous University of Barcelona found a direct link between pain and aggression in dogs. The most common cause? Hip dysplasia. Dogs with no previous history of aggression who developed pain became more impulsive, bit more frequently when handled, and were more likely to assume a defensive posture than dogs who had shown aggression before. And their owners were often completely blindsided because nothing in that dog's history prepared them for it.

Sound familiar?

When a dog is in pain, the brain shifts into survival mode. The pathways that normally handle sensory input, coordination, and emotional regulation get taken over by pain signals. You cannot train your way around that.

You cannot train your way around that. Behavior modification does not fix a body that hurts. The downside of trying is minimal. The downside of not trying is a dog who keeps suffering while everyone looks for answers in the wrong place.

About 80% of my cases have a medical component. That was not something I set out to specialize in. It just kept showing up case after case until I could not ignore it anymore. And now I feel a responsibility to say something when I see it being missed.

So I am genuinely asking, not coming for anyone. What is the hesitation with a pain med trial? What do you actually lose? A few weeks and the cost of the medication. What do you lose by not doing one? A dog who keeps getting labeled a behavior problem while her body is quietly screaming that something hurts.

She is telling us. In the clearest way she knows how.

You don't lose anything by doing the trial but you have everything to lose if you don't.

Picture of Roulette just because.

06/02/2026

Here is a quick availability update!

June is fully booked across the board.

For July, I have one board and train spot, limited boarding availability, and I am opening up two in-person session slots.

August board and train is already booked, but boarding spots are still available. If you have been wanting to get your dog in, now is the time to reach out and reserve!

As always, thank you for supporting me and this dream 🥰

Address

McHenry, IL
60050

Website

http://www.freedomfoundk9.com/

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