Freedom Found K9, McHenry, IL (2026)

06/17/2026

She is here. Freedom Found finally has a van.

I cannot even fully explain what this means. This has been a long time coming and it feels like exactly the next right move for this business. I am so excited about what this makes possible.

Getting here was an adventure in itself. My dad took the day off work, drove to the city with me in the rain, inspected the whole thing, and then we ended up at a completely different dealership before it was all said and done. It was a whole day. And I could not have done it without him. Dad, thank you. Genuinely.

I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported this business, and especially to everyone who took advantage of the one year anniversary special and prepaid for services. You helped make this happen. I do not take that lightly.

The van is getting set up with Ruffland crates, which is how all the dogs will ride. I have three in already and one more on the way, with room for a fifth. Safe, comfortable, and done right.

So be on the lookout for the Freedom Found mobile out in the wild.

And one more thing. She needs a name. Drop your suggestions in the comments because I cannot just keep calling her the van.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🚐❤️

06/15/2026

The Puppy Prep Program is officially here and I could not be more excited about it.

Here is the thing about puppies. The foundation you build in those first few months shapes everything that comes after. Everything. And most people do not realize how short that window actually is until it has already passed.

The Puppy Prep Program gives your puppy the experiences, skills, and support they need during that critical period to grow into a confident, connected dog. We are talking thoughtful socialization and real world exposure, crate and potty training foundations, impulse control, and access to stable adult dogs who actually know how to communicate with puppies.

There are two ways to do it depending on what makes sense for you and your pup.
The first is a board and train. Your puppy stays with me for an immersive two, three, or four week program. Every experience is intentional. Every interaction is supervised. Starting at $2,750.

The second is Pro In Your Pocket. You have questions at 11pm when your puppy will not stop crying. You need someone who actually knows dogs to tell you what is normal and what to do next. That is exactly what this is. Text and call access, personalized homework, and real behavior support for the whole puppy phase, available nationwide for $350 a month. No consult required, just reach out.

You can also combine both if that is what your situation calls for.

Prevention is so much easier than rehabilitation. If you have a puppy right now, this is the time.

Head to freedomfounddogs.com/puppy-prep-program to learn more or DM me and we will figure out which path makes the most sense for your pup.

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 🥰

05/28/2026

As we get closer to June 12th, I’ve been thinking a lot about the last year.

June 12th marks one full year since Freedom Found officially took on its very first client.

And honestly… I still don’t entirely have words for what this past year has meant to me.

Freedom Found was built from grief, frustration, hope, and a deep desire to create something different for dogs and their people.

It was built because I needed a space where dogs could be seen as individuals.
Where behavior could be understood instead of simply suppressed.
Where dogs could safely exist as dogs.

This business exists because of a dog who is no longer here.
And losing him at the beginning of this journey changed me forever.

A huge part of Freedom Found has been trying to honor his legacy by helping more dogs live safer, fuller, better lives.

And over the last year, this incredible community formed around that vision.

You guys trusted me with your dogs.
You attended webinars.
You shared my posts.
You referred friends.
You supported this weird little dream of mine.

And I truly cannot thank you enough for that.

Which brings me to this 😅

I may have stumbled across the perfect Freedom Found adventure van a little earlier than expected.

Over the last year, I’ve put an absolutely ridiculous amount of miles on my daily driver transporting client dogs, heading to sessions, board-and-trains, adventure walks, pick-ups/drop-offs, vet visits, and all the chaos in between.

And honestly? That’s okay.
Dogs deserve adventures.
Dogs deserve movement.
Dogs deserve support.

But I’ve known for a while that eventually Freedom Found would need a dedicated vehicle specifically for the dogs and the business.

And then the universe apparently decided to speed up the timeline a bit 😂

The van I found is a used minivan with incredibly low miles (around 60k), has been really well maintained, and honestly feels like exactly what I’ve been hoping to find long-term for safer dog transport and sustainability for the business.

The only catch is that it’s more than I originally planned to spend.

I had been budgeting closer to the $3,500 range, and this one is $6,500.

But after looking at what’s out there, this one truly feels worth it long-term instead of settling for something cheaper that might immediately turn into expensive repairs.

So instead of asking for donations, I wanted to create something where people could support Freedom Found while also getting something back too ❤️

For a limited time:
Gift cards/service credits purchased will get bonus value added onto them.

These can be used toward:
• Boarding
• Board & Trains
• Adventure Walks
• In-person sessions
• Future services

Here’s the breakdown:
• Purchase $300 → get an extra $75
• Purchase $500 → get an extra $150
• Purchase $1,000 → get an extra $300
• Purchase $1,500 → get an extra $500

I’m also offering:
• A 3-pack of one-hour virtual sessions for $300
• Webinar purchases & All-Access Passes also help support this goal

The virtual package does not include the week-to-week support included in my normal virtual training package, but it’s a great option for those wanting coaching and guidance from a distance.

AND as a thank-you, I’m going to add supporter dog stickers/names onto the van ❤️

Even if you’re not in a place to purchase anything right now, that is completely okay.

Sharing this post, recommending my services, sharing webinars, or simply continuing to support Freedom Found means more than you probably realize.

This business has genuinely become one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.

And this next step would allow me to continue building it in a way that’s safer, more sustainable, and better for both the dogs and myself long-term.

The bigger dream is still the same:
More freedom.
More understanding.
More opportunities for dogs to actually live the good life.

And somehow over the last year, all of you helped make that possible.

So truly… thank you.

For trusting me.
For trusting my dogs.
For trusting the process.
For helping build this community with me.

I cannot wait to see where Freedom Found goes next ❤️

*These offers apply to new purchases and future services beginning in June and beyond, and are not automatically applicable to previously discounted packages, sliding-scale arrangements, or currently active programs/stays. If you have questions about a current booking, feel free to reach out and ask.*

05/19/2026

There’s a side of this work that people don’t always see.

The emotional weight can be a lot.

The hard conversations.
The safety concerns.
The setbacks.
The management.
The grief people carry when they feel like the world doesn’t understand their dog.

A lot of the dogs I work with have very small circles. Sometimes only one or two people they truly trust.

And somehow, somewhere along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to become a part of that circle for a lot dogs.

And honestly? That part never stops feeling profound to me.

Being the first person outside of their family they allow close.
The first person able to leash them up.
The first person they feel safe enough to approach.
The first person trusted to put on a muzzle without panic.
The first person their humans trust to watch them so they can finally take a trip without fear.

But even more than that…

You get to meet the dog underneath it all.

The goofy side.
The silly side.
The soft side.
The dog that exists underneath the barking, the lunging, the fear, the labels, and the “problem dog” conversations.

The side they only show when they truly feel safe.

And I don’t think I could ever fully explain what it feels like to earn that kind of trust from a dog who doesn’t give it easily.

But I do know that moments like that make every hard part of this work worth carrying.

05/18/2026

Hey everybody, I wanted to make an updated post because I did receive some pushback on my last post regarding boarding policies, and after some not-so-kind comments, I decided to take the original post down.

I also hear your feedback, and I think the best next step, and honestly a pretty fair middle ground, is requiring a test night for all boarding stays moving forward.

Previously, I only required test nights for behavioral boarding dogs. However, I’ve had situations where dogs came for “regular” boarding and it became clear they were struggling significantly with separation, confinement, or the overall boarding environment, either because information wasn’t disclosed or because owners genuinely did not know.

Of course, this does not apply to situations where we’ve already had conversations ahead of time regarding your dog’s needs. This includes behavioral boarding, puppy stays, or board and trains where confinement, separation, or acclimation is already part of the training plan. If we’ve already discussed accommodations and expectations, then we can absolutely work with that and it’s not a problem at all.

However, moving forward, all dogs who have not boarded with me before will require a test night before longer stays.

Typically, these are around a full 36-hour stay where dogs are dropped off morning or midday, spend the day and overnight with me, and then are picked up sometime the following day. The goal is simply to get a realistic picture of how they settle, decompress, handle separation, and adjust to the environment before a longer stay.

If a dog struggles during a test night, that does not automatically mean your dog can never board here. It just means we make a plan from there. Maybe we work on some training, maybe we schedule additional shorter stays, maybe we discuss support from your veterinarian, or maybe we set up some fun drop-ins to help them build familiarity with the environment over time.

A lot of this comes down to the fact that confinement tolerance and being cared for by other people are life skills. Emergencies happen. Vet stays happen. Travel happens. Dogs deserve support learning how to safely cope with those situations.

I also want to clarify that my intention with the original post was never to shame anybody or upset anybody. A lot of owners genuinely may not know their dog is struggling during boarding, and honestly, that’s part of the issue within the industry as a whole. If nobody tells owners the truth about how their dog is coping, then how can we ever work on helping the dog feel more comfortable or successful?

I truly care deeply about giving dogs a safe, comfortable home environment while their owners are away, and I want to continue being able to offer that while also making sure dogs are genuinely coping well emotionally in my care.

And just as a reminder, all visits and drop-ins need to be scheduled ahead of time. Please do not show up to my house unannounced.

As always, if you have questions about your own dog or whether these policies apply to your situation, please ask. I would always rather have open conversations ahead of time.

Freedom Found K9

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