Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Campbell.
Amy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2008, I began walking a friend’s dog on my lunch break. I was at a nonprofit and worked through lunch on most days, so decided that taking on this small task could be a fun and healthy choice for me. It was winter and this golden retriever spent his walks with an energy that could only be read as shouting “I love my life!! I’m going to enjoy every minute!” Feeling weighted down by overwork, a nonprofit position with a boss who didn’t believe that my views mattered, and a failing marriage, I began to look forward to my time with this dog more than any other time of the day. In early summer, I left my job in search of a better fit, and met a woman who owned a small dog walking business and was looking for her first hire. She and I hit it off right away, and I began working with the small group of dogs that were a part of Jenny’s Dog Walking. Until this job, I’d never been to a dog park, and in the dog park I found an unexpected, unconventional, yet joyful representation of community and I loved spending more time with animals. Though I’d loved dogs as a kid, I’d never thought of working with them. My friend Jenny decided to end her time as a dog walker in the winter of 2008, and I took over her dogs, starting my own little dog walking company, Wags While You Work. I also left my marriage and at that time, the mixture of movement, animals, and outside time was a perfect elixir for a broken heart. I was still looking for my “career” but as I stuck with it, I decided that this could be a career for me, and that it combined much of what was meaning for in my life – being with others, helping others, community, understanding how beings grow and change, and how social, physical and emotional development happens. I ran the small business on my own for the first couple of years, at times crying with my sunglasses on over my lost first love, and being so grateful for my new dog friends who were patient, kind, and loving on daily basis. In 2011, I hired my first employee, expanding the number of dogs who were doing park trips, leash walks, and boarding with us. I also attended a week long dog training course on positive reinforcement. At that course, I met the director of New England Dog Training Club, and joined them as a dog training intern at the start of 2012. I knew that I had a way with dogs, but dog training with positive reinforcement is choosing to use learning theory methods that motivate an animal to do new behaviors, rather than using force or fear to stop an animal’s behaviors. Training my dog walking clients became a new challenge, which I loved and I saw the effects of on a daily basis. Fearful puppies succeeded in meeting new dogs and meeting new dogs and feeling happy in the process, dogs who’d previously wanted to bark at other dogs learned how to sit quietly and give attention to the walker, dogs who were prone to guard a ball at the park learned to drop the ball for their person to throw it again. Our dog walking clients saw their dogs developing and growing to be better citizens and better pets – more cooperative and happier. The number of dogs we worked with grew, and I hired more walkers. I choose to get a certification in canine massage after working with an older dogs sore from arthritis, and a dog who suffered from hip dysplasia and soreness from that. I wanted to bring a passive care to my active dogs, and be able to help them, and teach others to help their dogs recover from soreness from aging, activity & regular life. Bringing the three of these things together, I changed the name to Native Dog Wellness and see my job helping dogs as a dog wellness coach. There are so many things that go into having a healthy, happy dog and I advise families on how to combine a plan for their dog that will be good for them.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No way! But it’s been a good road. When you work with dogs, there are many ups and downs. Dogs can be perfect and a complete mess. The life span of dogs is often much shorter than we want it to be, and I’ve known too many dogs who’ve passed away, and are still missed on a daily basis. Teaching a dog to control a behavior driven by a universal emotion (like fear) is no easy task and takes a lot of work and time. Some clients do not understand why their dog can’t be like other dogs they see that are easy-going or more confident. When working with dogs, there are many factors to consider – the dog, the dog’s background, the dog’s health, the dog’s personality, and then there’s the expectations and personality of the parents/family. Seeing dogs with people who are not the right match is tough, as well as seeing dogs struggle upon arrival to the busy city from a calm, quiet country life.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business specializes in holistic care for dogs – looking at the aspects of a dog’s life that mean the most and helping to solve problems in those areas. Having dog friends, feeling comfortable around people, being healthy and feeling good in your muscles and joints, having a good line of communication with your family members. I have a lot of experience with reactive, nervous, and fearful dogs who aren’t sure how to be a dog or how to relax in the presence of new people, new situations, or new dogs. I have a lot of experience in dog play and offered a workshop on proper dog play and dog park etiquette when the new Melrose Dog Park opened two years ago. The dogs who work with us are happy to do so, and they learn to trust and feel good about their life while they learn, which has a lifelong benefit. I’ve taught classes to all ages and breeds of dogs on manners, canine massage, recall, proper play, dog-dog greetings, how to pass the Canine Good Citizenship Test and more.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was shy, introspective and noticed everything. I liked to read books and write stories. I learned a lot through watching people and often felt that what they said didn’t always line up with what their body/tone/non-verbal said. I paid attention and drew my own conclusions about who was content and peaceful, and who was struggling even though they said things were great. I was curious about people and myself, and wanted to read as many books as I could to understand how people work, and why they do what they do. I played sports and was active, having a father who was obsessed with watching, coaching, and playing any and all sports. I wanted to travel and see the world, and was sure I’d move away from home once I could and go explore the world and help others.
Pricing:
- Initial Training Session of 90 minutes – $125
- Initial Massage Session of 60 minutes – $75
- Recall Training of 60 minutes – $100
- Proper Play Training of 60 minutes – $100
Contact Info:
- Address: Somerville, Ma
- Website: nativedogwellness@gmail.com
- Phone: 404-245-8033
- Email: amy@nativedogwellnesss.com
- Instagram: www.instragam.com/nativedogwellness
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nativedogwellness
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/nativedogwellness
Image Credit:
Zach Chadwick, Angie Tollefson
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
