About

Our Origin Story

🤓 Theresa here. I’ve pretty much always been That Dog Friend.
A committed friend to dogs and the trusted friend other people call to talk about their dogs.

The title of That Dog Friend has now become a love letter.

To the dogs who shaped me. To the people doing their best.

A Dog Centric Life. From the Start

I was an only child, but I wasn’t alone. My siblings had fur. At the start there was Thumper, a short legged little dude, who was basically my cribmate. Later I’d sneak him into my room or would camp in the yard, so he didn’t have to sleep alone. As a teenager, I’d explore the Santa Teresa hills with Chief, our German Shepherd. All boyfriends had to pass the test, if my dog didn’t like you, it wasn’t going to work out.

My early career started in a large shelter where I focused on humane education, speaking to classrooms and assemblies about responsible pet care. I trained countless foster volunteers based on the behavior and welfare work of Dr. Ian Dunbar. After experiencing compassion fatigue from the shelter system, I pivoted to veterinary medicine, starting as an assistant and working my way to hospital manager.

I eventually opened a pet boutique and training center, named after my beloved pupper, Pickle. We brought in some top trainers and veterinary minds, like Dr. Sophia Yin, to help build a more informed, compassionate pet community.

My career has touched nearly every corner of the industry: training, shelter, retail, therapeutic nutrition, animal health education, veterinary medicine.

An Education. With Dogs in Mind.

Over the years, I’ve continued to grow my knowledge and credentials in dog behavior, welfare and care, including certifications in:

Fear Free Professional
Cooperative Care (TC-CC) 
Canine Enrichment (DN-CET)
Family Dog Mediation (ethology)
Human Animal Bond (HABRI)

And because human communication is a critical part of care, a Master’s in Strategic Communication.

I earned my degree from Washington State University because they have a veterinary school. I wanted to stay close to the profession I love. My capstone? Focused on veterinary suicide awareness and the power of community gratitude to support the mental health of veterinary professionals. It’s always been all about dogs and those who care for them.

That Dog Friend is now the next chapter, bringing it all together.

All inspired by Elli and Pepper and those who came before.