Dawn is a Professional Service Dog Trainer, SAR Trainer, Pet Therapy volunteer, and gluten detection expert with over 25 years of experience in training. Dawn is the founder of Willow Service Dogs. She is a member of several professional organizations, including ABMA APDT, PPG, and IAABC, and is committed to ongoing education in science-based dog training, behavioral science, and scent detection. Her training methods are free from force, fear, and intimidation.

 

Dawn was diagnosed with refractory sprue type 1 celiac disease, which prompted her to train the first gluten detection dog, Willow, to help manage her condition. Since, she has trained 3 more of her own working service dogs, Aurita, Teak, and Bodi.

Specializing in gluten and allergen detection service dogs, Dawn has also trained dogs for Autism, PTSD, and Medical Detection. She has successfully trained over 80 gluten detection dogs and is a pioneer in her field, being the first to implement a controlled search with both trained indication and all-clear behaviors, enhancing detection accuracy based on Ken Ramirez’s research.

Dawn has earned titles in Scent Work, Obedience, Confirmation, Hunting, and Tricks with her personal dogs.