Kathy offers private behavior consultations for families seeking help with their dogs in Tacoma & Gig Harbor in Washington State (and surrounding communities). She addresses concerns that include aggression toward family members, strangers or dogs; problems on walks; separation anxiety; fears and phobias; house-training; destruction and barking.

As of January 2026, Kathy is accepting new clients on a limited basis, typically booking initial consultation appointments 3-4 weeks in advance, Tuesday–Friday between 9:30 AM–5:00 PM (Pacific US Time).

Initial consultations typically take place in the client’s home, though meeting in a private office is an option for families outside the Tacoma/Gig Harbor area. For new clients, Kathy books a two-hour initial assessment & planning session. The fee is $390. A pre-paid, non-refundable deposit of $90 is required to reserve an initial appointment; it can be paid by via Venmo, Zelle or PayPal and is deducted from the total fee. 

Follow-up lessons are available at $150 per hour. These may take place at the client’s home or a public location. (Kathy will charge a travel fee if the commute is more than 15 miles each way from North Tacoma.)

During the initial consultation, Kathy will investigate your dog’s daily routine and behavioral history. She will observe your dog’s behavior and his/her interactions with family members. Clients may provide video of their dog’s problem behaviors; Kathy encourages this and will review the videos as part of the assessment process. Then, with input from the family, Kathy will suggest a behavior-modification plan for the dog and describe its implementation. On rare occasions, behavior modification may be deemed impractical or too risky. In those cases, Kathy will discuss other options (i.e., strict management; rehoming; euthanasia).