Enrichment. Adventure. Transformation.
❊ About Me
Compassion. Communication. Trust. Fulfillment.
From a young age, I was the kid who quietly snuck injured or stray critters into my room so I could care for them. That early instinct to help animals grew into a lifelong passion and eventually a career as a Registered Veterinary Technician. I began my professional journey in wildlife rehabilitation and later spent many years in emergency and ICU medicine, working closely with dogs and cats during their most vulnerable moments.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with animals of all temperaments, species, and backgrounds. Each one has taught me something new about communication, patience, and adapting to individual needs.
My personal experience deepened even further when I adopted three rescue dogs, each with their own behavioral challenges. With the guidance of a professional trainer and behaviorist, I learned how to bring out their confidence, reshape their behaviors, and build trust through structure, engagement, and enrichment. That experience opened the door to helping friends, then friends-of-friends, and eventually taking on dogs for walking, hiking, and overnight stays.
What I noticed again and again is simple: most behavioral issues improve when dogs are given the chance to run, explore, think, and play. Fulfillment comes first. Once their natural needs are met, training becomes easier, faster, and more enjoyable for both dog and owner. When training feels like a game, dogs quickly become eager to participate.
Balanced Paws Collective was born from this philosophy—combining professional veterinary experience, structured training, and adventure-based enrichment to help dogs live healthier, happier, more balanced lives.
❊ Testimonials
Loved by Dogs, Trusted by Owners.
Seriously! But don’t take my word for it, here are some things people have to say about me.
My husband and I got a cane corso puppy named Thor. He is our first large working dog and at 8 months old is already 90 pounds! We both are travel nurses and we took the opportunity to have Jackie stay with Thor for puppy pre school. He had so much fun playing with her dog and learned skills that has made handling such a powerful dog so much easier. He even learned how to play with manners, which I honestly had no idea was a thing. Now he doesn’t get attacked by other dogs for playing too roughly.
— Grace. S, Parent
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Our puppy Ella was going through a horrible jumping and puppy biting phase. It got to the point that we would lock her in a spare bedroom when people came over, but then she would be destructive when she was in there. Jackie worked with Ella for two weeks in puppy pre school and then again in puppy finishing school. Ella now waits in her place until invited over by guests and doesn’t bit on us anymore! She also loves her crate and hasn’t destroyed anything in months!
— Sophia R., Parent
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Jackie has been watching my motley crew for 5 years. My four dogs all have some quirky personalities and all rescues. She has helped my family so much with one of our rescues that would attack some of the other dogs and with there recall. We learned so much about animal behavior, minimizing situations that can cause dog fights, and getting our dogs to sit, stay, down, and come when called…….on the first time. This has been HUGE for my family. THANK YOU JACKIE!
— Nathan S., Parent