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Francesca Tardue
Dog Psychology, Board Certified Dog Trainer, Mom
Commitment to Being Real
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I've helped a lot of people and dogs. I've given them freedom, understanding, empowerment, hope, joy and peace-of-mind. I've made homes and streets safer. I've worked hard, had a lot of help along the way, and I created a business called Francesca's Dogs.
The reality is I found freedom in working with dogs. It's the space where I feel the most at home, where I can share my gifts.
My Experience
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I cut my teeth in the dog training world fostering abandoned and feral dogs. I did my best to train and rehabilitate dogs so that they could be adopted into families rather than be euthanized. I learned the hard way, made many rookie mistakes, and got bit many times (and so did my own dogs). I never blamed the dogs, they were just being real.
Those experiences made me realize that if I was going to make a material difference in the lives of dogs and families, I needed to understand the dog's mind. I couldn't expect them to understand mine. I attended National K-9 Professional Dog Trainer School where I studied under Scott Mueller, a pioneer in dog training and rehabilitation, and school Director Bob Jervis. Upon graduating as board certified dog trainer, I started my own business first by training my friends' dogs for free and then, through their recommendations, I began to build a modest reputation as a professional dog trainer.
In 2015, I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend a Train The Trainer Seminar lead by Cesar Millan. From that experience, I started apprenticing for free at Cesar's Dog Psychology Center before I was hired as a Head Trainer for group classes. Cesar's ranch felt like Harvard for dog trainers, and I felt like I should be paying him for the opportunity.
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Since I believe mastery is a life long commitment, I continue my education by mentoring under Linn Boyke, who trained under Cesar Millan and founded The School of Dog Psychology.
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My Family
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I'm also a single mom of 2 adopted boys. I am adopted myself so it was always a natural inclination that I would eventually adopt children of my own. My boys are aged appropriately to be involved in my business. Being a trainer is like being a farmer, it's a family business and it's 24/7. It's not an option; it's a way of life.
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My Approach
I speak for the dogs. It's our responsibility to understand the dog's perspective since they can not understand ours.
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We motivate clients to use our approach through demonstration, education, and coaching. Once they get a glimpse into what is possible, the real transformation begins.
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Every dog is unique. We address the root problems and honor what is best for the dog and you. This is why, before beginning any training, we schedule a phone consultation with me at no cost to you. I will often ask for a few video clips of your dog before we begin training. These videos allow me to analyze your dog's behaviors and interactions.
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Based on our conversation, we can then decide on the best training plan and associated costs.