ABOUT
Core Values
- Every Dog Deserves a Chance: There are no “bad” dogs, most dogs are just misunderstood. We aim to bridge the gap between dog and owner, fostering trust and connection.
- Boundaries and Structure: A happy, healthy relationship with your dog is built on clear boundaries, maintaining structure, and meeting their needs.
- Individual Journeys, Unique Solutions: There is no one size fits all solution. We tailor our training approach to honor each dog’s personality for a personalized road to success.
- Empowering Owners Through Education: We help you become the best advocate for your dog, inspiring confidence through knowledge and skills.
People & Pups
Joy S. (Owner & Lead Trainer)
With over 10 years of experience in dog training, Joy is passionate about transforming the lives of dogs and their owners. Her journey began with Ranger, a rescue cattle dog who faced behavioral challenges including severe dog reactivity, igniting Joy’s commitment to understanding and helping dogs in need.
Before founding Mayhem Dog Training four years ago, Joy honed her skills by working with various shelters and rescues, gaining invaluable insights into canine behavior. She especially enjoys working with high-energy herding breeds and dogs with reactivity issues.
Joy holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and previously worked as a wildlife biologist. This unique background enriches her training philosophy, combining a deep respect for all living creatures.
Buck S. (Canine Handler)
Meet Buck, Joy’s husband and the heart behind many of our dog’s adventures! With a passion for the outdoors, Buck plays a vital role in ensuring our canine clients get the exercise and stimulation they need.
Buck has several years of experience handling and exercising dog’s with Mayhem Dog Training. He takes the dogs on runs, walks, and hikes, providing them with valuable experiences outside of training sessions.
When he’s not helping with the dogs, Buck runs his own outdoor fitness company, Outdoor Muscle. His love for running, biking, and hiking allows him to share his enthusiasm for fitness with both humans and their canine companions. Buck’s dedication to canine care complements Joy’s training philosophy, creating a supportive environment for every dog that comes through our doors.
Dixie & Ranger (Helper Dogs)
Dixie and Ranger are the heart of our training team, serving as trusted Helper Dogs in a variety of training situations. They play an important role in demonstrating training techniques for clients, helping owners better understand how to communicate with their dogs.
They also assist in training dogs who are reactive, overexcited, or still learning to stay focused by providing calm, reliable examples and appropriate real-world distractions. You’ll often see Dixie helping with outing lessons or with your dog’s first few reactivity lessons. Ranger is often helping with more advanced dogs.
Their steady temperaments and years of training make them invaluable partners in helping both dogs and their people build confidence and succeed together.
How it Started
Mayhem Dog Training was born from Joy’s personal journey with her two beloved rescue dogs, Dixie and Ranger, affectionately known as the “Mayhem Mutts.” Both dogs came to Joy with challenging behavioral issues, but through patience, structure, and understanding, she transformed their chaos into calm. Inspired by their progress, Joy set out to help other dog owners achieve the same success.
At Mayhem Dog Training, our goal is to empower dog owners to turn mayhem into peaceful, joyful partnerships. We believe that with the right approach, any dog can thrive, and every human-dog relationship can be strengthened. Whether your dog is full of energy, nervous, or struggling with reactivity, we’re here to help you build a deeper bond and enjoy more adventures together.
Based in Lake Tapps, Washington, near Sumner and Auburn we proudly serve clients from Seattle to Tacoma and beyond.
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