Our Approach

We take a holistic approach to dog training; we consider your dog’s background, previous experiences and exposures, genetics, breed specific requirements, personality, preferences, and your specific goals and needs when developing a training plan. The foundation of our training is nurturing the relationship between you and your dog, and our goal is to help you bridge any gaps in communication and understanding of each other long-term. We believe in prioritizing mindset over obedience, and the importance of teaching your dog the ability to regulate their nervous system. We also advocate for the safe and appropriate usage of corrective tools - such as slip leads, prong collars, and e-collars - and often integrate them in our training practice.

Meet The Team

Co-Founder
My journey into the professional dog world began like so many others – with a high-energy pup and a very exhausted mom. Koda was spending most of his time confined to his crate while I was at work, and long neighborhood walks in the evenings weren’t cutting it. He was unfulfilled, I was overwhelmed, and I quickly found myself dealing with a growing list of behavioral issues that I didn't know how to address.
I knew I needed to make a change. What I wanted to do was quit my job and spend every day with my fur baby. Instead, I started taking him on weekend hikes, and invested in professional dog training - and that’s when everything shifted. First, our relationship improved immensely through functional obedience training. Second, we both fell in love with our time in the woods and all of the benefits that came with it. After an hour of walking, running, training, and using his nose, Koda was finally exhausted – which was something I never thought I’d see!
In the end, I did quit my job to spend every day with my dog - I started a business called Trails & Tails, designed to help other overwhelmed dog parents like me provide an outlet for their city dogs to be adventurous. For three years, Koda and I led group hikes twice a day, incorporating training and structure throughout each hike to ensure all the dogs came home tired and fulfilled, but without bad manners. During that time, I developed a passion for dog training and how it helped me build a deep, trusting relationship with each of my client’s dogs - and how it brought out the best of their personalities, and allowed us to enjoy nature more responsibly.
When I brought Kayte and Tilly onto the team, we quickly realized that we shared the same approach, values, and passion when it came to dog training. We had a vision of what we could accomplish, and we decided to expand the business together. That’s when True North K9 was born - a business developed from the foundations of Trails & Tails, but with added services to help other dog parents learn how to connect with their dogs through lifestyle training & owner education.
My goal is to teach you how to live a more harmonious life with your pup, whatever that may look like for you. Koda and I (and Koda’s brand new puppy sister, Sage!) can’t wait to meet you and help you along in your training journey!
My instagram: @luiza_truenorthk9

Co-Founder
Like Luiza, I entered the world of dog training unintentionally, when I fell in love with the process of training my first dog, Tilly. When I rescued her as a puppy, I knew I wanted to be able to take her everywhere with me - and I figured good training was the first step in making that happen. Tilly ended up loving to train just as much as I did, and I was blown away by what we accomplished with a little dedication and the support of a professional trainer. Watching Tilly grow in both her confidence and skills, and giving her access to as much of the world as I could, proved to be immensely fulfilling for both of us and life-changing for my own mental and physical health.
Before working with dogs, I worked with babies in the NICU as a registered nurse. As much as I cherish my work as a nurse, the lifestyle requirements of working in a hospital setting full-time became increasingly difficult as the years went by. I made a difficult decision to go part-time to tend to my own health, without any idea of the direction I’d go next - but I did know that the only thing I loved as much as working with babies & their families, was spending time with my dog. As fate would have it, this was the exact time that Luiza was hiring her first employee for Trails & Tails. I knew instantly when I read her job posting that I wanted to give this career pivot a shot.
Fast forward a year into leading pack hikes for Trails & Tails, and I’ve officially dove into the world of dog training full time - by helping Luiza expand on her original vision and developing our new business, True North K9, together as partners. I am passionate about helping other dog owners achieve the same things that I never expected to achieve when I first became a dog mom. I believe strongly that dog training will look different for everyone; I know intimately from my time as a NICU nurse that all families come with different backgrounds, lifestyles, and learning needs, and I strive to apply that experience to my dog training practice by tailoring my approach to fit your unique goals.
I feel truly grateful every day to be able to bring dogs and their owners the same joy that I felt while learning how to connect with Tilly. I know it can be incredibly hard to trust just anyone with your dog, and I promise not to take that responsibility lightly. I’m so glad you’re here at True North K9!
My instagram: @kayte_truenorthk9