Welcome! I'm Ysabel. (That's Keeso!)

 

I've been working with dogs professionally for five years. Before that, I received a BA in Environmental Studies from Mount Holyoke College and an MS in Sustainability from Murray State. I have always been interested in animals and their behavior, but from a young age I've been particularly nerdy about everything dog: types of dogs, their evolution, how they speak to each other and to us, and what it means to live with them in these times of exponential change. While I studied other subjects formally, I plotted to live with my own dogs some day and dreamed of what we would do together. 

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I have now called two dogs mine and, despite all my prior years of nerdery and research, I learned most of what I know about what goes on in other animals' hearts and minds from them. My first few years of professional dog walking and working as a kennel technician solidified my passion for spending every moment I could engaging our canine partners in learning, sport, and companionship. 

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Sharing your life with a dog is not always easy. While my current focus is helping my friends and neighbors to exercise and care for their dogs, I am seeking education and certification to take on the kinds of behavior cases that can so often complicate our lives with them. The name of my business -- MakeJoy Canine -- is both my promise to you and your dogs and a request of them on behalf of all humans. Stay tuned!

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My Continuing Education and Certifications:

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PetTech CPR & First Aid Certified (2026)

L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Course (2025)

2022 Aggression in Dogs Conference (Virtual Attendance)

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Certified Professional Animal Care Provider by the PACCC (Expired in 2026 -- I am seeking alternative certifications)

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