Canine behavior and training has always been a part of Kitchi’s life. As a hobby, she’s helped friends and family understand and integrate dogs into their lives. On a more professional level, she worked on the Wolf/hybrid handling team at the Wildlife Waystation, a wildlife sanctuary in California. While living on the West Coast, she trained wolves and wolfdogs for the film and television industry as well as volunteered at shelters/rescues.
Upon moving to Valparaiso, she became a volunteer at Porter County Animal Shelter and Lakeshore Paws which led to her becoming a dog trainer on staff at LSP. More recently, she received her certification as a Canine Professional Dog Trainer through the accredited CCPDT, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She shares her home with her husband, two kids, and three rescue dogs that consist of a doodle, a shepherd mix, and a bloodhound/herding mix.