Ashley, the founder and trainer behind Co-Regulated K-9s, brings an unusual combination of credentials to her work: over fifteen years of animal training experience alongside more than a decade in mental health and education. She holds certification through the CCPDT and maintains memberships with IAABC and APDT. Her academic background spans psychology and animal-assisted psychotherapy, and she's currently pursuing graduate studies in biology with a focus on the relationship between humans and dogs. Before launching this business, she worked as an Adoption Coordinator at Kitsap Humane Society and trained horses competitively.
According to their website, the training philosophy centers on what they call "co-regulation"—the idea that addressing a dog's behavior means working with both the animal's emotional state and the owner's stress levels simultaneously. They describe their methods as non-aversive and evidence-based, explicitly noting they don't use e-collars, prong collars, or similar equipment. The approach draws on Ashley's mental health background; the site references collaboration with a licensed therapist on content exploring connections between owner anxiety and dog behavior challenges.
The San Diego-based business focuses particularly on reactivity and aggression cases, including dogs with bite histories. They offer both in-person sessions in the San Diego and North County areas and virtual consultations for clients elsewhere. Sniff Spot recognized them as one of California's top positive reinforcement trainers in 2023.
