My love for dogs — and all animals — started when I was a child, but my journey into dog training began back in 2000, when I was just 12 years old. After years of convincing my parents that I was ready for a dog of my own, I finally brought home a Springer Spaniel puppy named Lanny. I had spent months studying every breed, devouring every training book I could find, and dreaming about the day I could put it all into practice. What I didn’t know then was that this one puppy would completely shape the course of my life.
Lanny was my first teacher. She taught me that all the obedience in the world doesn’t matter without trust and leadership. That lesson became the foundation for everything I’ve built since — not just in my career, but in how I connect with dogs and their people. My time with Lanny sparked what would become a lifelong pursuit of understanding canine behavior on a deeper level.
About Kolleen - Founder & Trainer at Journey K9
I joined our local 4H dog training club and was introduced to my first mentors, who guided me through obedience, agility, junior showmanship, and therapy dog work. While most kids in middle school and high school were spending their afternoons at sports practice or hanging out with friends, I was racing home from school to train my dog. My “after-school activities” were reading every dog-training book I could get my hands on, practicing new commands with Lanny in the cul-de-sac, and experimenting with what I’d learned that day. I wasn’t just teaching her — I was learning too.
The dog that started my journey!
Looking back, that period of my life was where the foundation of my passion and curiosity for canine behavior truly began. Before long, Lanny and I were competing in AKC trials, and I fell in love with the art and precision of dog training. But when Lanny developed fear-based reactivity later in life, my focus shifted. I began searching for why—why weren’t traditional techniques enough to help her feel safe and confident? That search changed everything. It deepened my understanding that true training goes beyond commands—it’s about relationship, mindset, and emotional balance.
In 2006, I moved to Ohio to study Equine Science at Otterbein University, believing my future might be with horses. But during my freshman year, I worked at the K9 Ponderosa in Delaware, Ohio—and that experience reignited the spark that had been there since childhood. I realized my passion wasn’t just a hobby. Training dogs was my calling.
After graduation, I followed that calling to Austin, Texas, where I attended the world-renowned Triple Crown Academy (now Starmark Academy) for Professional Dog Trainers. There, I immersed myself in the science of learning theory, behavior modification, and the full spectrum of training philosophies. When I graduated six months later, I returned home ready to put that knowledge into practice.
I spent the next three years at the prestigious Olde Towne School for Dogs in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area, training over 300 dogs and their owners. That experience gave me invaluable hands-on experience with everything from fear and separation anxiety to severe aggression cases. It was also where I was first introduced to remote collar training—an approach that would later become a cornerstone of my balanced training philosophy and a life-saving tool for so many dogs and their owners.
In 2014, after losing my beloved Lanny, I packed up my Subaru, my pup Reagan, and headed west to Colorado—drawn to the mountains and a fresh start. The Rockies brought healing, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose. But one terrifying experience solidified my belief in the value of modern e-collar training: when Reagan disappeared while chasing wildlife on a mountain trail, I felt the helpless panic of losing control. Thankfully, she returned—but I knew from that moment forward, I never wanted another dog owner to feel that fear. My goal became clear: to help people achieve the kind of freedom, trust, and safety that every dog-owner relationship deserves.
Since moving to Colorado, I’ve had the privilege of working with several respected dog training companies throughout the Denver area, continuing to refine and evolve my methods through hands-on experience with thousands of dogs. Two decades after Lanny set me on this path, I now have over 15 years of professional training experience—and a lifelong passion that continues to grow with every dog I meet.
Through Journey K9, my mission is to help owners build relationships rooted in trust, structure, and clear communication. I believe that dogs have the power to change our lives, to teach us patience, empathy, and resilience—and that with the right guidance, every owner can experience a calmer, more fulfilling partnership with their dog. My journey has been shaped by the dogs I have loved over the years, and I feel humbled to help dog owners on their own journey with the dogs they love.
If you’ve found your way here because you’re struggling or searching for a better way, know that there is one. You and your dog can have the relationship you’ve always dreamed of. And I’d be honored to help you get there—one journey, one breakthrough, and one wagging tail at a time.
My current pack of Journey K9s - Reagan, Luna, Willow, Logan, & Rookie