I sat on the grassy hillside near a field, running the leash through my hands, trying to catch my breath in the fresh air. Feeling alone, frustrated, and lost, I had attempted unsuccessfully to run away from the hurt until my legs gave out and my heart pounded in my ears. I reached out to my dog sitting nearby, her tongue lolling and the sun warming her soft, black fur. Stroking her back habitually, I was overcome by the insecurities and gravitas of teenage angst. As I touched her though, she leaned into my hand and shifted closer, balancing her weight against my side, allowing me to fully embrace her. My troubled heart heaved a grateful sigh of relief. It has taken me nearly 20 years to fully appreciate how remarkable dogs are, but what I experienced in that moment seared a love and desire in my heart and mind to associate with animals the rest of my life. There is incredible potential within the relationships of humans and dogs that can be unlocked through benevolent stewardship, scientific truths, and trustworthy mentorship; the difficulty is in how and where to find that.
Dogs can bring an unparalleled connection, support, and affection to our lives and communities, often making a significant difference in the short time they share their lives with us. We invite them to live among humans and they brilliantly respond, attempting to navigate the foreign nuances of our world, deciphering what we want and adapting to fulfill needs. Raising a dog does not usually come intuitively, and there are so many methods and opinions on how best to do it. When expectations are not met we are left to wonder where the deficit lies and who to turn to for help. Society depends on the expertise of dog trainers and behavior consultants to bridge the gap when struggles emerge.
Several years ago I experienced this when two dogs of my own started to erupt in fights that I could not predict or control. I realized then that love and good intentions are not always enough; I needed someone who had expertise with dogs to show me the way. I wanted to restore peace in the lives of my dogs and joy in having them as part of mine. However, while pursuing various methods of dog training I could not discern the dogmatic from the enlightened, the self-appointed from the educated, and the bond with my dogs deteriorated. It was a mystery to me at the time why they were struggling to begin with, and I was led to believe I had failed at training them. It was a heartbreaking journey, rife with regret and shame, one I know others have experienced and countless more potentially face. It brought me to an acute realization of the value of professionalism and the need for expertise in the dog training industry. The wellbeing of animals, people, and communities depend upon it. The unresolved confusion and frustration became a catalyst for me to learn all I could about dogs and training. It committed me on the path to becoming the professional I had desperately needed, to achieve the level of expertise required to genuinely and effectively help others.
Volunteering for a large animal rescue organization fortunately led me to a generous and gifted mentor who patiently guided me through evidence-based learning. As my knowledge of learning theory, ethology, and behaviorism grew, I gradually shed the misconceptions and guilt I had carried for so long. I have since gained the tools to help others, forever changing how I approach dogs and people. It is true that how we do one thing is how we do everything. Science-based dog training has transformed my life, reawakening the joy-filled passion I once felt for animals, and has brought new positivity in working with people. The experience and insights I have gained along the way working with rescue organizations, pet owners, and assistance dogs in training, and attending courses have been invaluable. I have learned that an altruistic learning environment free of coercion and retribution is just as crucial for humans as it is for dogs. We cannot provide compassion, control, and choice to one and not the other and have both thrive. It takes universally inclusive and uplifting interactions to develop trusting relationships where learning and change can occur. I have witnessed again and again as I teach volunteers, families, and organizations, that the same principles of how to improve our stewardship of dogs carries over into various aspects of people’s personal lives. In my own life this is a gift that has precipitated becoming a better parent, friend, and citizen.
Each one of us is at a different stage in our quest for knowledge, but it’s imperative we share with all who are willing to learn. Good will and education are enabling and transformative, and we can never fully predict another’s potential or influence in benefiting society. I believe in mentoring others with integrity and unconditional kindness, holding professionalism to a higher ethical standard of stewardship. Rebecca Park embodied these virtues with poise and provided an enduring example for others like myself to follow. I’m striving to emulate her in cultivating trust and sharing expertise in a way that dogs and people will be receptive to learning. I plan to bring clarity to a convoluted industry for individuals and families, and provide empowering education to organizations seeking to improve the lives of dogs, to help them set the standard for animal stewardship in the communities they serve. It is a worthwhile sacrifice of time and effort when each individual and organization I reach creates a new sphere of positive influence that will share with others, radiating out, touching the lives of innumerable dogs and people.
Receiving the Rebecca Park Scholarship will enable me to perpetuate her influence and example by providing expertise and instruction to others in understanding, improving, and repairing the bond between humans and dogs through humane training and benevolent mentorship.
Aubrey Williams devotes her time to her family of 5 children, 2 dogs, faith, karate and community. She is a dedicated lifelong learner continually attending courses, voraciously reading, and carefully applying as she endeavors to serve and improve the lives of animals and people. She is embarking on a new journey this year as a blog writer and the owner and principle trainer of You Me We – Canine Consulting, Care and Education in Calgary, Alberta.
Aubrey was the winner of the 2016 Winter Rebecca Park Scholarship and is currently enrolled in our Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice course.
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Mike is an emerging animal behaviorist sitting in Minnesota in the US. He carries an MSc in social science research methods (U. of Kentucky) and brings a passion for understanding how the methods we favor shape the knowledge we privilege. Coming from careers in teaching and non-profit program evaluation, he found companion animal behavior by accident helping anxious feline friends in a unique shelter in Ohio. It is a privilege and a joy to combine these and advance the journal in this exciting time of growth.
Alexandra is a certified dog behavior consultant and holds a PhD in neuroscience. She has spent over a decade in academic research and is author of numerous scientific articles on different aspects of brain development, including olfaction, neurogenesis, and memory formation. Her work as a behavior consultant focuses on creating trusting relationships between humans and their dogs through communication, respect, and science-based knowledge. Alexandra is very dedicated to promoting more science within the dog training world. She supports dog guardians and professionals to build a solid understanding of scientific principles and provides guidance on how to apply these to life with dogs. She runs Canine Mindscape in Alicante, Spain.
I’m an Argentinean-Italian dog trainer and CSAT who spent eight amazing years in Brazil learning and working with dogs. Now based in Europe, I volunteer with the IAABC as a translator and, in my free time, help rehomed dogs settle into their new families. I love bridging languages—and hearts—between people and their dogs.
I’m a translator, editor and journalist, as well as canine educator for children and families, specialized in canine body language. I am part of the IAABC Family since 2019, as Language Director at the IAABC and Translators Team Lead at the IAABC Foundation, at the moment. I volunteer at local shelters and promote bite prevention and animal welfare at schools and events all over my country, Uruguay.
I’m a Chilean veterinarian and certified dog trainer, based in Madrid and working at a veterinary clinic. I’ve been volunteering with the IAABC and the IAABC Foundation for over seven years. In my free time, I help dogs and their guardians strengthen their bond, and I love spending quality time with my own dogs.
Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, with a strong interest in environmental sustainability and the protection of natural ecosystems. Passionate about writing and science communication, she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on research projects, such as Equine International, and with non-profit initiatives in the environmental and cultural fields. She is writing for different magazines, including IAABC Foundation. Her major goal is to improve horse’s welfare through behaviour research and empirical practice.
Adrienne Hovey is the copy editor for the IAABC Foundation journal and the owner of 
I believe that knowledge from a wide range of disciplines fosters a more empathetic, curious, and engaging world. I am passionate about social, environmental, and minority rights issues (both human and non-human), and this has invariably led me down the road of multi-species anthropology. Perpetually curious about the world we live in, I hope to contribute towards making the world a kinder place for all of us earthlings to live on!
Beckie Wheldon is based in England, UK, and has been supporting the IAABC Foundation Journal team as a volunteer journal content editor since early 2025. She has a BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, and has recently completed a MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour. With a passion for both practical and theory, Beckie is proud to be a part of the journal submission journey and support the process of applied animal behaviour information and research getting from our writers to the readers. As her full-time career, Beckie is currently part of the UK veterinary charity, PDSA, as a Learning and Development Business Partner for Veterinary, where she supports the professional development of people in their Veterinary Hospitals. Her last position was with the rescue charity, Dogs Trust, as a Canine Behavioural Welfare Manager, where she worked on embedding evidence-based behavioural welfare best practices throughout policy and practices, with both internal and external professional stakeholders, such as the police and military. With a varied background in kennels, caregiver education, and charity dog training classes, Beckie is also an accredited Animal Training Instructor (APDT UK) and an Associate Clinical Animal Behaviourist (APBC).
Erin Jones, PhD, IAABC-ADT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CANZ-ATI, CANZ-ABC, is the Journal Director of the IAABC Foundation Journal. She holds a PhD in Human–Animal Studies, an MSc in Anthrozoology, a PG Dip in Animal Welfare, and a BSc (Hons) in Anthropology and Psychology. An international presenter, editor, writer and mentor, Erin’s writing bridges research and practice with a focus on the intersection of philosophy, ethics and dog-centered behaviour practice. She is the author of Constructing Canine Consent and co-editor of Topics in Non/Human Coexistence and numerous academic and trade journal publications.