Hi, I’m Jess Ray.

Guardian and advocate of 3 dogs (meet them here) and a Certified Family Dog Mediator ®. (learn more about that here)

I’m also a voracious reader (reading list here) and passionate advocate for shelter dogs. (I volunteer here)

I believe we’ve lost our way.

Somewhere in the last 20 years or so we stopped letting dogs be dogs.

We expect them to be perfectly behaved extroverts who’ve never met a human or dog they don’t like. A growl is seen as “aggression”, a bark is labeled “reactive” and leash-pulling is labeled “dominance”.

Their world, like ours, has changed. A lot. 

We share a world full of screens and social media standards, hectic schedules and doggy-day cares, board-and-trains and beer gardens, trips to the big box stores and dog parks.

Dogs bred for snow are living in the desert. High-energy working breeds are cooped up in apartments with no outlet. Meanwhile ASPCA’s and Humane Societies across the country are filled beyond capacity with dogs who did nothing more than be a dog. 

Seriously.  What are we doing?

Here’s an invitation to try something different. 

To put down our devices, loosen up our busy schedules, and let go of the impossible standards. 

To shift our perspective, our expectations, and explore a new mindset. 

To understand that our dogs view their world through an olfactory landscape fueled by their senses, raw emotions, early life experiences and natural instincts. 

To see your dog, and their world, through a new lens: the lens of their L.E.G.S.®

As a Certified Family Dog Mediator®, I guide you through the lens of L.E.G.S.®: Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self. Together we craft a clear picture of who your dog really is and what your dog really needs. 

With simple, real-life tools and strategies, we address the tension points, reduce stress, and create space for meaningful change — at your dog’s pace, and yours.

Together, we create a lifestyle that works for both of you. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply curious, I offer a free. zero-pressure 30-minute call where we can explore what’s going on and how I might help.