It may have been destiny that dogs would play such an integral part in Tara’s life. Having been a digital strategist in the marketing world for more than 25 years, she already had an enviable capacity for insight, patience, diligence and thinking on her feet — many of the characteristics, it turns out, that make her an exceptional trainer. Add to that an out-of-the-box approach (or more aptly, an “out-of-the-doghouse” approach) to training itself, and you have the makings of the Liberated Pup.

Her training journey began in 2003, when she first earned her ABCDT designation (Animal Behavior College-certified dog trainer) — and it quickly became clear her journey wasn’t over. (And it still isn’t.) After graduating with distinction from the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy Master Class Program (CCTA certification), she began working at Sugar Paws Dog Training in March 2022, teaching puppy kindergarten, advanced classes, and private in-home sessions. 

The Liberated Pup was born a year later, giving her the freedom to practice the kind of positive, practical, real-world training that she believes offers the most meaningful results, for pups and people of all kinds, throughout their lives together. Grounded in science, it’s nevertheless an art: helping forge a strong, lifelong bond between pets and their owners.