The Dog Who Brought Me Home
When my husband and I decided it was time to bring our first dog into the family, I had no idea that single choice would change the entire course of my life. I was a young mom, my daughter barely two, and my experience with dogs was limited to my childhood companions, Kenna, a Dalmatian, and Tico, a Chihuahua. My husband had grown up around bully breeds and had his heart set on one. That’s when we found Sorsha , a tan and white, nine-week-old pit bull with bright eyes and endless energy.
We were in love. Everything felt perfect… until it didn’t.
Sorsha was wild, stubborn, and far too smart for our experience level. At her first puppy playtime, she rolled another dog, bit, and shook until we had to physically pull her away. What began as excitement turned into fear and frustration. Soon after, my husband left for basic training, and I was left with a toddler and a troubled adolescent dog. It was one of the hardest chapters of my life, but something inside me clicked , I didn’t just want to “fix” her. I wanted to understand her.
That was the moment I became hooked.
I dove into animal behavior, studied everything I could, and eventually started teaching classes at PetSmart. Those early days were magic. It wasn’t just about dogs, it was about people. Classes became a community where families could laugh, struggle, and celebrate together. Watching someone’s eyes light up when they found connection with their dog, that was the moment I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
As I grew, so did my career. I became an Area Trainer, guiding new instructors, writing curriculum, and speaking on corporate projects. I loved watching my trainees discover the joy of helping a pet parent , that spark when success clicked for both dog and human. It reminded me daily why this work mattered.
And during that time, Tator came into my life.
Four years after losing Sorsha, I didn’t think I could ever love another dog that deeply again. But Tator ,a soft-eyed soul afraid of the world, needed me in ways I didn’t expect. He was timid, unsure, and easily overwhelmed. Everything I had learned from Sorsha, all the mistakes, all the patience I hadn’t yet mastered, became the foundation for helping him.
Guiding Tator wasn’t just training. It was healing. He taught me what it means to slow down, to listen, and to meet fear with compassion. He traveled with me all over the country, sat beside me through corporate meetings and long drives, and quietly held space for me when I couldn’t hold it for myself.
Through him, I rediscovered my heart for this work , the reminder that training isn’t about control; it’s about connection.
Eventually, I felt called to go deeper. I began working with Behavior Vets, taking on some of the most complex and emotional cases in the world, aggression, anxiety, compulsions. It was rewarding, but it was also heavy. I faced my first bite after fifteen years of training. I advised families through heartbreak and behavioral euthanasia. And for the first time, I questioned if what I was doing still made a difference.
Physically and emotionally, I was breaking down. An athletic injury to my back forced me to slow down, and that pause became a turning point. I discovered yoga, sound healing, and meditation, tools that helped me reconnect with my own body and spirit. And through that healing, Soluna Mind and Body was born.
Now, I’m finally merging my two worlds, human and canine, to create Soluna Pup, a mindful, bond-based approach to training that honors the emotions, energy, and healing on both ends of the leash.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned through Sorsha, through Tator, and through every dog who’s crossed my path, it’s this:
You might not always get the dog you hoped for, but you’ll always get the dog you need.
Even when it’s hard.
Even when it hurts.
They bring us home… if we let them.
I’ve spent nearly two decades learning from dogs, and every single one has been a teacher in their own way. The lessons they offer aren’t just about obedience; they’re about patience, empathy, and the quiet magic of presence. My hope with The Dog Blog is to share what I’ve learned, the science, the soul, and the small, beautiful moments that remind us why the bond between humans and dogs is one of the greatest gifts we’ll ever know.
If you’re reading this and walking your own path with a dog who’s teaching you more than you expected, know that you’re not alone. You can always begin again.
With heart,
Shannon
