Dogs Have Always Made Sense to Me

Hi, I’m Justine, the founder of Nova Dog Training.

I have always been the person who finds the dog first. As a child, I loved dogs so much that I would pretend to be one at family gatherings. I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and although my career took a different path, dogs have remained at the center of my life and work.

What began as a childhood obsession has grown into more than a decade of experience in animal care, canine aquatics, veterinary support, rescue work, pet-service operations, and professional dog training.

A Career Built Around Dogs

I began working professionally with dogs in 2013 through kennel and daycare positions. Over the next several years, I gained experience in animal handling, pet sitting, client service, veterinary support, and rescue work.

I have always had a special place in my heart for large and misunderstood breeds. My experiences with organizations including Recycled Rotties, Just Giants, and Chicago Midwestern Greyhounds strengthened my commitment to helping rescue dogs feel safe, understood, and successful in their homes.

School never came easily to me—but dogs always did.

In 2018, I became a canine physical therapy assistant and began working in canine aquatics. Under the guidance of an experienced canine aquatic professional, I helped swim dogs recovering from injuries, living with age-related mobility changes, and building strength for athletic conditioning. I also helped introduce beginning swimmers to the water safely and confidently.

That experience taught me to slow down, observe the individual dog, and understand how physical comfort, confidence, and emotional safety affect behavior.

Supporting Pets, People, and Small Businesses

My career later took me to Pet Butler, where I served pets and their people in both field and leadership roles. I worked alongside pet sitters and pet-waste-removal professionals, managed field teams, and eventually supported franchise owners across dozens of locations as they launched and operated their own independently owned pet-service businesses.

This chapter of my career taught me that caring for animals also means caring for the people responsible for them. It sparked my passion for small-business ownership and ultimately helped give me the confidence to create something of my own.

After moving to Tennessee with my husband in 2025, I spent six months training and working inside a positive-reinforcement dog-training facility. There, I taught group classes and private lessons, conducted evaluations, and helped families better understand canine communication, learning, and behavior.

Nova Dog Training brings all of those experiences together.

Why Reward-Based Training?

Positive reinforcement is sometimes mistaken for permissive training, but it does not mean allowing dogs to do whatever they want.

In learning theory, “positive” means that we add something, while “reinforcement” means that we make a behavior more likely to happen again. We use rewards that matter to the individual dog—such as food, play, movement, affection, or access to something they enjoy—to clearly communicate the behaviors we want to see repeated.

Reward-based training can still include structure, boundaries, environmental management, and accountability. The difference is that we teach dogs what to do without relying on fear, intimidation, or pain.

Every learning experience creates an association. I believe those associations should help dogs feel safe, capable, and connected to their people. Training should not only change behavior; it should strengthen communication and protect the relationship at the other end of the leash.

This approach is supported by modern behavioral science. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods for all dog training and behavior modification, noting their advantages for animal welfare, training effectiveness, and the human-animal bond.

For me, choosing reward-based training is not only about whether a method can stop a behavior in the moment. It is about what the dog learns, how the dog feels, and what the training process does to the relationship over time.

The Dog Behind Nova

Nova Dog Training was inspired by our dog, Nova.

Nova came to my husband and me at approximately six months old with discomfort around handling, sleep-related aggression, resource guarding, and other behaviors rooted in fear and insecurity.

Wanting to help her, we made the decision to send her to a board-and-train program that incorporated an electronic collar. We hoped it would give her the support she needed. Instead, we saw the trust between us suffer.

That experience changed the direction of my life and work.

It deepened my commitment to understanding behavior rather than simply suppressing it. It also strengthened my desire to advocate for dogs like Nova—dogs who need patience, thoughtful management, clear communication, and an opportunity to feel safe enough to learn.

Through reward-based training, we began rebuilding our relationship and watching Nova blossom. Her journey is an ongoing reminder that behavior is communication and that every dog deserves to be treated as an individual.

The name Nova means “new.” To me, it represents a new understanding, a new opportunity, and a new way forward—for dogs and the people who love them.

Education and Professional Development

My experience and continuing education include:

• More than a decade of professional experience in animal care and pet services

• Hands-on experience teaching group classes and private training sessions

• Experience conducting training evaluations and educating dog guardians

• AKC Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, including S.T.A.R. Puppy evaluations

• Pet CPR and First Aid certification

• Professional education through Animal Behavior College while working toward the ABCDT credential

• Continuing education toward Fear Free certification

• Experience in canine aquatics, conditioning, mobility support, rescue, and veterinary environments

• Extensive experience supporting large-breed and rescue dogs

I believe good trainers never stop learning. I remain committed to continuing education, evidence-based methods, and referring clients to qualified veterinary or behavioral professionals whenever a dog’s needs extend beyond my scope.

A New Way Forward

You do not need a perfect dog to have a meaningful, joyful relationship.

Whether you are welcoming a new puppy, working through everyday challenges, or rebuilding trust with a dog who has had a difficult start, I am here to help you understand one another and move forward together.

Every dog deserves the opportunity to learn without fear.