Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilie Ponke.
Hi Emilie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have been working with animals for as long as I can remember. Growing up I would tell people that I would own a pet store so I could be with animals all the time. As a teenager I would dog/cat sit any chance I got. When I moved to Los Angeles I started working with Rover as a second job so I could continue working with animals.
Moving forward, I stumbled upon a Pack Walking position. Not fully understanding the job I went to the interview anyway. My soon-to-be boss introduced me to the incredible world of Dog Behavior. I completely fell in love with this method of working with dogs and haven’t looked back since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been! I think if you ask anyone who works with dogs, they’ll say it’s an ever-evolving journey. Especially those working with dogs in a pack environment. There are so many factors that are involved, their home life, the environment, other dogs’ behavior and so much more.
There are so many incredible trainers to learn from and finding what works best for you or a particular dog takes time. What works for one dog won’t necessarily work for another. It’s a constant learning experience. I think the biggest struggle is having a dog that you can’t figure out. Putting the puzzle pieces together is challenging but when finally solving it the results can be so rewarding.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a dog trainer who specializes in pack walking and socials. My pack walks consist of walking multiple dogs at once in harmony. The incredible thing about pack walking is it gives dogs a job. They have to focus their attention on me as well as their fellow walkers. Dogs are social creatures and giving them an outlet to do so creates a well-balanced dog. Socials are like a dog park but with structure. They’re free to be themselves in a safe environment.
They play, learn and work together. My focus is on dog behavior and Psychology. Meeting a dog where they are and working with them from there. Dogs communicate very differently from humans. Understanding how they communicate changes everything. What is perceived by humans isn’t necessarily what is. We tend to add human emotions and experiences onto dogs.
As a small example, when you see a dog yawn, it’s not exactly indicating they’re tired but is a stress response. They are releasing energy. When you understand the way dogs communicate it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I love being able to show my clients what a dog is “saying” and how to respond accordingly.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Patience and consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oftoothandtail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oftoothandtail
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/oftoothandtail
