Hey, I’m Caitlin —the founder of The Adaptive K9.
I never set out to be a dog trainer. I’ve always loved animals but honestly, I didn’t ever think of “dog trainer” as a life path until I met Chucho.

When I got Chucho, I was just trying to survive. I needed a service dog, but I didn’t have the resources to go through a program. So I did what a lot of disabled people end up doing—I trained him myself.

What I didn’t expect was how that process would change my life.

Training him wasn’t just about teaching commands. It was about building trust, overcoming challenges, adapting methods to fit both of our needs, and learning to advocate—not just for my dog, but for myself.

Through every challenge, certification, breakthrough, and setback, I realized two things:

First and foremost — I love training dogs.

I’m good at it, and more than anything, I want to help others do it too because…

Secondly — it was way more challenging than I ever thought it would be, and I had prepared myself for a challenge. No one should go through this alone.

That’s how The Adaptive K9 was born.

This isn’t just a dog training service, it’s a space for disabled individuals—especially those who want to owner-train their service dogs—to find support, education, and training that actually fits them and their lives.

Whether you're just starting out or looking for help fine-tuning your training plan, I’m here to help you feel empowered, not overwhelmed. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to be dismissed, doubted, and left to figure it out alone.

I also know what’s possible when someone finally says, “I believe in you.”

Welcome to The Adaptive K9.

Let’s do this together.