April Sullivan
I have been working with dogs since 2009. My experience ranges from fostering dogs and volunteering with local shelters in North Carolina and locally in Bend, Oregon. I have a Business degree from NC Wesleyan College and prior to opening Happy Social Dog I had a long career focused on data & cloud networking. Even before leaving the corporate world I longed to work with dogs full time.
My most favorite times were volunteering at Saving Grace Animals for Adoption in Raleigh, NC. I could be found there several days a week after work or on a weekend. Located on private property; there I learned how to pair dogs for play groups, work with puppies, care for large farm animals, and make sure the 60-80 dogs on site were all cared for. I was a shift leader, new volunteer mentor, and on the Health and Safety Committee. This is where I found, fostered and adopted my current dog.
I am an active member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and I strive to always keep up to date with the most innovative methods of working with dogs and their owners by attending workshops, taking online courses, reading books and attending seminars across the country. I have mentored under Cheri Lucas, Brian Agnew, Heather Beck, and also attended Training Cesar’s Way (Cesar Milan), Oregon Tails, and Jay Jack / Larry Krohn / Joel Silverman, and Nelson Hodges workshops. Along the way I have made connections with other trainers located around the world, which affords a resource of pooled knowledge that I can easily access.
I am currently enrolled in Caroline Ingraham’s Diploma program for Animal Self-Medication, Ingraham Method of Individualized Medication (IMIM). Animal Self-Medication uses an animal’s innate self-medicative abilities to heal themselves by offering and sequencing plant-based medicines (essential oils) and nutrients. Dogs express their mental and physical well-being through behaviors. Behind many behavioral problems there can be unidentified health conditions such as: GI tract, Urinary, Hormonal, Pain, Nutritional, Neutering complications, Bacterial or Yeast Infections. Once I complete the diploma program my plan is to offer Animal Self-Medication as a secondary business.
I was born and raised in North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham area) and moved to Bend in 2016. I am a small business owner, a wife, a mother, an outdoor lover, and live at home in Bend with my husband and my dog Smidge.
