Jess
Jess is a force-free behaviorist and is Fear Free Certified. She started training dogs in 2016, and she has worked for veterinarians and rescue facilities since 1994. Jess has also been CPDT-KA Certified (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) since 2018, and most recently earned her certification in Applied Animal Behavior through the University of Washington in June 2023.
Her specialties include behavior modification, socialization, desensitization, counter-conditioning, response substitution, and enrichment facilitation.
(Seen here with her friend, Nellie.)
Kie
Kie has been pet sitting most of her life, and has recently joined the Muzzles Up team as the official Pet Sitter!
Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR since 2021, Kie has been shadowing Jess and acting as her assistant since Muzzles Up was founded in 2019.
Kie is also a Certified Pet Nutrition Specialist and is available for nutrition consultations at Earthwise Pet in Marysville.
The Fur team
Dira
Indira (more often shortened to Dira) was born intended for human consumption in South Korea. At nearly a year old, she was brought to the US for rehabilitation and adoption. In December 2015, after four months in local shelters and having shown no desire to interact with or bond with humans, Dira was adopted by Jess and her family, who fell in love with her at first sight.
Due to being raised to adulthood in a cage, with no or very minimal human interaction, Indira is very shy and was not at all trusting of humans. Through associative learning and a lot of love, Dira has grown to trust her family and close friends. She may even approach to sniff and take a treat from you (her favorite is string cheese,) if you meet her out in public!
Nanuq
Also a rescue, Nanuq was adopted in August of 2017 at three months old. His history is unknown but, as a puppy, he was submissive and timid. He bonded quickly with Indira, but he cowered and rolled, pancaked, and tucked his tail any time he was talked to or approached by most humans who weren’t his own. Through learning and frequently practicing basic cues and a few tricks, Nanuq has gained confidence and he stands and walks proudly, tail happily wagging, when greeting people!
Nanuq is currently working on dog reactivity through desensitization and counter-conditioning.
Calla
Calla is the newest addition to the Muzzles Up family. She was born on February 12 of 2019, and has a very interesting history. Born to a mama who couldn’t feed her, she was fostered by an amazing breeder who had recently lost all but one of her own litter. The first few weeks were rough on Calla, and full credit goes to the foster breeder who made sure she was fed and warm. She saved her life. She is named for the majestic flowers who come back stronger and more beautiful than ever after going through difficult conditions.
Calla has been trained through the basics and socialized heavily. There are big plans ahead for Therapy work or Search and Rescue, if possible! She also has an incredible ability to make people smile, whether they want to or not. Her personality is bigger than life.
