About Us
Riley’s Beginnings
Why do so many great dogs and cats end up without homes? How does this happen? While volunteering at a local shelter many years ago, these questions weighed heavy on my heart. The more time I spent there, the more I learned. Often, when people don’t know how to solve behavior issues, they give up hope for a happy life with their pet. And, to the shelter good animals go.
I rescued my Rottweiler, Riley, from that very same shelter.
She was my love and inspiration, and we worked hard together to enjoy the life I dreamed we’d have, from that very first day when I brought her home. And we did have that amazing life that I dreamed of. She was such an amazing dog it was hard to understand why she ended up there. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to Riley in 2021, but the cycle of good dogs ending up in shelters continues. They just need someone to give them a chance and help them learn how to be the best they can be.
So, began my journey to find a way to help people build better relationships with their pets. Because every pet deserves the life of Riley.
– Wendy Taylor, Founder
Wendy’s Beginnings
As a child, my happy place was on the dairy farm where I grew up. There were animals to play with, and they accepted me unconditionally. In elementary school, there was this one moment – this defining moment – that went all wrong and left me feeling isolated, like I couldn’t let anyone know the real me inside for fear of being rejected.
As a teenager, I had the opportunity to raise two litters of puppies. I kept one pup from each litter for myself to train and show in obedience, and I excelled in doing so. Despite all the commotion of the working farm on which I lived, I could get my two dogs to focus on our training and respond to my cues. They’d even spend an entire five minutes in “sit” and “down/stays” without breaking. Doing well with them at home and in the show ring gave me a great sense of purpose, so I decided then that somehow I wanted to work with dogs for a living. Determined to pursue my passion, I majored in Animal Science in college, fully intending to pursue my dream to become a dog trainer.
Well, I got side-tracked. Naysayers, negative thoughts, and logistics made me think that working with animals for a living was an absolute pipe-dream. But, for the next thirty years, I still held onto this belief that one day I would find a way to pursue my dream of working with dogs. It never left my mind.
In my 40s I started volunteering at a local animal shelter and couldn’t believe how many amazing dogs and cats ended up there. I learned that when many people don’t know how to solve behaviour issues, they give up hope for a happy life with their pet. And that got me thinking, what if people had hope? What if they could learn how to communicate with pets?
These thoughts took me back to that defining moment in elementary school. It occurred to me that the same thing can happen to dogs when they have a negative experience. They Shut Down.
That’s when I realized it was time for me to follow my passion and pursue my childhood dream, because I knew I could help people and their dogs live happier lives.
I became certified as a dog trainer through Victoria Stilwell Academy, and have since continued learning, adding to my expertise with credentials as a Certified Behavior Consultant for Canines (CBCC-KA), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certified Fear Free Professional (Trainer), Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT), and Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Now I get to do what I’ve always loved. I help improve relationships and the quality of life for dogs and their people. I educate people on how dogs think, act and feel, and why they do what they do. I show clients how to develop a mutual respect between themselves and their dogs, and how to have fun while they work together. I also help people who are experiencing behavior issues with their cats.
My mission is to give people and pets confidence to live the life they’ve dreamed, together. That unbreakable bond and freedom to go places together, that’s The Life of Riley.
Dogs
Dog Training, Walking and Sitting
Cats
Cat Sitting and Behavior Modification
The Life of Riley Pet Care Services, LLC.
We offer positive reinforcement-based Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Sitting services in Louisville, KY.
Wendy Taylor is a graduate of the prestigious Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior and has been granted official status as a VSA-Certified Dog Trainer (VSA-CDT). The Victoria Stilwell Academy is the world’s premier institution for professional dog trainer education founded by renowned dog behavior expert Victoria Stilwell, and graduates of VSA have been individually taught in-person by Stilwell and other VSA faculty. All VSA graduates have been rigorously assessed at the highest level for both skills and knowledge in the areas of dog training, behavior modification, canine ethology, creative problem-solving and more. Additionally, great emphasis is placed within VSA’s industry-leading curriculum upon effective and empathetic human communication skills. This unique focus results in professional dog trainers who are prepared not just to train dogs successfully using powerful force-free, positive reinforcement-based tools and techniques, but also to help dog owner clients to learn how to truly transform canine behavior and set their dogs up for success using the latest in modern behavioral science methods. Learn more about the Victoria Stilwell Academy here.
Meet The Team
Meet our Louisville team of dog walkers and pet sitters.
Want to join our team? Get in touch!
Explore Our Training Tips
Our staff are experts in pet care. Want to learn some of our tips? We’ve got a variety of articles to help you and your pet live your best lives together.
Explore Our Training Tips
Our staff are experts in pet care. Want to learn some of our tips? We’ve got a variety of articles to help you and your pet live your best lives together.