Paws and Journey

Private Journeys offer 1-on-1 sessions in packages of 4, 6, or 8 for behavior modification. The Puppy Journey includes 4 sessions and 2 field trips for puppies 8 weeks to 5 months. Afterschool Journey provides day training with outings and in-home drop-ins. All programs begin with a 30-minute consultation to assess needs and recommend a service path. Clients can upgrade services at any time.

Pricing Summary

Private Journeys (4, 6, or 8 sessions) have no discounts but offer payment plans. Sliding-scale discounts are available for Group Journeys and Specialty Services. Pricing details are provided after the initial consultation.

Policies

There is no explicit cancellation policy mentioned. Sessions are scheduled by the client through a password-protected portal. Each service has a time-frame for completion, and clients are expected to plan accordingly. Laura does not guarantee behavior outcomes due to genetic and environmental variables.

Paws and Journey is a dog behavior consulting service led by Laura, a research scientist with a master’s in marine biology and personal experience overcoming dog behavior challenges. She specializes in force-free, rewards-based behavior modification for dogs with fearfulness, reactivity, anxiety, resource guarding, and loud or sensitive behaviors. Her approach emphasizes building a strong human-dog relationship through kindness, clear expectations, and evidence-based methods. She offers private, puppy-specific, and afterschool day training programs, with flexible scheduling through a client portal. Laura also provides sliding-scale discounts for group and specialty services and payment plans for private sessions. She does not offer boarding, grooming, or pet sitting as paid services, though she has pet sat for clients as a personal gesture.

Laura’s training philosophy rejects punitive methods and focuses on understanding the dog’s emotional state rather than “fixing” behavior. She helps owners move from feeling like a “cookie dispenser” to building meaningful communication with their dogs. Her services are tailored for dogs of all ages, especially puppies and those with complex emotional needs, and she openly refers clients to other professionals when needed.

She serves clients in Wilmington, Leland, Castle Hayne, Murraysville, and Ogden, North Carolina, and offers both in-person and virtual sessions. Her programs include structured packages of 4, 6, or 8 sessions, with an initial consultation required to determine the best path forward.

Accomplishments

Laura holds a double bachelor’s in marine biology and chemistry and a master’s in marine biology. She transitioned from research to dog behavior consulting after personal experiences with difficult dog adoptions. She is recognized by clients as a knowledgeable, compassionate expert who applies scientific rigor to training.

How to Get Started!

Begin with booking a 30-minute consultation via the provided link. A pre-consultation questionnaire is required. At the end of the session, clients receive a personalized service recommendation and a purchase link. Services may also be purchased directly if availability allows.