My name is Kathy Jo Ventrano, CDBC; I am Tailored Courage's founder and dedicated Behavior Consultant.

My journey began twelve years ago when I volunteered for my local shelter. I was soon invited to be a staff member on the behavior team, and I excitedly accepted the offer. This is where my passion for fearful dogs was ignited. I loved working with all the dogs, but I quickly realized my heart belonged to the scared dogs, the ones that were too afraid to even look at you or, in some cases, too frightened to walk.

It became my mission to help these dogs feel safe, each having unique challenges. I often stayed late to help more dogs, giving them time when the shelter was quieter to help work through some of their fears.

The dogs became my teachers; I learned so much from them and continue to do so. This was also when I began to foster: I realized I could only do so much to make these dogs feel secure while living in a shelter–I had to change their environment.

I went on to manage the foster department and work in the community, teaching children how to safely interact with dogs and take care of them properly. I had started taking behavior workshops, webinars, and classes and found that the more I learned, the more I wanted to know.

I enrolled in the mentorship program with Pet Harmony and attended every available workshop and class. I have spent over 4000 hours learning everything I can about behavior and behavior modification. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. This led me to become a behavior consultant specializing in fearful behaviors, and I recently received my CDBC, certified dog behavior consultant from the IAABC.

I am passionate about my work and look forward to continuing my education and helping as many dogs and their families as possible!

When I'm not working, I spend my time playing with my four dogs, enjoying a meal with my husband, or hiking in the beautiful forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Let's Tailor Some Courage!

Where fears find understanding and pets find courage.