About Djify LLC

History

Darcy Jones
CPDT-KA
AKC CGC Evaluator
Lead Trainer and Owner

Like many of you, I’ve owned dogs all my life and consider them an essential part of my family. During my college years and time in the Army, it wasn’t feasible to own a dog, so I volunteered at the Humane Society in whichever state I lived and did my best to be around animals even while working as a full time engineer. Like many owners, I knew how a “good” dog was supposed to act, but had no idea what to do when I adopted my first “bad” dog in 2013. My new puppy was shy of strangers, barked at everything, was terrified of other dogs, and everything we tried to do for her failed to make anything better. Then one day, she was startled by a man carrying a sheet of plywood and before we could react, she moved to nip him on the butt! Thank goodness he also owned dogs, so he was very understanding and let it go, but I was terrified–what if this escalated? What if she hurt someone? She could get put down!

So, being a good engineer, I began reading and researching. I found a rescue organization who worked with “troubled” dogs and had licensed behaviorists on staff.  I sat down with them and my “bad” dog to create a game plan and found a new calling. Their approach was based on actual peer-reviewed studies, real scientific testing, and could be used across the entire animal kingdom! My left-brain was hooked! I immediately joined their Student-Trainer program where I volunteered my time and worked directly with the foster dogs in behavior rehabilitation under the tutelage of trained and certified staff. I started shadowing the training classes they offered to the community, took foster dogs into my home, and before I knew it, I was teaching paying clients in both group classes and one-on-one sessions.

And what about my “bad” dog? It turned out she was actually a very good dog who just had needs I wasn’t educated enough to meet. I took her to classes, developed a training program, and put in the time. Now my “bad” dog is certified with the AKC as a Canine Good Citizen.  She also holds 3 Trick Dog titles and we have new long-term goals far beyond “don’t bite people.” Now that I know how to communicate with her, help her navigate the world, and she has trust and faith in me, I no longer fear taking her on walks, runs, or hikes. She still has her challenges, but I know they are things we are able to manage, address, and overcome.

As my trainer-mentor once said, “Ideally, if we train the people right, we will train ourselves out of a job.” I believe this is the future and founded this company with that goal in mind. I hope to be able to give you the tools to build the bond with your canine, understand the world from their point of view, and effectively communicate, lead, and achieve your goals with your dog right beside you the entire way. Training is a journey. Let’s get started!