Nicole has been working with dogs since before 2017 — but her path to dog training didn't start where you'd expect.

She studied psychology and anthropology in school. The science of how humans and animals think, communicate, and learn runs through everything she does with dogs. Where most trainers focus purely on behavior, Nicole understands the why behind it — the relationship between a dog's environment, their experiences, and how they show up in the world. That background makes her see things in dogs that others walk right past.

What she sees in every dog — every single one — is an adventure dog. Some need more work to get there. Some have different needs along the way. But Nicole has never met a dog she couldn't find the adventure in. That perspective came from somewhere personal.

Her German Shepherd Bear was reactive. Instead of letting that shrink their world, Nicole learned to expand it — finding ways to keep getting outside, keep exploring, keep going on trails together despite his challenges. Bear is no longer with us, but what he taught Nicole about patience, adaptability, and what dogs are truly capable of is woven into everything Chomps does. The adventure training program that's become a cornerstone of this business started with him.

At Chomps, Nicole is the one who finds the secret spots. She coordinates every outing — the locations, the timing, who goes and when — with the same intentionality she brings to every dog in her care. She's softer in her communication than most trainers, but don't mistake that for anything less than direct. She'll tell you what your dog needs clearly and honestly, just with a warmth that makes hard conversations feel like someone genuinely has your dog's best interest at heart.

Because she does

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