Meet the Hero team!
Our Hero
Through life’s ups and downs, our German Shepherd, Hero, has been by our side.
When we first brought him home as a puppy, we were brand new trainers, and honestly, we got a lot wrong. He became extremely reactive, lunging, barking, and overwhelmed at the sight of other dogs.
I originally named him “Hero” when I was training police K9s, thinking that was the path we’d take together. But that wasn’t what he needed. He became a different kind of “Hero” for us.
Training Hero changed both of our lives. Watching his progress gave us a level of confidence we had never experienced before. Every small win showed us that real change was possible, not just for him, but for us too. We used to be midnight walkers, avoiding the world just to keep things manageable before we knew how to help him. He went from the dog who caused me stress to the one I turned to when I needed calm.
Now, many years later, he’s the heart behind Your Hero Dog Training. He is our foundation, our best friend, and the reason this business exists. These days, his favorite things are chasing a frisbee, soaking up belly rubs, and enjoying a good piece of chicken.
We see ourselves in so many of our clients. The frustration, the exhaustion, and just wanting to enjoy your dog the way you imagined when you first brought them home. We understand that journey because we lived it.
At the end of the day, you just want things to feel easier. You want to feel like you and your dog are actually on the same page.
That’s why we train, to help you get there with your own dog.
Meet Autumn
—Professional Dog Trainer & Behavior Specialist
Hi, I’m Autumn!
My journey with dogs started early. Since before I can remember, I spent hours at home training my first family dog, a miniature dachshund, which quickly made dog-training books into my go-to birthday gift. As I got older, that interest turned into hands-on experience working in dog daycares and boarding facilities, where I learned how to safely handle dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and personalities.
Wanting to build on that foundation, I attended Tarheel Canine School for Dog Trainers, where I trained in obedience, behavior work, detection, and protection. I spent a lot of time working with dogs in obedience, including with K9s, and fell in love with it. I always have a blast building that bond through working with dogs in that way. That experience naturally led me to work more closely with pet dogs and their owners, where I could apply that same structure and communication to real-life situations and everyday behavior challenges.
After graduating, I spent time in Tennessee working with a wide range of dogs, which played a big role in shaping how I approach training today. That’s where I really deepened my understanding of behavior and strengthened my work with e-collar training to create clear, consistent guidance. It reinforced how important it is to meet each dog where they are, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, and to build a system of communication they can truly understand.
When dogs have that level of clarity and reliability, their world gets bigger, not smaller. They gain more freedom, more experiences, and do the things they were bred to do safely. That balance of freedom and structure is something I care deeply about because it allows dogs to feel fulfilled and genuinely happy in their day-to-day lives.
Today, I work with everything from basic obedience to advanced off-leash training, and spend a lot of time working with dogs dealing with reactivity, fear, and aggression. No matter where a dog is starting, my focus is always on building clarity, confidence, and a better understanding on both ends of the leash.
When I returned to Maryland, I began focusing more on in-home training and working directly with owners, while also leading our board-and-train programs. Being able to walk people through the process, answer questions, and help things click is one of my favorite parts of what I do. There’s nothing better than seeing someone understand their dog in a new way and feel confident moving forward.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple. Help dogs be the best they can be, support my clients every step of the way, and make the training process feel clear, achievable, and less overwhelming.
Outside of training, I love painting, music, gaming, spending time outside with my own pups, and fostering dogs with Rural Dog Rescue (Come adopt a trained dog from us!).
Meet Dom
— Professional Dog Trainer
Hi, I’m Dom!
I first began dog training by working alongside Autumn and spending time with the dogs every day. Over time, I became more involved with the dogs, and the more hands-on I got, the more I realized how much I enjoyed the process.
These days, I spend a lot of my time working directly with clients in their homes, helping them apply the training in real-life situations. I also stay involved with our board and train dogs, so I get to see both sides, building the foundation and then helping owners carry it through at home.
I tend to have a calm, steady approach, which helps dogs slow down and focus. I like to meet both the dog and the owner where they are, and keep things clear and realistic so it actually works for them day to day. I’m always there to guide, adjust, and make sure things are moving in the right direction, but I also give people the space to learn and build confidence along the way. A lot of progress comes from those repetitions, and I enjoy being part of that process.
I especially enjoy working on obedience commands and watching them improve over time. Seeing that kind of progress and owners feel more confident with their dogs is what makes it worth it for me. It really makes my day to see a good update text from a client, even if it seems simple. There is no such thing as a small win!
I’ve worked with everything from young puppies just starting out to dogs with habits that need to be addressed. No matter where a dog is, my focus is always on keeping things consistent, clear, and realistic for the owner to follow.
Outside of training, I enjoy watching hockey, playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and being around family. I’ve also always had a soft spot for Dobermans and hope to have my own soon.
I’m grateful to be able to do this alongside Autumn. I love that we balance each other well, continue to learn from each other, and get to help many different dogs and families along the way.
