Hi, I’m Ferdous.
pronounciation: fair-dos
they/them & she/hers
My Background
I entered the animal world formally when I became a surgical assistant at a high-volume nonprofit vet hospital and shelter. I then gained experience at a private practice. I gained 7 years of experience in handling and treating cats and dogs (along with the occasional pig, goat, and sheep).
My own dogs have been my best teachers! My first dog, Dosha, taught me the wonders—and horrors—of puppyhood. My second dog, Muma, taught me the patience and kindness needed to manage dog-to-dog aggression.
As an apprentice at a local dog training company, I got certified as a CPDT-KA. After gaining years of experience there, I started Deep Breath and began training on my own. I have now been working with dogs and cats for 10 years.
I love having a wide scope of practice, but my particular areas of expertise include: training for aggressive behavior, integrating multi-pet households, and improving focus and recall in prey-driven and distractible dogs.
My Methods
I investigate the root of your dog’s undesirable behaviors. Health, breed, environment, and more play a huge part in how your dog acts. For example, if your dog is experiencing hip pain, we’ll start with alleviating his discomfort—not forcing obedience. If your working-breed dog is destructive, then we won’t rely on punishment—we’ll create healthy outlets for her innate needs. I start with asking, “Why?”
I don’t use force or fear, and I don’t rely on punishment to change behavior. If you’re currently using equipment or techniques designed to deter behavior with discomfort, I’ll help you transition to safer equipment and more effective methods without judgement or shame.
I prioritize teamwork. For effective training, I combine my expertise, your opinions and needs, and your dog’s enthusiastic participation.
My training Philosophy
Humans and dogs have a bond that goes back tens of thousands of years! I strive to honor that bond by focusing on what unique dog-human families really need, not what’s “normal.”
That means making space for your dog’s agency, getting curious about the function of their behaviors, and seeking to understand animals—human and dog—as whole creatures shaped by genetics, health, the environment, past experiences, unique personalities, and more.
Growth is important to me. I’m always learning (from books, courses, fellow animal professionals, and more), and use evidence-based, welfare-focused methods.