About Our Trainer

Gillian Young is a Certified Dog Trainer.  She has been specializing in blind dogs and recently branched out to assist with deaf dogs, focusing on acclimating the owners and household to the dog's new or changing condition. Gillian received her Bachelors degree in New York.

"Blind Dog Trainer" began when Gillian's own beloved collie, Sam, went blind at 2 1/2 years old. It began as detached retinas, and spiralled into glaucoma, rendering him mostly blind within a matter of days and completely blind after a few weeks. During this time, Gillian began to develop training methods for acclimating blind dogs and their owners. Having been through every aspect (emotional and transitional) of blindness, Gillian's own experience helps owners through the initial moments of adjustment and supports owners with normalizing their dog's life with a "special needs" mindset.  Sam is now the Demo Dog for BDT.  He received "bilateral intrascleral prosthesis" in 2008 and is now glaucoma free! Dr. Nancy Bromberg of Southpaws Veterinary Clinic in Arlington, Virginia was a miracle worker and took care of Sam's eye, and their removal, and he remains the magnificent dog he was before the blindness.

Gillian was featured as a guest on Animal Radio XM 158 in May 2010. The link to the podcast can be found here:   http://AnimalRadio.com/543PODCAST.mp3. The Blind Dog Trainer interview portion begins at minute 19:00 of the 2 hour broadcast. 

Gillian also works with your normal unchannelled, unchallenged house-pet. Gillian believes in easy, time efficient, manageable positive reinforcement training techniques that last and fit with your routine. 

Gillian is a licensed, bonded and insured overnight pet sitter for the San Diego area.  She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).  She has previously worked with Collie Rescue in the Washington DC region with Collie Rescue, Inc. and worked with DogOn Fitness in Fairfax county of Northern Virginia.

Locally, she has worked with special needs rescue dogs that have come to San Diego via Boston Brigade (Boston Terrier Rescue) and Labrador Harbor and Labrador Rescuers. She also is a volunteer at Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, CA. 

Gillian's Training Mottos:

 1.  "You Get The Dog You Deserve"

If you choose to put in the work, effort and consistency into modifying your dog's behavior, you will see results and end up with the dog you want. It will take on-going reinforcement and practice to keep your dog in this condition. Your dog will not stay as fluid after training if you do not practice and enforce the behaviors. You cannot learn a language in a week, and cannot become a concert pianist in a month.  The bond takes time, please don't rush it. 

2.  "It's Either A Rule, Or It's Not."

The entire household and all guests must be on the same page when it comes to dog rules. Since dogs will test you for breaking the rules, you must decide whether it is a rule, or it isn't. If your dog is used to getting on the couch, and you suddenly change the rule, you cannot sometimes let him up there and expect him to keep it straight. You can't bend the rules for "special occasions" and expect results. Make it a rule and stick to it, or don't make it a rule. Remember, how can he follow the rules if YOU aren't?

Get to know Gillian:

Gillian is a certified yoga instructor, formally trained through CorePower Yoga's Teacher Training 200-hour accredited training program.  She is an accomplished Equestrienne, having ridden horses for over 20 years (hunter-jumpers and most recently, polo).  She also involved in Civil Air Patrol, a nationwide volunteer search and rescue organization and an auxiliary of the United States Air Force.  She holds the rank of Captain and serves as her local squadron's Assistant Public Affairs Officer.  

Gillian frequently writes pet related articles for various publications in the San Diego area.