When the bite
can't wait
until Tuesday.
Same-day behavioral intervention for aggression, resource guarding, and bite incidents. Sarah Kowalski, CDBC — answering within 15 minutes.
“Our German Shepherd pinned my mother-in-law against the wall on Thanksgiving. Sarah was at our house by 7 PM.”
Marcus & Diane Holloway
German Shepherd, 4 yrs — Portland, OR
Emergency session
within 3 hours
Response Time
< 15 min
Average call-to-callback, 2025
They called at 9 PM.
We answered.
Every case below was referred as “too far gone” by at least one other professional. Read what happened next.
"Three HOA warnings in two weeks. My neighbor filed a formal complaint. I called Heel on a Sunday morning and had a plan by noon."
Jennifer Okafor
Labrador Mix, 2 yrs — Beaverton, OR
Incident
Incessant territorial barking triggering HOA violation notices
Outcome
Zero violations in 6 weeks
2 hours
Response Time
"I've sent six patients to Sarah this year. She's the only trainer I trust before I reach for fluoxetine. She picks up on the first call."
Dr. Priya Nair, DVM
Belgian Malinois, 3 yrs — Lake Oswego, OR
Incident
Redirected aggression toward owner during on-leash reactivity episodes
Outcome
Handler safety restored in 3 weeks
4 hours
Response Time
"Our pediatrician told us to rehome him immediately. Sarah was the only one who looked at the whole picture — the baby gate, the corner, the resource. We kept our dog."
The Kowalczyk Family
German Shepherd, 4 yrs — Portland, OR
Incident
Level 3 bite to toddler — child required two stitches
Outcome
Dog retained in home — zero incidents in 14 weeks
90 minutes
Response Time
Protocol Used
LIMA framework + management redesign + family safety protocol
14 wks
to resolution
"We had 48 hours before the breed-specific eviction clause triggered. Sarah documented the behavior assessment in writing. We kept the tenant."
Riverside Commons PM
Pit Bull Mix, 5 yrs — Gresham, OR
Incident
Tenant's dog cornered mail carrier — carrier filed police report
Outcome
Eviction avoided — dog retained in unit
3 hours
Response Time
Protocol Used
Systematic desensitization + written behavior report for management
8 wks
to resolution
"Every professional we called said the same thing: put him down. Sarah said 'send me the bite history.' That was six months ago. He's sleeping at my feet right now."
Tomás & Esperanza Vega
Rottweiler, 6 yrs — Tigard, OR
Incident
Two bite incidents in 30 days — vet and two trainers recommended euthanasia
Outcome
Dog retained — zero incidents in 26 weeks
Same day
Response Time
Protocol Used
Full behavioral assessment + medication consult + 12-week structured protocol
26 wks
to resolution
The method behind
the calm.
CDBC
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
IAABC
CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
CCPDT
FFCP
Fear Free Certified Practitioner
Fear Free
Sarah Kowalski has worked with 340+ emergency cases since 2019. Every intervention follows the same evidence-based sequence — no guesswork, no dominance theory, no punishment.
Intake Call
15 minYou describe the incident. I ask the questions no one else asked — location, triggers, body language before the event, household changes in the last 90 days.
On-Site Assessment
2 hrsI observe the dog in the environment where the behavior occurs. I document everything. You get a written behavior assessment, not a verbal summary.
Safety Protocol
Same dayImmediate management changes to stop the behavior from practicing while we work. Your household is safe before we start the long-term plan.
Structured Intervention
4–12 wksWeekly sessions using LIMA-compliant methods. Progress tracked in writing. Veterinary co-management coordinated when medication is indicated.
Every behavior has
a resolution timeline.
Quick-resolution cases below. Scroll up for the complex ones.
340+
Emergency Sessions
94%
Dogs Retained in Home
< 15 min
Avg. Response Time
6 yrs
Emergency Practice
Nuisance Barking
87 cases · avg 4 wks
Territorial, demand, separation anxiety barking — management plan within the first session.
Leash Reactivity
112 cases · avg 6 wks
On-leash lunging, snapping, and fence running. Threshold work begins at intake.
Resource Guarding
64 cases · avg 5 wks
Food, toys, furniture, and people guarding. Trade-up protocols and spatial management.
Stranger Danger
43 cases · avg 8 wks
Fear-based aggression toward unfamiliar people. Systematic counter-conditioning.
Inter-Dog Aggression
38 cases · avg 10 wks
Same-household conflict and on-leash dog-dog reactivity. Parallel walking protocols.
Child Safety Cases
29 cases · avg 12 wks
Dog-child interaction protocols. Safety redesign before any behavioral modification begins.
Tell me exactly
what happened.
No judgment. No “you should have trained them earlier.” Just the incident, the dog, and the fastest path to safe.
Response within 15 minutes — even on weekends
Written behavior assessment after every session
LIMA-compliant methods — no shock, no prong, no dominance
Vet-ready behavioral documentation on request