Hi, there! I’m Ruth Hegarty, certified positive dog trainer & founder of Creature Good Dog Training. Although I've had a life-long love of animals, my journey into dog training didn't really begin until October 20, 2010, when I adopted a young feral dog from Virginia named Jake.

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I never planned to become a dog trainer but fate new better. Jake had tremendous behavioral problems due to his history that, quite frankly, scared me. At the same time, I loved Jake so much❤️. I was desperate to help him (and myself!). I felt like I was living with a fury banshee who just tore around my house leaving a trail of destruction in his wake; he knocked me down to steal my food and bit me black and blue. Talk about stressful!

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I went from trainer to trainer and class to class seeking help. I was told to be the pack leader, administer “collar pops” try an e-collar and lots of other bad advice – one even suggested I “mount” my dog to show him I was the alpha (and yes, she meant mount as in “hump”!). They told me Jake was dominant and needed a "stern hand."

 

I’m ashamed to admit it now but, with the exception of the mounting idea, I tried everything they suggested. I jerked my poor dog around on a choke collar, electrocuted him with an e-collar, yelled at him and many other aggressive and really quite mean methods in an attempt to control him. Want to know what happened? Jake's behavior got worse!

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My “aha” moment - my epiphany - finally came one day when I looked at Jake and I swear he looked sad. I felt like a monster! I loved Jake despite his inability to conform and he loved me. I could see he was trying. I had taken this poor sweet animal with severe anxiety who had never been socialized and had PTSD to boot and tried to literally force him to become a textbook dog. He couldn’t do that and neither could I. I realized despite thinking I knew a lot about dogs, I really knew very little and it showed.

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That very day I apologized to Jake. We had a long talk and agreed to put the past behind us and move forward as partners rather than adversaries. I researched dog training (rather than just going to someone nearby as I'd originally done) and discovered there was a better, humane & effective way to teach Jake what I needed him to know. I discovered positive reinforcement training and never looked back.

 

I took classes, read books and absorbed everything about modern dog training I could get my human paws on. I learned the impact unscrupulous breeding, lack of socialization and outdated training methods has on dogs like Jake. I studied dog psychology and science and became so committed to using this method to teach Jake that I enrolled in the renowned Victoria Stilwell Academy and graduated with a certification in dog training. Since then, I've received additional education and credentials to improve my knowledge and services.

 

Services because, not only did I fundamentally change how I thought about and taught my dog, I started working with people who had similar dog behavior problems so they could avoid the painful experiences Jake & I had. As for me and Jake, we had never been happier or more connected. Not long after, my little side hustle turned into a full-time business. Turns out, positive dog training is my calling and I am forever grateful to Jake for leading me to it.​

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Today, I get to make my living training dogs with love and kindness (and science!). I support dog owners to see their dog's behavior from new perspectives and how to change unwanted behaviors. I'm passionate about positive reinforcement training because I’ve seen first hand the difference it makes for both dog and owner. It's not only an effective and humane method, it allows me to be creative and customize my techniques to meet the needs of individual dogs and their families, creating sustainable transformations in pet dog behavior so they, and their people, can live happily ever after.

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My beloved Jake passed away after a year long illness on 12/27/22 which was the worst day of my life. However, Jake never stopped giving my life meaning as I became certified as a pet grief and loss coach in 2024 so I can help sooth the grief of others. I also adopted a new dog, Shadow Dawn, whose experienced trauma causes behavior even worse than Jake's!

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Creature Good Dog Training is Jake's legacy as is my ability to help Shadow Dawn learn to live her best life, and I will be forever grateful to him.​