A Year of Growth, Heartbreak & Hope: My 2025 Reflections
- Ruth Hegarty
- 19 minutes ago
- 2 min read
From losing Shadow Dawn to welcoming Archie, this year changed me deeply.
As I wrap up another year at Creature Good Dog Training, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on everything that unfolded in 2025.
Personally, the year brought both joy and heartbreak — adopting sweet Archie in August was such a bright spot, and losing Shadow Dawn so suddenly in February was one of the toughest moments of my life.
Professionally, 2025 had its ups and downs too, but in the best possible way. I had the privilege of working with so many wonderful people and their reactive dogs, deepening my education, and imagining an even more impactful future for Creature Good Dog Training.
One trend really stood out this year: dog parents are more curious, more engaged, and more invested in their reactive dogs’ emotional wellness than ever before. Clients are asking thoughtful questions, wanting to be active collaborators, and prioritizing enrichment and overall wellbeing. I think that’s incredible.
Today’s dog parents see their pups as true family members and value training that strengthens the relationship as much as it changes behavior. Positive reinforcement, emotional support, and partnership are all part of that picture.
Because of this shift, I’m expanding my services and honing my message in 2026 to better support what clients want and need. I’ll share more about what’s coming next week. For now, here are a few highlights from 2025:
Worked with 100+ amazing private clients to help their dogs feel calmer, safer and happier in the world.
Appeared on several popular podcasts, including a recurring spot on The Pet Parent Hotline.
Launched the Creature Good YouTube channel (a work in progress — but it’s live!).
Formalized my signature reactive dog training method into a clear, teachable system: The CHARM Approach.
Grew the Reactive Dog Owners Group into a supportive space where wins are celebrated and help is easy to find.
Helped expand awareness of what reactive behavior truly is — and isn’t — through podcast guesting, writing, and speaking.
Supported more clients online and in small groups, in addition to my private in-person work.
Partnered with Arlington Community Education to offer a humans-only reactive dog class launching in January.
Most importantly, 2025 brought huge wins for the reactive dog community as a whole. I’m certainly not solely responsible for that progress😉, but I’m proud to be a visible advocate for these dogs. This is truly the work I was meant to do, and I’m so grateful I get to help these dogs — and their people — every day.
I’d love to hear one bright spot from life with your dog in 2025. Share in the comments — I’d love to celebrate with you.
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