https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/apply daily 0.75 2022-07-19 https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/about daily 0.75 2022-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/5ffc6cd1-589a-410f-bcf9-7eb902220a08/Hillary+kiss.jpg About Me - Hillary - Dog Behavior Consultant, Head Heart & Founder Hillary has worked with shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries across the country for over a decade. Her qualifications are based on over 5000 thousand hours of training and behavior modification, with a focus on hard-to-place, behaviorally complex dogs. The advocacy program that Hillary built from the ground up at a prominent shelter in Austin, TX, contributed to the successful placement of over 500 dogs into adoptive homes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/8be3d41e-2cf1-47f1-8870-974d99afe761/Hillary-Farley1.jpg About Me Throughout the course of her career, Hillary has learned that many dogs need much more than obedience to succeed in a loving home and ultimately stay out of the shelter system. In order for them to work past their trauma, those dogs need to be approached with gentle clarity, kindness, understanding, and empathy. Hillary has coupled her academic and professional studies with real-world experience to develop an innate, intuitive sense of dogs’ emotions. She chooses to support and nurture a mutual dialogue, approaching each interaction as a guide, rather than a trainer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/6104a996-06cf-42b6-9c1e-1d518dd4221d/87B52D59-2E93-4586-9943-499B0DBD505B.JPG About Me During the pandemic, she offered free, online community classes to help with foundational skill building for leash reactivity. In addition to running the Speckled Hearts Project, Hillary continues to teach privately both in person, as well as virtually. https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/donate daily 0.75 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/b6cf4490-06c7-4bca-9074-4ca43ce6a9db/Pink+Ball.jpeg Donate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/7d45e6ff-a6c1-42e6-b8a5-1cc7947cfb82/Shelter2.jpg Donate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/1066edc5-ceb9-462a-b78e-e7c0b73448b1/Coco+4.jpg Donate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/145e757b-b911-410f-a639-8779254823e0/Shelter1.jpg Donate https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/thedogs daily 0.75 2021-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/21fc4990-cf39-4aa5-b950-5e18c2233769/middle+pic+on+dog+program+maybe+Teddy.jpg About The Project - Scholarship recipients in the Speckled Hearts Project receive an initial consultation, regular weekly sessions, at-home training plans, equipment, nutritional supplements, and behavioral enrichment at no cost. By doing this, we hope to not only provide unique, quality training, but also eliminate the burden of financially covering such comprehensive training and care. Every member of the Speckled Hearts Team has been in your shoes. We know the physical and psychological distress owners and advocates of behavior dogs experience. We can’t promise we will make it easy, but we can promise we will lessen the burden. We love dogs and we want these dogs to succeed just as badly as you do. The Speckled Hearts Project doesn’t just focus on fixing specific behaviors, but also on creating opportunities to build confidence and stability. We are after ‘happy brain’ opportunities and seek out enrichment and activities that will help the dogs to find joy. We focus on relationship-building and trust as a key part of the Speckled Hearts experience. For example, you may see our participants taking part in private swim and agility lessons, or working with a socialization expert in addition to engaging in more traditional training like loose-leash walking, recall, and positive reinforcement around negative stimuli. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/a0d0c15d-eaa6-4b33-bf2e-a11ec62ca243/Top+pic+about+dogs.JPG About The Project - What is a Speckled Heart? Early in 2021, I lost the love of my life, my truest companion, Benito. From the moment I met Benito, I knew his issues would be tough to navigate, but I loved him instantly. Despite vowing to take a break from fostering, the feeling in my heart outweighed my brain’s desire for repose. I found myself, once again, giving all my time and energy to a dog who, despite his issues- BECAUSE of his issues- pulled at each and every string I had. In an effort to help him, I traveled to the ends of the earth (virtually) trying to ‘fix’ his severe behavior problems. This journey, and the many disappointing ends I met, made me acutely aware of how hard it is to find true solutions for behavior dogs. I learned that it is extraordinarily difficult to find trainers with the experience necessary to tailor a program for individual tough cases. To complicate matters, the cost of trainers who can do so, is hard for many to afford. For this reason, I chose to start a program where I could use the knowledge I had gained and pay it forward by providing free scholarships to behavior dogs and their companions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/8af1e836-e6d2-4162-ae7b-3986c3f7ed88/Bottom+pic+about+program+page.JPG About The Project - The Speckled Hearts program is available to dogs in adoptive or foster homes. Shelter dogs are eligible provided they have a dedicated advocate on board who is willing to do the work, as consistency and clarity are critical to their success. Our program funding is entirely donation-based. Because of our amazing donors, we are able to provide unlimited guidance to these dogs and ensure that the Speckled Hearts team will be their partner for life. We deeply appreciate any financial or promotional support you are able to provide. This is a community effort and we are so excited to have you here. And to Benito…thank you. For showing me the way. For allowing me to live out your legacy, again and again through these Speckled Hearts dogs. This is for you. https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/home daily 1.0 2021-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/107af5fe-2586-461b-b45e-eb33f5a00c8e/First+homepage+pic.jpg Home Don’t Punish the Problem. Teach the Solution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/f4cbb40e-dcd6-4617-af98-23bd3dc97971/Marilla3.jpg Home - What Is a Speckled Heart? Speckled hearts are interesting, behaviorally and emotionally complex dogs in need of a program that is specific to their journey to success https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/1631715951162-BN45CN795C9BVG6TP9GD/IMG_4DD752C394E4-1.jpeg Home - Who Am I? Hillary Aiges - Head Heart & Founder of the Speckled Hearts Project. https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/gallery daily 0.75 2021-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/4cb9375d-dc17-4d6f-a0cd-024f91567711/65ACB404-A371-4C47-84C3-B26B69075006.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/44ceadb8-80b3-4cfb-b07a-9dfe0e7b4ba8/Coco+3.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/d265c8ea-73d9-40b5-95a1-65c83339a173/Blanche+ears.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/966960cd-6151-4524-b144-56beefb8a15c/Marilla+sit.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/311efdcf-77f0-47f0-8929-d6c562f73a5b/IMG_9101.jpeg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/7b6f3a02-4eb4-4416-87e7-ed20f7ff2eaf/IMG_8863.jpeg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/300416b2-8bc0-40f6-b3c7-bbf5a7504d70/IMG_8618.jpeg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/5d2cea80-2606-400f-a444-3227ce74e3c1/Beezle.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/0908c063-4b4b-43fc-acde-a13029126685/197e4616-5719-459b-adca-a1dac98e7852.jpeg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/d7534e9f-5e34-454b-ab87-52786d52ecf3/Blue+Heeler.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/33494ee3-5ae6-4c6c-a60f-b7372f79744d/IMG_7702.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/340727cf-b908-47c6-b6f8-db2928747b5d/Coco+1.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/a350c8fd-e63c-4b7c-8c00-c21ba2da012c/IMG_3524.jpg Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/c0cf30e6-9ec3-4381-a39e-0203d0e9a344/IMG_7256.PNG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/9d952238-9c99-465e-8828-695c6ca70595/IMG_9843.PNG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/71d4fab3-e31d-4f6b-addc-c34550c7b405/1626be2e-9686-43ee-8c60-c1d57ca48b83.jpeg Gallery https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/behaviorhelp daily 0.75 2022-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/f5934d50-7854-4e55-86e7-4c73789ec572/IMG_3450.jpg Dog Behavior Help - But How Do They Feel? Big Feelings, Big Reactions Dogs who have big feelings about their environment often struggle with how to express their concerns. We focus on building an appropriate way to express those emotions. Hillary‘s area of expertise focuses on helping dogs and their parents understand where those challenges are and find new ways of communicating them. Hillary’s training philosophy focuses on identifying the feelings behind the behaviors. She will help you learn to communicate with your dog in a way that allows them to be a part of the conversation. Communication doesn't have to mean intensity or commands. It has just as much power when you kindly guide your dog towards the state of mind you're trying to cultivate. It’s through this process that your dialogue can help the dog learn how to trust, process their environment and feel safe, and watch the challenging behaviors melt away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/09307d3c-5934-4861-bc88-81309070b224/IMG_3976.jpg Dog Behavior Help - Work With Hillary We’re big believers in relationship based dog training when it comes to helping dogs with expressing their feelings. It doesn’t matter where you are. In fact, when it comes to challenging and complex dogs, the relationship and trust the dog has with the parent is critical in rehabilitating and problem solving. What you really need is a guide. That’s where we come in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/ee73566b-ef3e-4baf-9c39-aa4ace091ef8/IMG_2552.jpg Dog Behavior Help - Areas of expertise Every dog needs a creative and personal approach that spins the dials away from impulsive responses, and towards problem solving and stability. Hillary’s work specializes in working with dogs who struggle with feelings that often manifest as: Reactivity Aggression Impulse control Arousal Hillary is now also opening up her home to help people learn from a dog who has gone through the process. Students are coming here to learn how to be effective and humane pet parents and handlers. Piece by piece they develop a sense of the world through the dog's eyes. They become skilled, they become tactile and strategic. But most of all, they learn how to develop a dialogue that allows the dog to be a part of the conversation. https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/private-training daily 0.75 2022-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/afdf6914-41e2-4b5d-9be0-1cfa8925eed8/IMG_2552.jpg Private Training - Train With Hillary Wherever you are, Hillary can help We’re big believers in relationship based training. It doesn’t matter where you are. In fact, when it comes to challenging and complex dogs, the relationship and trust the dog has with the parent is critical in rehabilitating and problem solving. What you really need is a guide. Hillary has clients from coast to coast Wherever you are, help is available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/4a5e07b3-aaf6-43bb-a1c6-f158cc2560ee/IMG_2581+2.jpg Private Training Training philosophy/style https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/805707b6-e5ea-4a95-bc5d-1c744024cc14/IMG_3450.jpg Private Training - Areas of expertise Big Feelings, Big Reactions Hillary specializes in working with dogs who have big feelings which come out as big reactions. This can present as any of the following, and more! Reactivity Aggression Prey Drive Impulse control Family Dynamics Arousal https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/olr20 daily 0.75 2025-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/3d494034-80c6-4b37-a403-1c91281d1cab/IMG_9632.jpeg https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/olr20/on-leash-reactivity-course monthly 0.5 2025-01-09 https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/courses daily 0.75 2024-05-05 https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/courses/on-leash-reactivity monthly 0.5 2022-02-06 https://www.speckledheartsproject.com/courses/p/on-leash-reactivity-course-1 monthly 0.5 2024-12-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6141fa44aa1de92c7472ca87/1644115648010-EHBTLDMWCK5DCWYQ9KLG/SMOOSH.jpg OLR Foundations - On Leash Reactivity Course