Amber Sullivan-Vo is BARRK’s go-to behaviorist for all of our fosters and adopters needs.
Amber is more than a dog trainer; she is an animal rescuer, opening her home to some of the most behaviorally challenging foster dogs. Her dog training journey began when she decided to house 5+ dogs at a time after finding them abandoned with nowhere left to go and also saving them from euthanasia lists with only a few hours to spare. Most of these dogs entered her home with no training and exhibited concerning behaviors, like biting, resource guarding, reactivity, among others. Amber and her partner were overwhelmed but took it upon themselves to get educated in dog training and save these pups. They started by researching different training methods and set out to learn from a variety of expert trainers in the field. When one of Amber’s personal dogs started acting out, she and her partner spoke with one trainer who insisted, “You can't fix this dog, he needs to be an only dog or live in a crate without toys his whole life.” At first, the sentiment was devastating to hear, however, it renewed their determination and dedication to becoming successful dog trainers. After experimenting with a few methods, Amber was able to work with her dog to improve his behavior while also understanding and communicating with him more clearly.
Since then, Amber has learned by volunteering her time, working with training clients, fostering puppies (both feral and reactive), and continuing her education. She is now considered a dog training expert among the foster community. Amber currently has nine dogs of her own, in addition to cats, ferrets, chickens, goats and even one cow. Most of her dogs came into her home with serious behavioral concerns and now are able to live safely alongside humans and other animals alike. In addition to caring for her own pets, Amber has welcomed over 31 foster dogs into her home over the last four years.