Meet James
I work as a canine behavior consultant, veterinary technician, and emergency medical professional. I help dogs and their people deal with fear, aggression, reactivity, stress at the vet, and cooperative care.
I started Fat Pibble to help dogs who are often misunderstood.
These are the dogs who bark, lunge, hide, growl, freeze, snap, refuse handling, panic at the vet, or seem “fine” until suddenly they are not. They are not being dramatic, stubborn, dominant, spiteful, or bad. They are telling us that something is too hard, too scary, too painful, too overwhelming, or just too much.
My job is to help you understand what your dog is trying to say and to create a plan that makes life safer, easier, and kinder for both of you.
My approach
Behavior is not separate from health. It is part of health.
I look at behavior from a clinical perspective, so I pay attention to the whole picture: your dog’s learning history, environment, body language, medical issues, stress, pain, safety, management, and how well your dog can cope.
I don’t use intimidation, force, leash corrections, dominance theory, or methods that just make dogs put up with things. These approaches often only hide the behavior without changing how the dog feels, and they can actually make fear and aggression worse.
Instead, I use evidence-based behavior modification, practical management, cooperative care, and clear communication. This helps dogs feel safer and helps you feel more confident.
This could mean helping a dog handle vet visits, creating a muzzle training plan, reducing reactivity on walks, preparing a puppy for new experiences, helping a newly adopted dog settle in, or supporting a family after a bite or frightening event.
Credentials and background
I bring a mix of behavior, veterinary, emergency, and teaching experience to my work.
I am a Certified Veterinary Technician and am pursuing my Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior) credential. I am also a multi-certified behavior consultant and trainer.
My behavior and training credentials include:
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner
Fear Free Elite Certified Professional
Cat Friendly Certified Professional
Low Stress Handling certified
I have also completed the University of Washington Applied Animal Behavior program.
My clinical background includes emergency and critical care veterinary medicine, and I am also a critical care paramedic. I have a degree in biochemistry and am continuing academic work in neurobiology and behavior.
That background matters because behavior cases often live at the intersection of learning, stress physiology, pain, welfare, safety, and medical care.
Why this work matters to me
I began working in rescue and shelters over ten years ago, and that experience shaped how I see behavior.
I’ve met many dogs who were called “bad” when they were actually scared, under-supported, in pain, overwhelmed, or handled in ways they couldn’t tolerate. I’ve also met many people who loved their dogs deeply but were given advice that made them feel ashamed, blamed, or out of options.
That matters to me.
Most dog guardians aren’t failing their dogs. They’re trying to make good decisions in a confusing world of information. They get advice from social media, rescues, trainers, vets, friends, family, and strangers online. Some advice helps, but much of it is outdated, oversimplified, or even harmful.
Dogs and their people shouldn’t be punished for bad information.
Behavioral issues are among the biggest threats to dogs’ well-being. Fear, anxiety, aggression, and stress from handling can affect their daily life, access to vet care, safety at home, and whether they can stay with their family. In severe cases, these problems can lead to giving up a dog or even behavioral euthanasia.
Fat Pibble exists because dogs shouldn’t have to reach a crisis before their behavior is taken seriously. And guardians shouldn’t have to deal with shame, myths, and conflicting advice on their own.
What it is like to work with me
You can expect honest, clear, and nonjudgmental guidance from me.
I won’t hide safety concerns. If a dog might bite, panic, hurt themselves, or be pushed too far, we’ll talk about it openly. But I’ll never shame you for what your dog is struggling with.
Most behavior problems aren’t fixed by a magic cue, a special tool, or a viral training tip. They get better when we understand what’s behind the behavior, reduce practice of the problem, keep everyone safe, and teach the dog new habits at a pace they can manage.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s to help you and your dog have a safer, more predictable, and more comfortable life together.
Who I help
I help dog guardians who are dealing with:
Fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, handling sensitivity, stress at the vet, cooperative care, muzzle training, puppy socialization, adjusting after adoption, deciding before adoption, early behavior concerns, and tough cases where other training hasn’t worked.
I also work with veterinary teams and shelters that want to improve their handling, communication, and care for dogs with behavioral needs.