The Reason For It All
My Story
Hello!
I’m Alora Tawoosi the owner and operator of Woofs of Wisdom Dog Training
As someone who was raised part of a 15+ dog pack family, I learned to speak “dog” pretty early. In fact, communication allowed us to maintain a somewhat “NORMAL” home environment. Without communication, that would have been a RUFF day to day operation!
I’ve modeled my whole training program based around learning communication skills and made it my goal to ensure you not only understand HOW to communicate with your dog but you learn WHY it works, as well.
I employ a combination of balanced training methods and techniques to strengthen the human-animal bond!
My mom has been the owner and operator of her own dog grooming studio, Bark ‘n Bubbles in Leesburg, VA. for 15 years!
I knew at a very young age I was destined to work with dogs. My mom and I also did a lot of rescue work growing up. We fostered 100s of different dog breeds and at one point had a total of 14 dogs in our household!
Dogs have always been the center of my life. This all helped set the stage for what would be a long and wonderful journey to earning my place among some of the best trainers in the world as a certified dog trainer through Animal Behavior College.
Athena, my greatest love!
They always say the dog you adopt in your 20’s will change your life forever. Athena did that and so much more!
As an American Staffordshire Terrier, Athena had the sweetest and most innocent eyes you would have ever seen. When I met her, she was pregnant and I was told in order to be around the puppies, I would have to build a bond with her. I would have to earn her trust and having lived the life she had up until that day, I feared that earning that trust was not going to be an easy task.
I saved Athena from a bad breeding situation where she was previously used as a bait dog. (In dog fighting, bait dogs are used for multiple reasons including calming dogs down after a fight because they won’t bite back or to practice mutilating another dog, without being harmed in the process.) Without getting too much into it, her life sucked. However, I firmly believe Athena could sense my intentions for her were pure and we developed an inseparable bond. Athena became my best friend and the reason for everything I did.
We both taught each other what unconditional love meant and I made sure that she was spoiled rotten because she deserved it! I went through a lot in my early 20’s and some days, the only reason I would get up in the morning was to go out and make money to feed and provide for her. She gave me purpose when I didn’t feel like I had any. She showed me love on days I could only give 10%. She would look at me and give me all of her attention in a room full of other dogs and people. Sometimes I felt if she could physically crawl inside my skin, she would have. She was my best friend and saved me and because of that I was devoted to providing her the best life possible.
Mending A Broken Heart
In August of 2023, we received the worst news dog parents could get, Athena was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. We exhausted every possible thing we could do from Chemotherapy to Holistic remedies. We even created a bucket list for her to enjoy things other dogs wouldn’t until she couldn’t anymore.
On October 16th , 2023, Athena’s life experience came to an end and my heart and soul shattered. I felt like my whole purpose in life was gone forever and really struggled to pick myself back up. However, this was just the beginning of an incredible journey for what is now, Woofs Of Wisdom Dog Training.
In Greek Mythology, Athena was the Greek Goddess of wisdom, craft & warfare. In wars, Athena embodied rationality, tactics, and strategy. Wisdom, logic, and rationality are all values I can get behind and I decided to center my whole business around them. I also dedicated Woofs of Wisdom Dog Training to continue to live through the presence of my girl, Athena.
Our Mission is to provide people with the knowledge & wisdom to help owners better understand their dogs; thus, building incredible relationships based of mutual respect and trust!
What’s next?
Today, I enjoy spending down time with my “pack” at home, Hermes and my husband, Ali and our new puppy, Cleopatra! I am currently studying to become Professionally Certified as a Service Dog Trainer as well as studying Canine Nutrition. I am also training Hermes to be my own Service Dog for PTSD.
In the future, I plan to eventually create my own dog food company that will have training treats and healthy dog food, as well as provide Retired Service Members PTSD Service Dogs, so keep an eye out cause I’m just getting started!
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