Meet Caitlin McGree: Dog Trainer & Owner Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caitlin McGree and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caitlin, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The sad truth is that roughly 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in shelters in the U.S every year. I run my business with one goal in mind; keep more dogs from being surrendered to shelters because of behavioral issues and possibly euthanized. However, the true task behind this is helping people who are struggling with their dogs. What I do is more than just dog training, it’s owner education. I can tell people how to work with their dogs all day long, but if I don’t actually teach them why they’re doing what they’re doing they won’t be successful and the results most likely won’t be long lasting. There are dog owners out there who are truly struggling and on the verge of giving up their dogs. Knowing I can give them hope and show them that they have another option besides surrendering them is what keeps me going. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My dog training business might be a little bit different from others you have heard of or even used for your own dog! I use balanced training methods which focus on dog psychology and the way dogs communicate. We get to the root of the behavioral issue, instead of just treating a “symptom” of it. This allows me to work with more challenging cases that involve aggression and separation anxiety. Along with behavior modification, I also work with a lot of families to simply create a more calm state of mind for their dog inside the home, and help them with reliable obedience! I am most excited about all of the free content lined up for 2021 including the start of a YouTube channel that will have quick how to training videos as well as some in depth explanations of dog psychology and how these undesirable behaviors we see often in domesticated dogs start happening.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well in a perfect world, I would make sure it was during fair season! The state fair is probably my favorite part of living in Dallas! I was crushed when it was cancelled this year because of Covid. So I would set aside an entire day just for that! Outside of the fair, we would have BBQ at Smokey John’s off of Mockingbird which I actually just recently discovered (pro tip get the Mac and cheese) . One day we would go to White Rock Lake and walk the trail and then swing by Monkey King Noodle Co. for some soup dumplings and beef noodle soup! I would take them to Lula B’s for some thrifting/antique shopping and to Rodeo Goat for cheese fries and a burger! (Most of my itinerary would involve food to be honest) and last but not least we would stop for some coffee at Houndstooth, and have breakfast tacos at Taco Deli before doing some good old fashioned retail therapy at NorthPark Mall.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give my shout out to my husband and business partner Dwight McGree, he has supported me every step of the way and we have big goals for 2021 to hopefully transition this business into a full time occupation! He is always there when I need advice, to help film the free content I put out on social media, or even proof reading my training homework emails to clients!

Website: balancedbestfriend.com
Instagram: @balancedbestfriend
Facebook: Balanced Best Friend
Youtube: Balanced Best Friend
Other: bbfdogtraining@gmail.com

Image Credits
Nia Moreau – Portraits With Purpose