Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Williams-Stewart.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey in animal behavior began at The Wildlife Waystation, a big cat sanctuary in Los Angeles County. That formative experience inspired me to pursue formal education at Moorpark College’s prestigious Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) program, where I graduated in 2003 with degrees in Exotic Animal Training & Management, Animal Husbandry, and Wildlife Education. Over the past 23+ years, I’ve worked hands-on with more than 250 species, including dolphins, whales, sea lions, primates, parrots, big cats, camels, birds of prey, and domestic animals, in settings such as SeaWorld, Dolphin Quest Tahiti, and the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Zoos.
To further my academic foundation, I attended Brandman University and graduated with a degree in Applied Animal Studies. I am currently completing a Ph.D. in Ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. I believe that true behavior change begins with understanding the emotional and biological roots of behavior, not just the surface-level symptoms.
In 2012, I became a licensed private investigator specializing in canine tracking and missing pet recovery. I’ve since consulted on countless reunification efforts and continue to integrate scent-based enrichment and detection work into my behavior programs.
My specialization lies in canine behavior, particularly fear, reactivity, and aggression. I’ve worked with court-mandated training cases and shelters such as The Pet Connection, The Rescue Project, Kansas City Pet Project, Pawsitive Tails, and many others to help develop long-term rehabilitation programs for dogs with complex behavior histories. I collaborate closely with veterinarians, especially those who focus on behavior, to ensure dogs receive holistic, medically informed behavior support when needed.
Today, I own and operate DoggSense LLC, where I emphasize evidence-based, humane methods grounded in trust, science, and compassion. I am a certified trainer through the American Kennel Club (AKC), a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), and a member of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), reflecting my commitment to professional standards, continuing education, and animal welfare across species.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Formal education for training and behavior has its challenges like any other graduate degree. A lot a school, a lot of time, a lot of work. In addition, the animal industry in general starts you at the very bottom…as it should, but that means poop and lots of it. Lots of cleaning, then more cleaning and then in your spare time, cleaning. Wheel barrows full of elephant poop, buckets full of tiger poop. You catch my drift.
I also had to train for a year in order to feel confident I could pass the Sea World swim test. As an asthmatic I was told many times over by pediatricians that I would I never work with animals. To be a full time college student and spend a chunk of my nights in a lap pool was strenuous. It paid off it the end and out of the 40 some applicants taking the test the day I did, I was one of the 5 that made it.
I moved to Kansas from California in 2012 and the move that supposed to be temporary ended up being permanent after my spouses affair which lead to divorce. I had to figure out how to make a living while caring for two young kids in a state I had never worked in before. Navigating the ins and outs of being a single mother in a state you have no family, no support and no income wasn’t easy but I found a way. I now own a successful animal training company called DoggSense LLC.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
DoggSense Behavior & Training is rooted in a progressive, evidence-based approach to behavior change that priorities emotional well-being, clear communication, and long term success. Although I can train just about anything, I specialize in complex cases such as reactivity, fear and aggression. Services include in-home consultations, virtual coaching, day training, classes and limited board and train services. Each plan is individual to each client addressing not just the behavior itself but the underlying emotional drivers that cause it.
At DoggSense, the focus is on teaching dogs how to feel safe, regulated and have agency-it is not just compliance to commands. In fact if you “commanding” anything, you have the wrong mindset. Training is built on trust and motivation creating meaningful and lasting behavior change.
I do not use pain or fear to teach. I do not use chock chains, shock collars, remote controls, leash pops or “corrections” to teach dogs. I didn’t need it with dolphins, camels, parrots, beavers, owls, primates or sea lions and I don’t need it with dogs. While using aversive tools is very common in the Midwest, I am deeply committed to educating clients, other trainers and the broader community on effective humane techniques.
My goal is help all pet parent, no matter what species they own or are working with, that relationships built on trust and positive interactions can lead to any behavior change you want.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That I spent over a decade training exotic animals. Most people just know me as a great dog trainer but not many know I was the girl in the wet suit swimming with sea lions and dolphins and performing in shows.
I also don’t think they know I’m currently working on a PhD in Ethology. Unless they have read my website bio they wouldn’t know that.
I don’t think people know I spent two years at the Exotic Animal Training & Management program in California which is now called the Animal Care and Management program. It is a two year, everyday, all day program on a working zoo where you learn the ins and outs of training, husbandry and conservation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DoggSense.com
- Facebook: Doggsense with Jamie
