Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gwen Moyer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gwen, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
Generosity is often painted as this noble thing, born from a surplus of love, resources, or time. But for many of us, it’s something deeper—a stubborn refusal to let the pain we’ve known spread to anyone else. It’s not about abundance; it’s about understanding what it feels like to live without and deciding, nope, not on my watch.
For those of us who have endured abuse, generosity often has a complicated origin. Abuse teaches you survival—how to anticipate danger, how to blend in, how to minimize yourself. As kids, we didn’t have the power to say, “This is wrong, and it stops here.” But as adults, we do. And with that power comes a choice: do we normalize what we went through, or do we take the much harder path of growth?
Normalizing abuse can feel safer and it’s much more natural on the brain. It lets you tuck away the pain, even if it means distorting your worldview. “That’s just how life is,” one might say; or the classic, “well, I turned out fine.” It’s like using punishment-based dog training tools without questioning them because, hey, they work—or at least, they seem to. But just like those tools can damage a dog’s trust and spirit, normalizing abuse does its own quiet harm, both to yourself and to others. It reinforces cycles of fear and control instead of breaking them.
The alternative is harder—so much harder. Just like retraining a reactive dog without letting frustration take over and resorting to fear-based methods. You have to strip everything back, relearn what connection and trust look like, and figure out how to meet needs without causing harm. For people, this process means unpacking your past and facing the truth of what happened, ugly and painful as it is. For dogs, it’s a little easier as they have no ego. But through that work, something incredible happens: you learn to give. Not because you have to, but because you want to.
When you’ve been through hell, you develop a kind of radar for pain in others. You know what it’s like to feel unseen, unheard, or unsafe, and you don’t want anyone else to feel that way—no matter the species. This is where real generosity comes from. It’s not performative or transactional, but rooted in understanding. It’s the difference between forcing a dog into suppression (obedience) and teaching them in a way that builds their confidence and joy. One is about control; the other is about care.
Make no mistake, true generosity isn’t naive. Survivors know all too well how cruel the world can be after all. But instead of letting that harden us, some of us use it as fuel. We show up, for people and animals alike, with patience and compassion. We give because we know how much it means to have someone, anyone, see us and say, “You matter.”
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Blitz Dog Training offers in-person private training throughout the Front Range and virtual training worldwide. What sets my company—and me—apart, and why I’ve become many people’s eighth and final dog trainer, is that I don’t just love dogs; I love people too. And to be honest, I despise much of the dog training industry as it exists today.
I understand why dog training feels confusing. I understand why people turn to aversive methods. My entire mission is to change that—to end the cycle of misinformation and disempowerment.
When we work together, I’m as committed to helping you as I am to helping your dog. I want to boost your confidence through education, just as much as I want to boost your dog’s confidence. I want to make sure no myth, perpetuated by outdated training theories, or unsolicited advice from strangers shakes your resolve again.
I can empathize with anything and anyone, so I don’t judge you if your instinct is to pop a collar or yell at your dog. I know where that instinct comes from. Behavior modification—whether for humans or dogs—is challenging. Dogs don’t have egos, but we do, and regulating our nervous systems while navigating their behavior isn’t easy.
What makes me uniquely equipped to help? A deep passion for psychology and dogs. An almost obsessive amount of research into this field. A drive to surpass the one-size-fits-all teaching methods of past trainers. And the place that shaped my approach: New York City.
In NYC, there’s no true off-peak time to walk your dog. Long lines for leash training are rarely an option. Crossing the street to avoid a trigger often isn’t feasible. It’s a place where overstimulation is constant—for both dogs and humans. Reactivity is rampant, and yet, I’ve helped countless humans and dogs navigate this chaos. Not to suppress reactivity, but to fundamentally change how dogs’ brains and hormones respond to triggers. If you can make it there, can you make it anywhere? Guess I’ll find out eventually. But if you can successfully counter-condition a dog without punishment-based methods there, you certainly can anywhere.
I believe in the butterfly effect of education—that small, meaningful changes can create a ripple of positive impact far beyond the individual. For me, that starts with teaching in a way that works for the learners in front of me; both dog and human. If training were to ever feel like a failure, I would see it as a sign that my teaching didn’t meet the student where they are, not the other way around. That’s why I strive to tailor every lesson to your needs, making learning both accessible and empowering.
I also believe having a dog is a privilege, not a right—but access to education about raising a dog should absolutely be a right. Too often, people are left confused and unsupported, and I want to change that. At Blitz Dog Training, “above and beyond” isn’t an exception; it’s my baseline.
To make training as accessible as possible, I’ve cut my prices in half since moving from NYC. For those who need additional support, I offer scholarships and bartering opportunities because every person and dog deserves the chance to thrive. Let’s work together to create a better world for dogs, their humans, and the communities they’re part of.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Empathy: Understanding where people (and, in my case, dogs) are coming from is essential in any field. It’s easy to focus only on our own goals or ego, but the ability to deeply connect with others—whether clients, colleagues, or even strangers in a coffee shop—is invaluable and unforgeable. Whether it’s a dog’s behavior or a human client’s frustrations, taking a step back and recognizing that everyone has their own journey helps create an environment where growth can happen. Really understanding the struggles, goals, and feelings of the people you’re working with will not only help you offer solutions that truly matter but will also create stronger connections and, ultimately, lifetime clients—some of whom may even become your closest friends. My advice for running a business? Don’t rush through relationships; take the time to understand people, and that understanding will come back to you in ways you can’t predict.
Curiosity: No matter the field you’re entering, the willingness to both learn and continually seek new knowledge is crucial. When I started out, I was driven by a hunger for understanding—always reading, researching, and asking questions—and that hunger has never been fully satiated. It’s what has helped me push through inevitable hurdles and setbacks (imposter syndrome is extra REAL when half your industry shares the same title but denies science and uses abusive methods in the name of training).
Curiosity has allowed me to break down and simplify complex topics, helping those that other dog trainers have given up on – including myself. Curiosity led me to help a legally blind, elderly woman counter-condition her equal-in-weight, on-leash reactive dog in the middle of the densest city in America. Curiosity allowed me to train my own dog to alert to the smell of excess gas when I developed full anosmia (loss of smell, related to Long Covid) while living in an apartment building with questionable stoves and piping. Even one certified dog trainer, well established in the sport of Nose Work, told me to just get a carbon monoxide alarm (for the record, no, that clearly would not have helped my issue but I now at least see the humor in the irony of this case of gas…lighting).
For anyone starting any new venture, curiosity is your greatest ally. Whether you’re learning more about your industry, refining your skills, or discovering innovative ways to solve problems, never stop seeking new knowledge. View every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to explore new avenues of learning or question methods just because someone with more experience says, “this is the way.” I, too, grew up watching Cesar Millan—I now encourage everyone to look into his countless lawsuits.
Patience: Whether you’re going through a complete career switch, working through a complicated dog training case, building a business that allows you to live the life you want, establishing a community in a new home state, or healing from multi-decade-misdiagnosed disorders (this is my journey, at least), it’s important to remember that progress shouldn’t be expected to happen immediately. Progress often comes in non-linear, baby steps.
There have been plenty of moments when it felt like things weren’t moving forward—and even more moments when I, or my body at least, just wanted to give up on everything. But staying patient—with dogs, with their guardians, with strangers on the sidewalk, with marketing ventures, and especially with myself—has been key. It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go as planned, but remember that real, lasting change takes time.
Don’t rush the process. Celebrate the small victories along the way, and stay focused on the long-term goal. To help with this: for every negative thought you have about your journey or weaknesses, try to immediately follow it with a reflection on your strengths. Patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about being present and grounded as you move through the process.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always open to collaborating with other professionals in the dog industry—especially veterinarians, groomers, dog walkers, sitters/boarders, daycares, and anyone else who shares a passion for improving dogs’ lives in a force-free, fear-free manner. I’m frequently asked for recommendations for these services and would love to fully trust in all of my referrals.
But I also have a bigger goal: to fully fuse our industries together for the ease of all dog guardians—and, ultimately, for the ease of all dogs. This planet is hard enough to navigate as humans sometimes—and our dogs understand maybe 5% of this world we’re asking them to constantly be “well-behaved” in.
I’m regularly told, “But my vet/groomer/walker said X” and find myself explaining why “Y” is a more accurate path. I’m just as sure these professionals are also frequently told, “But my trainer said Z” and find themselves explaining why “A” is truly correct. Behavior is an essential part of what all of these businesses do, yet it often feels like we’re existing in separate worlds—which is not always helpful for the animals we’ve all dedicated our careers to.
If you’re in the business of not just keeping dogs safe, but helping them thrive, then you also understand that collaboration is key. By working together, we can create a holistic approach that benefits both dogs and their guardians. If you’re interested in connecting and collaborating, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Let’s build something great together—maybe even the Avengers of the dog world!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blitzdogtraining.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blitz_dogtraining/
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