Meet Rebecca Hoffman

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Hoffman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

I didn’t avoid burnout—I didn’t even think it was possible for me. I took the sentiment “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” to heart. I worked hard, constantly learning, expanding, and networking. But eventually, I hit a plateau. At first, I thought I could push through, but after taking a position with a company whose values didn’t align with mine, everything came to a head. My philosophy, ethics, and personal balance were all on the line. In an industry with no formal regulations or avenues for addressing ethical concerns, I reached my limit.

I quit. I burned out and quit. I left that job by marking myself unavailable on Google Calendar, and they never booked me again. I tried pivoting to a new industry—video game streaming—which didn’t work out and left me struggling even more. I don’t know how I survived that period; I barely remember how I paid my bills. But with time, I found my footing again.

This experience taught me a lot about boundaries and balance. When I returned to dog training, I did so with a clearer understanding of the types of cases and clients I wanted to work with, as well as the limits I needed to set to protect myself. I also learned to forgive myself for being human, not just an entrepreneur.

Today, I don’t strive to change the world or revolutionize the industry. Instead, I focus on making a meaningful difference in my community by helping clients create more harmony in their lives with their dogs. Burnout helped me evolve into someone who runs a business that aligns with who I am now, not who I was when I started out.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a professional dog trainer and the owner of Dognamics, my small business dedicated to creating harmony between dogs and their humans. What sets Dognamics apart is my focus on understanding each dog’s underlying behavioral needs, not just teaching obedience. I specialize in highly personalized training that’s tailored to each client’s lifestyle and goals—no one-size-fits-all solutions here. I love the challenge of finding that balance between what works for each unique dog and their owner.

The most exciting part of my work is seeing the “aha” moment for both dog and owner—whether it’s helping a dog overcome aggression or guiding a puppy through early development, those moments of progress are incredibly rewarding. Building deeper connections between owners and their dogs keeps me passionate about what I do.

Recently, I’ve been working on some exciting new avenues to help dogs express their natural behaviors safely. My personal dogs are involved in activities like flyball and barnhunt, and I’m even looking into starting a GRC club. I’m also exploring the option of adding slat mill rentals (dog treadmills) to my offerings, allowing clients to meet their dogs’ physical needs in a structured way, especially for those with limited time or space.

At Dognamics, my goal isn’t just to train dogs—it’s to help people live better lives with their dogs. I’m deeply invested in each client’s journey, and I’m proud to be part of creating lasting change and stronger relationships between dogs and their humans.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience – Owning a business, especially as a sole proprietor, comes with ups and downs. Resilience has been one of the most important qualities in helping me navigate challenges. Whether it was burnout or adjusting to a new market, I’ve had to continuously adapt and keep moving forward. My advice for those early in their journey is to accept that setbacks are part of the process. Learn to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, not as a sign to quit.

Patience and Observation – In dog training, and in business, patience is key. Observing both dogs and clients carefully helps me tailor my approach to what they truly need. It’s also important to be patient with yourself; mastery doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re starting out, practice listening and paying attention to the details. Whether it’s watching a dog’s body language or picking up on a client’s concerns, being patient and observant can help you improve your skills much faster than rushing through things.

Setting Boundaries – Early on, I wanted to help everyone and take on every case, but that approach isn’t sustainable. Learning to set boundaries—whether it’s about what types of clients I take on or how much time I dedicate to work—was crucial for my long-term success and well-being. For those just starting out, I recommend being clear with yourself about what you’re willing to tolerate and what your limits are. Setting boundaries isn’t selfish; it’s necessary for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and staying passionate about what you do.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

In an industry as unregulated as dog training, it took time to find people I truly trust and respect. I’ve worked with, talked to, and referred to many different trainers with varying approaches, but I’ve learned that no single person or philosophy has all the answers. There are many loud voices in the field, all offering differing opinions, which makes it challenging to find a clear path.

For me, the most helpful people have been those who value critical thinking over cookie-cutter approaches. They’ve taught me to question methods, assess each case individually, and never assume that one solution works for every dog. The best advice I’ve received is to follow my heart and trust my instincts—dog training is as much about understanding the dogs as it is about listening to the clients’ needs and concerns.

If I could give one piece of advice to others in this field, it would be to stay open-minded, ask reasonable questions of the trainers you work with, and always remain honest about your own struggles and those of the dogs you’re training. The people who’ve helped me the most have been the ones who encouraged me to keep learning and to never settle for a one-size-fits-all solution.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dognamics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dognamics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dognamics/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dognamics-portland

Image Credits

Gadabout Photography