Darcy (they/them) grew up in Southern California and currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska. 

Darcy started Dawn of the Dog in 2020, teaching force-free, positive reinforcement techniques that build trust and nurture a healthy dog-human relationship.

Darcy firmly believes that training should be fun and educational for both you and your dog. Their techniques prioritize your relationship with your dog through positive reinforcement and mutual understanding. Darcy will provide you with the knowledge needed to understand your dog’s behavior at a fundamental level and teach you the skills needed to maintain a happy and healthy relationship for years to come. 

Darcy grew up riding horses which deeply informs their work with dogs. Working with large animals like horses taught them the importance of using gentle, force-free techniques that invite cooperation rather than demand compliance.

Some of the trainers that Darcy admires and who inform their approach are: Dr. Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell, Alexandra Horowitz, Karen Pryor, Susan Garrett