About
Kristin Baker (Tarnowski) MEd, CPDT, IAABC - Canine
From my earliest memories of meditating with monks at a Buddhist monastery, my life has been a quiet practice in mindfulness. This path, born on a secluded Oregon homestead where I learned to drive teams of oxen and live in sync with nature, has been the foundation of my life's work. I was taught from a young age that true strength lies in a calm, centered presence.
My education and career as a Montessori teacher further cemented this philosophy. The Montessori method is rooted in attentive observation and guiding individuals with patience and respect. I applied this same gentle, intentional approach to my greatest passion: training dogs.
Leon
My first great teacher was a puppy named Leon. I found a loophole in my parents' refusal to get a dog by raising him for a high school project. Though he was dismissed from guide dog training due to health issues, I kept him. He was the best dog I have ever known and lived to be 16.5, teaching me that a true partnership is built on unconditional love, not just perfect obedience. This experience, along with my work raising hundreds of puppies in our home, showed me that every dog has a unique path and requires a peaceful, personalized approach.
Giving and Learning
In 2009, I founded the Dogs Assisting Diabetics Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people acquire and train service dogs. This work has been a profound lesson in how a mindful, trusting bond can save lives.
Today, I combine all of my life experiences (certification as an International Yoga Alliance instructor my professional training status from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and my International Association Animal Behavior Consultants certified canine behaviorist) to offer a unique training philosophy.
I believe that by mastering my own awareness, breathing, and presence, I can better myself to better the dogs I work with. Our dogs are our mirrors; when we find inner peace, they find peace too.
Path to Joy
I now live on a 160 acre permaculture homestead in Oregon's High Desert. It is a place of peace where, with our pack of dogs, my husband Jesse and I observe the land and work with nature. Just as we learn to work with the natural world, we learn to work with our dogs' innate behavior, creating a harmonious life for all.