About Us

Alexandra fell in love with dog training when she fell in love with Allie.  Allie was a 1 year old Shepherd/Shiba Inu that she adopted from  “A Cause for Paws”, a New York City based rescue group; she volunteered with during her Sophomore and Junior year of college.  At “A Cause for Paws”, she met Lydia DesRoche who co-created the organization.  Lydia and Alexandra stayed friends while Alexandra finished her education at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.  Allie had a host of behavioral problems that Alexandra was unaware of until she brought her home, like so many adopters. Alexandra spent the next two years researching, studying, and working with trainers and veterinarians on how to help Allie with her socialization, anxiety, and stress.  Realizing that she had a gift for connecting with dogs and understanding their various difficulties she decided to embark on a career in dog training.

Alexandra believed the best way to learn how to be a dog trainer was to continue to work with homeless dogs at her local animal shelter.  She started as a kennel attendant at Flagler Humane Society in Palm Coast, FL.  Cleaning and feeding dogs helped her gain the trust of dogs that otherwise would be very fearful of people.  While working at the shelter she developed close relationships with the volunteers.  She set up weekly adoption and information events with the volunteers which helped her develop bonds within the community.  At Flagler Humane Society she also gained experience as a vet tech which helped her learn more about canine health and nutrition.  

In 2007, Alexandra established her business, Devoted2Dogs.  During this time she was also working as the Director of Development at St. Augustine Humane Society in St. Augustine, FL.  She developed a training, volunteer, and foster program.  She used her skills to build a basic training program in order to make dogs more adoptable and volunteers more educated.  Alexandra worked alongside the vet to improve her vet tech skills and improve the foster program to identify key medical problems in order to get animals back to the shelter to keep them healthy and then ready to adopt.  Alexandra also designed a variety of social programs.  She brought well-trained dogs from St. Augustine Humane Society to work with school age children and discuss safe dog handling.  She also created a one-on-one program for children with developmental disabilities so they could volunteer at the shelter.

When Alexandra relocated back to New York City, she partnered again with Lydia DesRoche and helped train Mr. Red, a homeless pitbull that needed behavioral training.  She also brought her dog training business with her.  During her free time she volunteered with K9Kastle in Brooklyn, NY.  Alexandra worked with both cats and dogs.  She helped train the dogs that were waiting for homes in foster care and provided after-adoption behavioral counseling. 

In 2015, Alexandra wanted to build on her education and went to London, UK to study Animal Science at Plumpton College, in East Sussex, England, UK.  In her free time, she volunteered at Battersea Dog’s & Cat’s Home, which is an animal shelter located in Battersea, London, UK.  Alexandra was a foster parent for four dogs.  Her last foster dog, Bromley, was a foster failure and moved back to New York City with Alexandra.  While volunteering she used her classroom experience from the states to go to Elementary and Middle schools in the UK to talk to children about safe handling and Pitbull identification. 

Alexandra is currently pursuing a Ethology Institute CPDT Certification and Certification in Shelter Dog Training Mentorship

-Alexandra has a Bachelor of Science in Humane Leadership sponsored by The Humane Society at Duquesne University, PA 

-Alexandra has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at Plumpton College in East Sussex, England, UK

-Alexandra is certified by The Humane Society of the United States in:

Dog Bite Prevention

Pitbull Basics

First Strike: Animals and Violence

-Alexandra is certified by IMDT as a dog trainer

-Alexandra has participated in AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test and Delta Society’s Pet Partner’s Therapy Dog Program

-Alexandra has been featured in Palm Coast News Journal and on FOX television promoting adoption and discussing basic dog obedience.

-Alexandra keeps up with her industry by being a member of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)

Alexandra continues her education by attending dog training and animal care events such as The Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo and reading The Whole Dog Journal and Bark Magazine