Meet Indi & Bear

A journey from fear to trust, and a mission to help others do the same.

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Hi, I’m Indi, and this is my four-legged co-trainer, Bear. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia and moved to Wilmington in 2019. My path into dog training was unexpected and deeply personal. As a child, I developed a severe phobia of dogs after being trampled by a pack of exuberant Bluetick hounds. That fear followed me into early adulthood, until I decided it was time to heal and move forward.

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In 2008, I began slowly working through my fear by visiting the local animal shelter. One day, I met a scared little pitbull tucked away in the back kennel. She was only a few days away from being euthanized, and while I wasn't planning on adopting a dog, I couldn't leave her there. I quickly fell in love with her, and with pitbulls in general! Monroe struggled with fear-based reactivity and separation anxiety, and I realized I needed real tools to support her. That search led me to pursue certification as a dog trainer in 2010, and I haven’t looked back since.

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Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with thousands of dogs and their people, specializing in behavior modification for anxiety, fear, and reactivity. I’ve also partnered with shelters and nonprofits, providing behavior assessments, training staff and volunteers, and helping countless dogs find (and keep) loving homes.

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In 2019, just before moving to Wilmington, I adopted Bear—another shelter pittie with a heart of gold. Bear now helps me in sessions with anxious or reactive dogs, offering calm companionship and leadership.

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My work at Cape Fear Holistic Dog Training continues to evolve. I combine positive reinforcement training with Reiki energy healing, honoring each dog’s unique emotional and energetic needs. My mission is to help dogs feel safe and understood, and to empower their humans with gentle and effective tools that foster trust and deepen connection.

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We’d love to meet you and your pup. Reach out anytime, we’re here to help!