Tala’s lifelong love for animals grew into a career dedicated to ethical, science-based dog training. With formal accreditation from a nationally recognized school and mentorship from trainers with over fifty years of combined experience, she’s developed a strong background in obedience, scent work, service, and therapy dog training.

Holding certifications including Atlas-CT, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCP, and AKC Evaluator, Tala continues to grow through ongoing education and collaborations with ADI-accredited service-dog programs.

As Training Director, she oversees Helping Howls programs across Central Virginia and Northern Virginia (NOVA) mentoring trainers, designing individualized training plans, and guiding service-dog development.

As a service-dog handler herself, Tala values accessibility, inclusivity, and positive reinforcement at the heart of every training experience.

When she’s not teaching or mentoring, Tala enjoys volunteering with local clubs, spending time with her own dogs, and continuing her studies to ensure Helping Howls remains a leader in positive-reinforcement based training.

Tala shares some photos of her dog’s & their adventures in the gallery below. They compete in Rally Obedience, Hunt Tests, Scent-work, and Conformation primarily.