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Hi, I’m Lena.

My journey into dog coaching didn’t start because everything went smoothly. It started because it didn’t.

When Snuf came into our lives, he was nine months old, a working line German Shepherd with enormous sensitivity and drive. He had missed an important part of early socialization, and suddenly the world around him became loud, unpredictable, and overwhelming.

His reactions were intense. Other dogs needed to be more than 100 meters away for him to stay calm enough to cope. Walks didn’t feel like peaceful moments together, they felt more like tactical missions where I was constantly scanning the environment and trying to stay one step ahead.

From the outside, people often saw a barking German Shepherd that looked intimidating. What they didn’t see was a dog whose nervous system was completely overwhelmed.

We reached out for help immediately and worked with several trainers over time. Many offered techniques, protocols, or obedience-based solutions. Some of them helped in small ways, but something essential was often missing: understanding.

Why was he reacting this way?
What was he feeling in those moments?
And how could I support him, instead of simply trying to manage the behavior?

When we finally found guidance that focused on understanding rather than suppressing behavior, things slowly began to change.

I also had to face something that wasn’t easy to admit: my own tension played a role as well. My frustration, my fear of being judged, my urgency to “fix” things… Snuf felt all of it.

In many ways, he became my mirror. Learning to guide him calmly meant learning how to regulate myself first.

Progress came slowly. Not perfection, but stability. Not control, but connection.

And along the way I realized something else: one of the hardest parts of this journey was finding safe, structured environments where dogs like Snuf could practice being around others without pressure or judgement.

That gap is one of the reasons Dog Guide Lena exists today.

Not to “fix” dogs, but to help humans understand what their dogs are communicating, and to create safe spaces where both can practice calmly and grow together.

Today I’m continuing my education with Nina (@hondencoachnina), an experienced dog behavior coach. Through this training I deepen my understanding of behavior, communication, and nervous system regulation, while supporting other dog owners who are navigating similar challenges.