How it
all
started.
For me, dog training never started from the need to have a dog that simply “obeys”.
It started from the need to better understand what my dog is trying to tell me — and how I, in turn, can communicate with more clarity, consistency and trust.
Before it became a profession, it was everyday life. It was living together, questions, mistakes, searching and, above all, a relationship that made me see training differently.
And that’s more or less how The Dog Side began.
With one dog. Beer.
Konstantina
I grew up in a home where dogs were always part of everyday life. From a young age I wanted to understand how to communicate with them — not just how to train them.
Beer, the dog who has been by my side for more than 15 years, has largely shaped the way I see this relationship today.
Professional training came later, when a second puppy brought challenges into our everyday life. I found myself on the side of the person looking for answers and, along that journey, I discovered an approach based on understanding, communication and trust.
Today, that is what I want to offer too: to help dogs and people live better together.
Along the way I have chosen to get to know dogs beyond training as well, attending veterinary and first-aid seminars. I wanted to better understand what is going on with a dog, to recognise when something isn’t right and, if needed, to know how to help.
Because training isn’t about control. It’s about the relationship — a relationship that works in real life.
Beer
The day I rented my first home, I went to an animal shelter in Attica to “choose” a puppy. In the end, she probably chose me.
Beer was just six weeks old. Today she is 15 and has been by my side through every stage of my life — on walks, trips, house moves and big changes.
What I have always admired about her is the way she communicates. She is clear, calm and incredibly adaptable. She never needs to demand anything; she always finds her own way to show me what she needs.
One moment I will never forget was when I came home from the maternity hospital with the baby. While everyone rushed to meet the new family member, she came to me first. She waited calmly, as if waiting for me to introduce them myself.
Beer is one of the main reasons I decided to work with dogs professionally. Not to make them “perfect”, but to help more people experience this kind of relationship.
She is my family, my companion, my constant — and the reason it all started.
