Dog Trainer and Canine Expert Creates Nonprofit Organization Dedicated to Providing Service Dogs to Combat Veterans with PTSD, with Shannon Walker of Northwest Battle Buddies
11/13/24 • 75 min
Shannon Walker is an esteemed canine expert, renowned dog trainer, and the CEO and founder of Northwest Battle Buddies -- a non-profit organization dedicated to providing service dogs to combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These precisely-trained dogs (and their precisely-trained humans!) provide veterans a way forward, when they may not have seen one. The service dogs allow vets to live in a way that civilians often take for granted -- whether it's taking your 5 year old daughter to the park or grabbing some milk in the grocery store. These parts of life that seem so basic to others might often seem paralyzing an incredibly difficult for vets with PTSD.
Shannon shares why it is critical for a veterans to have service dogs, which she considers service equipment. Veterans with PTSD have a shockingly high suicide rate after returning home to civilian life.
After gifting more than 250 dogs to veterans (that would cost $25,000 per dog), they have not lost a single vet to suicide. These highly trained animals are very carefully matched with their owners based on their needs, including: if the vet has a family, if they are working, if they have any disabilities, and more.
Shannon has been in this field for nearly three decades and established Mans Best Friend – Dog Training in 1997, where she continues to make a positive impact in the lives of both dogs and their owners. She originally trained using the Schutzhund methodology, a European canine sport that evaluates a dog's tracking, obedience, and protection abilities.
Shannon Walker - Guest
Shannon's LinkedIn
Northwest Battle Buddies IG account
Northwest Battle Buddies website
Julie Berman - Podcast Host & Producer
Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
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I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.
If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman
Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3
Shannon Walker is an esteemed canine expert, renowned dog trainer, and the CEO and founder of Northwest Battle Buddies -- a non-profit organization dedicated to providing service dogs to combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These precisely-trained dogs (and their precisely-trained humans!) provide veterans a way forward, when they may not have seen one. The service dogs allow vets to live in a way that civilians often take for granted -- whether it's taking your 5 year old daughter to the park or grabbing some milk in the grocery store. These parts of life that seem so basic to others might often seem paralyzing an incredibly difficult for vets with PTSD.
Shannon shares why it is critical for a veterans to have service dogs, which she considers service equipment. Veterans with PTSD have a shockingly high suicide rate after returning home to civilian life.
After gifting more than 250 dogs to veterans (that would cost $25,000 per dog), they have not lost a single vet to suicide. These highly trained animals are very carefully matched with their owners based on their needs, including: if the vet has a family, if they are working, if they have any disabilities, and more.
Shannon has been in this field for nearly three decades and established Mans Best Friend – Dog Training in 1997, where she continues to make a positive impact in the lives of both dogs and their owners. She originally trained using the Schutzhund methodology, a European canine sport that evaluates a dog's tracking, obedience, and protection abilities.
Shannon Walker - Guest
Shannon's LinkedIn
Northwest Battle Buddies IG account
Northwest Battle Buddies website
Julie Berman - Podcast Host & Producer
Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.
If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman
Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3
Previous Episode
Actress Shares Journey of Getting a Career-Defining Role on Disney Sitcom, with Mimi Gianopulos
Actress Mimi Gianopulos shares about what it's like to be at the inflection point of getting her career-defining role on the Disney sitcom “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.” It's clear how much she loves her job, which she says is professional make-believe!
Mimi knew as a young girl that she wanted to be an actress, and she was always chatty at school and loved making other students laugh. She attended Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama and graduated with a degree in Musical Theater.
After 3 years of consistent work as an actress, the volume decreased and she got a few roles here and there -- nothing substantial, but enough to keep her going towards her dreams.
Mimi’s previous television roles include playing Sue Mengers in the miniseries “The Offer,” Kaitlyn in the comedy series “Rutherford Falls,” and a recurring role as Morgan on “American Princess.” Gianopulos is best known for her recurring role as Angela in the Freeform series “Baby Daddy,” and was also cast in the lead role for the pilot of “Continuing Fred” for Freeform.
Mimi's character is the mom, Giada Russo, in “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” which is the continuation of the beloved hit Disney Channel series “Wizards of Waverly Place." Selena Gomez and David Henrie were both actors in the original series and are now executive producers of this new show out in late October 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.
If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman
Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3
Next Episode
Buttermaker and Dairy Farmer Create Artisan Butter from Rare Guernsey Cows, with Jen & Julie Orchard of Royal Guernsey Creamery
Sisters Jen and Julie Orchard of Royal Guernsey Creamery are a buttermaker and a dairy farmer, respectively, who produce small-batch, artisan butter using cream from their own herd of Guernsey cows.
The self-named "Butterettes" are 7th generation diary farmers that make four types of artisan, European-style butter. Jen & Julie started Royal Guernsey Creamery in 2020, and by 2023, they got the blue ribbon and grand champion title at the Wisconsin State Fair for the best butter in the Dairy State.
Making butter is a 20-hour process that takes over two days to accomplish. Together they make 400 pounds at a time. They do everything from churning the butter... to creating the round, tube-shaped units... to packaging over 800 units in special foil.
Both Jen and Julie stepped away from their family roots as dairy farmers to pursue other careers. Jennifer left a 15-year career in biotechnology to return to the family farm. Julie has more than 20 years of marketing experience working with clients in the field of animal health. They both came back to their family farm where they decided to start their business together.
** Random cow facts:
- Cows are wonderful creatures that love affection, have individual personalities, and enjoy interactions with their caretakers.
- Brown-and-white Guernsey cows today represent just 1% of the U.S. cattle population. (Versus the Holstein cows, which are black and white.) If you’re going to raise them, you use their milk for something other than pooling it with other milk to maintain its quality.
Jen & Julie Orchard - Guests
Royal Guernsey Creamery IG account
Royal Guernsey Creamery website
Julie Berman - Podcast Host & Producer
Julie Berman's LinkedIn Profile
@womencooljobs (Instagram)
www.womenwithcooljobs.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.
If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman
Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much. <3
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