Julee Samuli's five Aussies affectionately known as "The Crew" (L-R): Kia, CJ, Doc, Echo and Goldie. She will train any breed. While the core principals in training are the same, different breeds have different tendencies that show in how a dog responds to something. She highly recommends owners get a dog that fits their activity level.
Julee Samuli's service dog Doc poses with a flag. Samuli is a certified dog trainer and canine behavior counselor.
Julee Samuli going over hand signals for obedience cues with a client's dog Lucy. Samuli works with the dog and owner to help build their relationship. She feels by building this bond and working through problem behaviors and bad habits, she helps keep dogs from being dropped off at a shelter.
SEELEY LAKE – "The more time we spend with our dogs, the better that relationship is going to be and the more value you are going to have in the eyes of your dog," said Julee Samuli, a certified dog trainer who lives in Seeley Lake. "A lot of people think training is cues - that is static and boring. Helping people know how to have fun, play and train at the same time gets people more involved with their dogs and they want to spend more time with their dog."
Dogs have been an essential part of Samuli's life since she was a young child. Now as a certified dog trainer and canine behavior counselor she is able to put her passion to work helping other people. Whether it is simply building a deeper relationship with their dog or helping train a service dog to enable someone to live a more normal life, Samuli's goal as the owner of Limitless Pawsibilities is to support dog owners in having a beautiful and healthy relationship with their dog.
"Everything is rooted in relationship first. That is what I want to build - the relationship between the dog and owner. Then that training is going to happen much better," said Samuli. "There are so many things you can accomplish. If you set your mind to it, you and your dog can do it."
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Samuli grew up caring for and training her family's Shetland Sheepdogs. As a teenager, she did the teen dog socialization program at the Humane Society in Santa Clara, Calif.
"I had so much fun and knew that was something I wanted to do," said Samuli.
While studying behavioral science at the University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music, Samuli became a handler in AKC conformation show competitions championing several dogs and won first place in a handler competition. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy and her teaching degree working in an integrated classroom.
In 1997 she and her husband Eric adopted their first border collie named Shasta. Shasta was a fearful dog.
While Samuli grew up training her dogs using punishment-based tactics, she started to question this approach.
"I don't want my dog to listen to me because they are afraid something bad is going to happen," said Samuli. "I am trying to build this really great bond with this dog and build trust and have this dog enjoy and want to be with me."
Samuli starting using positive reinforcement training with Shasta. This type of training is rewards based and uses a lot of conceptual training to teacher correct behavior.
"Positive reinforcement and conceptual training was a huge confidence booster for her," said Samuli. "She got over all of her fears."
The Samulis then got an Australian Shepherd puppy named Hailey. Samuli did several classes with Hailey including obedience, rally and herding. Hailey's herding instructor recommended her for a job as the goose patrol at the local golf course in Pleasanton, Calif.
Before the course opened, Hailey would don her orange goose patrol vest and go out with Samuli to chase the geese off the greens and the fairways. Hailey's predecessor would not go into the water hazards after the geese, however the geese quickly learned that hanging out in the water waiting for Hailey to leave was no longer acceptable. Following Samuli's herding commands, Hailey safely and effectively moved the geese. She was also hired for goose patrol for Pacific Bell Telephone company.
Twelve years ago Samuli graduated from Animal Behavioral College with honors to earn her official dog training certification. She also completed Trish King's Canine Behavior Academy (CBA I and CBA II) and received a canine behavior counseling certificate before opening her own business Limitless Pawsibilities.
"Dog training is not a regulated profession. You get a lot of people out there that pass themselves off as dog trainers but they can actually do more harm than good," said Samuli explaining there are different theories of dog training – some that use positive reinforcement and others use intimidation tactics that can instill or exacerbate fear and frustration in the dog. "I wanted to make sure that [people who are paying for my services] know I've been through the education process and I know what I'm talking about. I'm legitimate."
Samuli taught basic obedience, puppy classes and workshops for basic commands and offered private consultations to help owners work through problem behaviors and bad habits.
Ten years ago when Samuli got her dog Echo, he was hired as the in-house dog trainer for Desert Willow Aussies in New Mexico. She offers remote training via online videos, printed instructions and phone consultations allowing her clients and dog to go beyond just learning cues but also guiding and molding the dog so it can manage itself.
"My education and experience give me the tools to effectively train dogs utilizing humane techniques," wrote Samuli on her website. "I also provide dog owners with the knowledge and skills they need to continue the training, so their dog is a well-behaved and respectful member of the family."
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The Samulies purchased their home in Seeley Lake in 2005 after falling in love with the area and the recreation it provides. They moved here permanently in January 2016.
Samuli continues her remote training with Desert Willow Aussies, offers private consultations for basic training needs and problem behaviors, and teaches Canine Nose Work, a nationwide competitive sport in which dogs and handlers can earn titles, ribbons and awards. One of Samuli's students recently got her nose work title on the first attempt, something that is very difficult to do.
"It is recreational. It is something to do that is fun for you and your dog and you feel a sense of accomplishment," said Samuli whose has titled her dogs in many K9 sports.
Samuli's biggest passion now is training service dogs. She works with veterans locally and in the region through Pam Brock with German Shepherds for Veterans. She has trained eight successful, working service dogs nationwide that are giving their owners the ability live a normal life.
"Hearing the joy in their voices and knowing that they can still live their lives and hearing the stories and how their dog is helping them is so heartwarming," said Samuli. "It is an amazing thing that I can help make a difference in these people's lives and that their dog is making that happen with the training."
Samuli continued, "Dogs are very therapeutic, great companions, are a lot of fun and they get people out and active. I want people to have a really good bond and relationship with their dog and really enjoy their dog."
For more information about Limitless Pawsibilities visit http://limitlesspawsibilities.com/ Samuli can be reached by calling 925-699-4410 or email nolimit4paws@gmail.com
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