My name is Lalanya Buchheit, and I have nurtured a lifelong passion for animals that began in my childhood. Initially, I pursued a career in the creative field, graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). While living in Ventura, California, I developed an affinity for surfing and aspired to work at Patagonia. In 2002, I was appointed as an intern in their print design department, where I thrived for years in the vibrant Sample Making Room. The company’s commitment to recycling, reusing, and restoring the environment inspired me to seek a career that would have a reduced carbon footprint compared to the apparel industry.

In 2008, I relocated to Austin to complete an internship in a dog training program. After graduating from Animal Behavior College, I began teaching puppy classes at Casa de Luz, where I quickly recognized the complexities of dog behavior through my clients' experiences. As a beginner, I could teach the mechanics and fundamentals of operant and classical conditioning, but I often heard clients say, "My dog behaves and follows the cues perfectly here in class but will not follow directions outside of class, especially when my kids are rambunctious!" I aggressively sought knowledge and read from some of the world's best trainers and animal behaviorists, including Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Eric Brad, Alexandra Horowitz, Dr. Temple Grandin, Susan Friedman, John Bradshaw, Kim Brophy, and Ken Ramirez, to name a few.

In 2009, I met my future husband, Ezekiel Buchheit, and gradually took on the role of a step-parent. During that time, I became a Lama and adopted the nickname "Lala." Ezekiel, also known as Ez, has been instrumental as the co-founder of Dog Embark and has become an excellent dog trainer despite being a computer science engineer! From the beginning, he was incredibly supportive of my journey in animal behavior and encouraged us to adopt a puppy. We named her Milla Cacao, and she turned out to be perfect in every way. The lessons she taught us will always be remembered.

By 2011, I had established a clientele of puppy owners seeking assistance to ensure their dogs were well-exercised and mentally enriched through the practice of their communication cues followed by consistent feedback. Ezekiel and I founded Dogpeople Embark LLC, commonly referred to as Dogembark. A significant contributor to our success has been my in-laws, who generously allowed me to utilize their six-acre property as our private dog behavior laboratory. This environment fostered the development of numerous dogs from puppyhood to adulthood, creating an ideal learning atmosphere to produce well-socialized dogs to help raise the new generations. We proudly identify as specialists in puppy training!

I have been immersed in transformative experiences that have equipped me with the skills to listen attentively, observe emotional cues in animals and their surroundings, and respond in ways that strengthen relationships. A pivotal moment in my personal development came when I encountered a quote by Viktor Frankl: "Between stimulus and response, there is a space; in that space lies our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom." This quote resonated deeply with me, as it holds the key to all our relationships, including those with dogs. The quality of the relationship you cultivate with your dog is crucial to having a well-behaved companion.