🐾 Ericka 🐾

Playgroup Leader
Pet First Aid Certified

Ericka brings three years of hands-on dog care and training experience to her role as a Playgroup Leader at The Dog Den. With a sharp eye for group dynamics and a heart for building relationships, she focuses on creating an environment where dogs feel safe, understood, and empowered to be their best selves.

Her training style is centered around Fear Free principles, relationship-building, and giving dogs the tools they need to interact confidently with both humans and their canine peers. Ericka is especially passionate about helping dogs learn important social cues and appropriate play behaviors—all through guidance that respects who they are as individuals.

What Ericka loves most is witnessing dogs grow into themselves—watching shy dogs gain confidence, wild ones learn balance, and every dog discover joy in connection. She’s constantly tuned into their personalities and loves being part of their journey.

A lifelong dog lover, Ericka’s path into training and behavior work was shaped by the dogs who helped heal and shape her through life’s challenges. Each one taught her lessons in trust, resilience, and unconditional love—and those lessons now live in her work with every pup at The Dog Den.

She has a soft spot for guardian breeds—Pit Bulls, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, and Shepherds—for their strength, loyalty, and working spirit. Her dream is to help all dogs—especially those who may be misunderstood—build deep, secure bonds with their humans and thrive in the world through relationship-based training and life skills.

Outside of The Dog Den, Ericka is also a talented hairstylist, channeling her creativity and eye for detail into everything she does. At work, she supervises playgroups, maintains a clean and safe facility, and helps manage daily operations—all while cheering dogs on as they flourish.