Welcome to the Pack!

This friendship is fur real! We are so glad you are here and we can’t wait to get to know you and your pup. Whether you are a new puppy, rescue, pure-bred, fearful, shy, anxious, reactive and everything in between, we want you to know you are welcomed with open paws! Thanks for sniffing by.

Our story

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

Welcome to Bear Down, Dog Training (BDDT)! I appreciate you checking us out. Here’s the story of how we became BDDT. I adopted my first dog as an adult in Sept of 2010, his name was Zeus, he was 5 years old and a gorgeous German Shepherd. Zeus was my first soulmate dog. In February of 2011 I adopted Bear and that’s where the story truly begins. Bear was only 1.5 years old and a giant Shepherd mix that immediately got along with Zeus. I had my "perfect" family and my 2 best friends that started a dream I didn't know was coming. I enrolled in training classes and enjoyed every moment. Teaching my boys all these great things and seeing our relationship becoming stronger and stronger was a bond that I can't compare to anything else. As I was learning so many new ways of communicating with my boys, I soon realized my passion in life is in training dogs. Before this exciting life I worked with cars and as fun as it was, it was also a frustrating career. I enrolled in Animal Behavior College and it only took off from there! I learned how much I was messing up my dogs, haha. I learned SO much between both of them in their own ways. With Zeus I created an unhealthy separation anxiety relationship. Zeus was my momma's boy and I had to learn how to help his anxiety, after about 2 years of hard work we did it! His confidence blossomed, we blossomed as a team and I will never forget those amazing times and all he taught me. I had 5 short years with him but they were the best 5 years a mom could ask for. Bear was reactive on leash and very strong. Bear was a dog I had to EARN his trust and respect with lots of hard work, patience and consistency. Bear was my "troublemaker" teaching me more than I could ever imagine. From reactivity, to working extremely hard to be the most valuable thing in his life. I had to be better than squirrels, opossums, food, dogs etc. I am lucky to have had Bear for almost 11 years before he passed at the age of 12, and everyday for 11 years was always training. I will always remember the day I knew I was better then everything else when Bear was off leash, chasing a squirrel as fast as he could, and I yelled, “Bear come!”. He put on the brakes so fast, watched that squirrel keep running, turned around and ran right to me! One of the proudest mom moments that the hard work had paid off! My relationship with all my dog's is strong and amazing, Bear was the one that saw me through all good and bad, taught so many dogs in his lifetime, made so many strong connections with people, and the reason I started my own business. I want his legacy to live on forever. You may be gone but never forgotten and I know he's with me everyday helping me help other dogs and families. I am so grateful to have found my true passion and to be able to teach others to become the best that they want for them and their dogs.

Meet the Team

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen” -Orhan Pamuk


  • Founder

    I am a certified fear free dog trainer, Canine Good Citizen evaluator, canine and feline CPR trained business owner with a love for helping people and their dogs create strong bonds and healthy relationships via positive reinforcement techniques and evidence based behavior modifications. My certifications aid families, especially with fearful and aggressive dogs, to successful happy relationships. All while focusing on animal behavior consulting, to better the human/dog relationships in the community. Helping all dogs (especially dogs in shelters become adoptable) live better lives in society, while educating people to understand how dogs think and to encourage them to listen to their dogs, is a true passion of mine.

  • Dog Training Associate

    It all begins with a boop! As a Dog Training Associate for BDDT, I provide hands-on support for training programs and happy pups alike. I assist with classes and work closely with Sara to bring the vision of BDDT to life. Whether behind the scenes or directly in sessions, my focus is always on what’s best for each dog, setting them up for success and ensuring every dog and owner enjoys a positive, rewarding experience. With a genuine love for dogs and a patient, attentive approach, I help teach humans to speak dog while making training fun and effective. A trusted partner for all your training needs, I’m always ready with a smile (and sometimes a treat!).  

Meet the Team

Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

  • Certified Trainer

    Dan has always had a big heart for animals, especially dogs. After serving in the U.S. Navy Seabees, he rescued his first pup and quickly learned how powerful patience, love, and training can be in changing a dog’s life. That experience inspired him to foster dogs and get them more adoptable through training, and eventually led to him following his true calling as a professional dog trainer.

    Certified through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, Dan loves helping families build strong, lasting bonds with their dogs. Whether working with his own pups, Lincoln and Darla, or volunteering with the Blue Island Stray Dog Project, he believes every dog deserves the chance to feel happy, confident, and connected to their people.

    For Dan, the best part of training is seeing owners light up with pride as their dogs learn and grow. His goal is simple: to help you and your four-legged friend enjoy life together to the fullest.

  • Trainer

    I am a life long animal lover and Chicagoland native. I have a B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas University and a Master of Arts in Teaching the Biological Sciences from Miami University. I have been involved in the animal training field since 2004 and was introduced to the wonderful world of positive reinforcement training at the Shedd Aquarium where I assisted with raising an abandoned Alaskan Sea Otter pup. I went on to work as a marine mammal trainer at the Brookfield Zoo for several years and also spent time as a zookeeper in the Farm in the Zoo and the Children’s Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo.

    I have over a decade of experience in both the dog training and doggie daycare worlds, working throughout the city and suburbs helping people develop strong positive bonds with their furry family members. Outside of animal training, I am a middle school science teacher and enjoy spending time with my wife, two kids and our two bunnies.

  • Trainer

    My name is Sarah Porterfield and I have been involved with animal training for 20 years. I started my career as an intern at the Shedd Aquarium working with the marine mammals. I then moved on to work at Brookfield Zoo, the New York Aquarium and then settled at the Denver Zoo. I have worked with a wide variety of animals.  Dolphins, walruses, harbor seals, fur seals, sea lions, polar bears and a Harris hawk. The techniques that I used in the Zoo are the same techniques I use with dogs. I believe in building a good and trusting relationship with your dog.  Outside of work I share my life with my husband, two children and my fur baby Pepper.