Hey! My name is Brandon
If you're here, something probably isn't working. Maybe walks have become something you dread. Maybe you've tried training before and it didn't hold. Maybe you love your dog deeply and still feel like you're failing them. I've been in that exact place — and it's what brought me here.
I spent my early years playing guitar in bands, writing music, and chasing the dream of touring the world. It was everything I thought I wanted — until the reality of life on the road and time away from my wife, Shelby, made it clear it wasn't. I trained as an EMT and phlebotomist after that, looking for something grounded and purposeful. Neither stuck. For a while, photography filled the gap — I shot weddings, engagements, and family moments, and I loved being trusted with those. But something was still missing.
Then came Theodora.
The dog that changed everything.
Theodora ‘Theo’ is a white poodle, my wife's right hand at Le Pawsh — our holistic dog salon in the Bay Area — and my greatest teacher. When Shelby and I brought her home at eight weeks old, I was confident I could raise a friendly, well-mannered dog. I had loved dogs my whole life. How hard could this be?
Seemingly impossible, as it turned out — especially if you have no idea what you’re doing. For the first few months, she was an angel. Then leash pulling started. Then the ignoring. Then the barking and lunging at every dog we passed on walks. I watched our relationship slowly become everything I didn't want it to be, before facing the reality of how lost I actually was. I had been treating her like a small human — measuring her by standards she was never built for, and missing what she was actually trying to tell me.
That frustration sent me deep into the world of dog training, and I never came back out.
I found my first mentor, Beth Koenig, a true master in the field of obedience, who opened my eyes to how dogs actually learn and communicate. Beyond her teachings, I absorbed everything I could — courses, hands-on experience, working with owners and their dogs and in 2025, I entered a second mentorship under Jacob Morgan of YCA, where I learned advanced concepts and just how holistic training can be. I consider myself a lifelong student of the dog.
Every dog I work with teaches me something new.
Where Theo is today.
She walks at my side now, head held high — and more often than not, without a leash. Off-leash, past other dogs, in the kinds of environments that used to send her into a spiral. The dog that once cowered at certain breeds and lunged at everything within sight now moves through the world with quiet confidence.
Theo isn’t entirely fearless. Nor is she an obedient robot dog. But that was never the goal. Theo is sensitive, introverted, and selective about which dogs she lets into her space. She'll take her time greeting, making sure the other dog is calm and respectful before she decides to engage. That's not a flaw — that's her. What changed is that she no longer feels like she has to handle the world alone. She leans on our relationship when things get uncertain, checks in, and trusts me to lead. She is curious with a drive for exploration, wild when it comes time to play, and loving when I need my friend. That trust is what made everything else possible.
She's not the most confident dog in the world, and she doesn't need to be. She's exactly who she is — and she's free.
That's what I want for every dog I work with.
They say you don't get the dog you want, you get the dog you need. That couldn't be more true for me and Theo.
Why DYAD Exists
Most of my life has been spent looking for ways to create joy — through music, through photography, and now through this. What I've found is that nothing compares to watching an owner and their dog finally understand each other. The relief on their face. The shift in their dog. The walk that used to be a battle becoming something they actually look forward to.
That's what DYAD is built for. Not tricks, not quick fixes — real communication, real trust, and a partnership that holds up in the real world.
If you're here because something isn't working, I've been there. And I know the way through.
My wife, Shelby, and I also founded Le Pawsh, a boutique, holistic dog grooming salon here in Fremont. I'll be honest — the talent in that building belongs entirely to our team. My role is design, marketing, and operations. But the heart behind it is something Shelby and I share deeply.
Le Pawsh exists with three goals: to elevate grooming as the art form it actually is, to celebrate dogs in all their beauty, and to encourage owners to take a more active, holistic role in their dog's care. We invest in our team's education, offer real benefits, and pay wages that reflect genuine respect for the craft. That environment shows — in the care each dog receives, in the time taken to make them comfortable, and in the relationships we build with the families who trust us with them.
Clients travel from Sacramento, Half Moon Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and even as far as Los Angeles to get here. Le Pawsh has been consecutively voted Best in Fremont, and we don't take that lightly. It's a space where dog care is taken seriously — and people feel that the moment they walk through the door.
Ready to start your journey?
Let’s chat!