My Story
For more than two decades, my work has been guided by curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the human–animal bond. My path has woven together dog training and behavior, nursing, professional coaching, business, and grief support—all with the same goal: helping people and the animals they love navigate life together with greater understanding.
I’m Joan Hunter Mayer, founder of The Inquisitive Canine. I established my Santa Barbara–based practice in 2005, although the story really began with Poncho—the original inquisitive canine and the dog who inspired me to become a professional trainer.
Where it All Began
Poncho sent me searching for better answers about why dogs behave as they do, how they learn, and how the people who love them can communicate with them more effectively. More than two decades later, that same curiosity continues to guide my work with dogs of all ages and the people who share their lives.
Today, I work as a certified professional dog trainer, canine behavior consultant, and human–canine relationship coach. That last title matters to me because dog training is rarely only about the dog. Dogs generally do not call to schedule their own appointments; their people do. Meaningful, lasting change comes from helping both ends of the leash understand one another.
My approach is humane, evidence-based, and rooted in curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of simply labeling a dog as stubborn, difficult, anxious, or aggressive, I encourage people to look more closely: What is motivating this behavior? What has the dog learned? What might the dog need in order to feel safer or succeed? When frustration gives way to curiosity, there is more room for communication, trust, and connection.
The Path That Shaped My Work
The path has been anything but conventional. My education and experience span nursing, business, professional coaching, dog training, canine behavior, and grief support. Rather than being a collection of unrelated credentials, these disciplines have become deeply connected in the way I work.
Nursing taught me to observe carefully, think critically, and make decisions grounded in research, established standards of care, and the ethical responsibility to do no harm. It also taught me the importance of compassion and meeting people without judgment—principles that remain central to how I work today.
My background in business and professional coaching adds another dimension, helping me think strategically, ask thoughtful questions, and support people in finding approaches that make sense for their individual lives. That experience also informs the business coaching I provide to fellow pet professionals who are building and growing their own practices.
Formal education in dog training and behavior gave me the knowledge to translate the science of animal learning into humane, realistic guidance for everyday life. Continuing education has always been part of my professional life—not only because several of my credentials require it, but because staying current with research, evolving standards, and best practices matters to me. Of course, one class usually sparks another question, which leads to the next. Curiosity has a way of doing that.
For a complete list of my professional credentials, certifications, and continuing education, you can visit my Credentials page.
Love, Grief, and Continuing Bonds
As my career evolved, so did my understanding of the depth of the human–animal bond. I began working more closely with people facing an animal companion’s serious illness, approaching death, or death itself, as well as the profound changes that follow.
My own experience loving and grieving my dog Ringo deepened this work and made it intensely personal. As a Certified Grief Educator and Pet Loss Grief Specialist, I offer compassionate, non-clinical grief support for people experiencing anticipatory grief, pet loss, and life after the death of a beloved companion. I approach this work with humility, recognizing that every relationship—and therefore every experience of grief—is unique.
Beyond The Inquisitive Canine
Community involvement is also an important part of my life. I volunteer with Santa Barbara County Animal Services, contributing to behavior and training plans for dogs in the shelter’s care. I also serve as a subject matter expert in business planning with Business Empowerment and Mentorship (BEAM) and assist the chef at Apples to Zucchini Cooking School, where volunteering happens to come with the occasional opportunity to discuss—and play with—food.
Outside of my professional and volunteer work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and friends. My husband has supported The Inquisitive Canine from the beginning and can often be found helping behind the scenes at classes and community events. I also enjoy running, strength training, baking (most of which I give away to friends), cooking, live music, and playing the drums and piano. And, because curiosity apparently has no off switch, I’m usually learning a new skill or taking another course just because it’s fun.
Whether I am helping someone better understand their dog, supporting a grieving pet parent, mentoring a pet professional, or working with a dog in the shelter, I return to the same guiding principle: curiosity creates the opportunity for greater understanding.
And when dogs and people feel understood, relationships can flourish.
About My Own Inspirational Inquisitive Canines
Poncho Gonzales Hunter Mayer, 6/15/2003 - 7/25/2015, Eternally Loved
The original Inquisitive Canine, Poncho is the one who inspired me to become a dog trainer. He was a ten-pound mutt who knew a lot about human and canine behavior. He adopted us on Father’s Day, June 15, 2003, and continued to prove we were the perfect match until he left our physical world, July of 2015.
Poncho enjoyed spending his days co-writing blog posts, helping me practice dog training skills, assisting in dog training classes, running security, answering emails, alerting when the mail or packages were delivered, food tasting, product testing for various dog training and enrichment toys, lap warming duties, and reminding me when to take a break and get some sunshine.
Inspiring other inquisitive canines and their humans, as well as his own family, Poncho’s legacy lives on, and his light continues to shine on every aspect of The Inquisitive Canine.
Ringo Starr Hunter Mayer, 1/14/2017 — 11/3/2024, Forever in Our Hearts and Souls
In January of 2017, Ringo Starr Hunter Mayer made his way from the streets of Los Angeles to his new home and office in sunny Santa Barbara, California (with help from the kind and caring folks of the L.A. County shelter, animal advocacy group Ken-Mar Rescue, and Petfinder).
Ringo loved to learn! Being a smart, tenacious, and lively inquisitive canine, Ringo adapted quickly to his new role as both family member and CCO — that’s Chief Canine Officer.
Following in the tiny – and at the same time huge – paw prints of Poncho, the original Inquisitive Canine, Ringo worked tirelessly with me. Whether collaborating on the Doggy Blog posts, composing updates and tweets, or working on new behaviors and tricks, he was always the first one in the office and last to leave. He led me to certifications in Separation Anxiety Training, K9 Nose Work®, and ultimately, sadly, through navigating traumatic loss and grief.
Today, Ringo’s legacy inspires me to continue to have a growth and learning mindset and to nurture the bonds people have with their pets.
About the IC Dream Team…
Pam Shultz
Pam Shultz is a pet welfare advocate, freelance copy editor, copywriter, and DVM. In 2010, she launched Promoting Animal Wellness, LLC to help provide reliable online resources for pet lovers. Forever grateful to all of the animal teachers who have taught her how to better advocate for their well-being, Pam currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Pet Professional Guild, a nonprofit organization representing pet industry professionals who are committed to results based, science based, force-free training and pet care.
Jasha Stanberry
Jasha is a multi-disciplinary creator that offers an array of diverse professional services for his clients. His company, Studio Luminous is a design, fabrication and creative solutions studio located in the small beach town of Carpinteria California. Pulling from his background in construction as a master electrician, as well as his roles as gaffer, grip and others in the film industry, he brings his love of precision, beauty and design to all that he does. From websites to photography as well as welding and print making, Studio Luminous offers out of the ordinary solutions for his clients creative needs.
Follow this link to contact Jasha.