Outward Hound's Philosophy

We love animals and believe that our pets deserve the best lives we can give them in return for the love, loyalty and devotion they show us. To be truly happy, dogs need social, mental and physical stimulation, as well as love and attention. We started Outward Hound Adventures to help dogs socialize, explore and exercise in groups as they would in the wild. We believe that a tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog makes a happy owner.

Shana Rezac, Founder

I grew up in Hudson on a small farm and learned at a young age how much personality and love animals can demonstrate, and how much they can add to our lives.

I attended UNH and Becker College, majoring in Applied Animal Science, with a concentration in Small Animal Care. I took classes ranging in topics from nutrition to training dogs for placement as service animals, and the best part is that all of my courses were hands-on, so I got to be with animals the whole time! This is where I learned more of the advanced theories and practices required to keep animals happy, healthy and developing in positive ways.

Animals have been the focus of my career.  In my lifetime, I've worked at small farms, horse show stables, a veterinary hospital, and a riding day camp. However, most recently, I took an office job with Dover Saddlery.

I immediately missed working with animals, and my husband and I started fostering dogs. We’ve taken in many good dogs from unfortunate backgrounds, helped them to overcome some personal challenges and placed them into loving homes. There are few things in my life that have given me a better sense of fulfillment than seeing a dog that was once abused or abandoned go to a great life in a loving home. While fostering dogs, I became friends with a wonderful woman named Desiree, founder of Where Angels Run. Desiree was asked to help rescue dogs after Hurricane Katrina, and I was fortunate enough to join her. We were able to rescue numerous dogs, and place several into loving homes.

Outward Hound is my dream-job. Here, I get to enjoy the company of dogs and the great outdoors. At the same time, I get to make a small difference in this world by increasing the happiness of a dog and its owner. A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog makes a happy owner.

Betsy Testagrossa, CPDT

Having been a single parent for most of my son’s childhood, I felt that I had to work at a job that “paid the bills.”  Accounting was a career I just fell into, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.  I’ve always loved animals, but didn’t think I could make a career out of that love.  Over the years our house was filled with dogs, cats, geckos, pythons, ferrets…and the list goes on. When our black lab past away in 2003, and my son moved out of the house, I didn’t think I could have another dog because I felt, without my son, I really didn’t have the time to devote to a new puppy, and would not be able to provide the attention and consistent training that a new puppy requires while I was working full-time.

My husband and I moved to Hawaii in 2004, but when the recession began in 2007, we headed back to where we grew up, New England.  We had gained two new family members (cats Nellie & Lola).  I immediately started work at the accounting firm I had left in 2004.  I was miserable… I still had to work and make money, but I had to make a change.  After a lot of research and thought, I decided to attend Animal Behavior College and become a dog trainer.  I began the academic part of the program in March of 2008, and completed my externship with a trainer in Holliston named Becky Wright, of “Start From Scratch Dog Training.”  As part of the program, I was able to put my training skills into practice at a local animal shelter. I graduated with honors in 2009.

After my graduation I became the proud owner/mom of Neka, an 8 month old Doberman Pinscher.  My family had owned Dobermans for years, and I had always loved them, and knew what wonderful companions they were.  Now I had to concentrate on either starting my own business, or going to work for someone else!  Wendy Newcomb of Dirty Hairy’s Dog Wash in Hudson put me in touch with Shana at Outward Hound Adventures.  This is the perfect job for me… I get to spend my days with dogs and nature; my two loves!  Going out with the “pack” and observing them is really fascinating to me… and, when I’m not out with the dogs, I can be training!