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!