Katy Stuehm - Director of dogs
Katy Stuehm has had dogs her entire life and has been training animals since 1989. She began her training career starting young horses under saddle, and later transitioned to training hawks, and hunting dogs. Katy has been breeding, rescuing, and training dogs since 1998. She has worked with herding, hound, terrier, and sporting breeds. After helping to place two Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Rescues with at risk veterans through the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Rescue Group, Katy recognized how the traits that make Griffons excellent family hunting dogs are the same that make them ideal ‘Adventure' Service Dogs- Service Dogs who not only provide vital task assistance to their partners, but who can also accompany their partners on outdoor adventures such as camping, hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and so much more. A common therapy that veterans and first responders with PTSD and Anxiety are prescribed, is time outdoors with sunshine, fresh air, and company. While conventional Service Dogs are trained to be connected and obedient, there isn’t as much of a focus placed on how to safely get into and out of a fishing boat, or how to safely hunt with a gun. This can limit a Service Dog’s ability to participate in all of their partner’s activities. Katy’s goal is to continue to select and train sporting pups to pair with veterans and first responders so they can improve their mental health, with the assistance of their service dogs, both outdoors and indoors.
The Redford Ranch foundation is beyond Excited to have Katy on board! |