About Vándor
Vándor is the Hungarian word for wanderer. Specifically, someone who travels with purpose.
The guiding principle at Vándor Paws is that the path to success is through the relationship between a dog and their guardian.
The choices that you make along the way will determine the person you are to your dog and define the relationship. As such, the road to a goal matters as much as the destination.
Our mission at Vándor Paws is to be your guide and bring harmony and effective solutions to your home.
We specialize in behavior modification for dogs with undesirable or difficult behaviors. We help dogs that are sensitive, shy, and fearful, and those who have big feelings and loud behaviors. Helping the dog through these challenges is only half the equation. For the best outcomes, we help the guardian and the family just as much as we help the dog. We believe that change is bidirectional, and your dog is not the only learner.
Our services are comprehensive and accessible. We have designed them taking into consideration that learning new skills and implementing change is challenging and takes time. We provide several different avenues for working with us including private one-on-one training, group classes, and topic-specific courses.
There is a training journey for everyone.
Meet Laura
By trade I am a research scientist.
I graduated with a double bachelor in marine biology and chemistry, and have a masters in marine biology. My passion is with dogs and their people.
My journey with dogs began with failure. Tucker was an 85-lb dog with aggression towards people. At the time, I thought that love alone could help him, and was faced with the reality that not all problems can be solved. A kind trainer helped me make the heartbreaking decision to return him to his fosters.
I left that experience shaken and determined to do better. So I did what scientists do: I dove in. I researched and prepared. I purchased a border collie puppy from an ethical breeder, convinced that the right genetics plus the right training would equal the “perfect” dog. Skadi had other plans. She quickly showed me that I knew nothing (hello, yes, Jon Snow speaking), and that the dog in front of me mattered more than any plan I'd made for her.
Then came Rune, who dismantled whatever confidence I'd rebuilt. Together, they have been my greatest teachers. Everything I know, I owe to them and to every dog that has come into my life since. What came out of those humbling early years is a life's work built on the belief that our dogs deserve better than our assumptions, and a commitment to helping other dog guardians succeed in their journeys.
Training philosophy
Listen. Connect. Achieve.
I am a force-free trainer. My methods are based on evidence, rewards, and collaboration. I follow [the humane hierarchy] by Dr. Susan Friedman and [LIMA] "least intrusive, minimally aversive", and I strongly believe that good training is not limited to food or toys, and that it starts with paying attention.
I strive towards good training that focuses on knowledge, social connection, management of the environment, and building skills. I believe meeting your dog's needs is the foundation of behavioral wellness, and that positive reinforcement works on every dog when it's skillfully applied.
I don't use aversive or coercive methods because abstaining from them creates space for curiosity, creativity, and genuine connection. I'd rather build toward what I want to see than correct what I don't.
I don't believe in quick fixes. Effective, lasting change recognizes that the road to a goal matters as much as the destination, and that goals sometimes shift along the way.
I work to give agency and choice to both of my clients (dog and human) in an environment of support, compassion, and kindness. Your happiness and safety matter to me. So does your dog's.
I am a perfectionist who has learned to value progress over perfection. I welcome curiosity and critical thinking. I believe every individual is unique, and that I have to meet you where you are before we can move forward together.
Listen. Connect. Achieve.
Effective, lasting change recognizes that the road to a goal matters as much as the destination.
Start your training journey