As a child, Joey grew up in a house that had a (at the time) strict no pets allowed rule. This only made his desire for canine companionship grow stronger. So he sought out the local neighborhood dogs he could play and interact with.
Once he left home he picked a career path in the grueling world of the food service industry. Between odd hours and long hours it didn’t leave much in the way of owning and caring for a dog. So he did the next best thing. He volunteered at a local animal shelter and always took on offers to pet sit for friends and coworkers.
Joey worked as a coffee educator for a once small specialty coffee chain where he trained countless baristas. He then went on to work as a cook and chef in various kitchens that took him to places like New York, Los Angeles, Rome, and even China. During this time he would often joke that his life goal was to have enough free time to get a dog of his own.
It finally happened and he traded in the chef whites for a training vest and got his first ever dog, an extremely exuberant Malinois. He knew right away that this was going to be more than a hobby, it was going to be his new career and passion. His training experience started by attending the Immersion Program at Michael Ellis School (where he went home with his second Malinois), and interning for a friend and fellow dog trainer. Joey plans on competing and decoying in ring sports and IGP. When he is not training his own dogs or going on hikes, he visits his parents’ senior dogs so he can enjoy a slower pace of life.