I adopted Scout, a stray Australian Cattle Dog found wandering the streets of my hometown, in January 2019. After being attacked by a dog on a walk a few weeks after coming home, my already-nervous gal became dog-reactive, barking and growling out of fear to tell other dogs to stay away. This kicked off some of the most challenging yet fulfilling growth of my life. I write about our experiences in the hope that our blunders and realizations can encourage other human-dog duos. I want everyone to know the joy of canine companions — in a responsible, balanced, and healthy way. We entertain multiple training methods, support reputable rescues and breeders, and believe that every dog is an individual. From nature hikes to scientific research, I try to enrich my dog's life in the most well-rounded manner possible. We still have so much to learn, but we face obstacles as they come with a lot of patience and even more love. We hope Paws and Reflect is a casual, welcoming place for dog owners to take heart and feel inspired.