K9 Coach | Behavioral Wellness | Parent Company of Welloiledk9
Better Behavior.
Better Health.
A Better Life Together.
Your dog's behavior, physical health, emotional wellness, nutrition and environment are connected. Understanding those connections can change everything about how you care for your dog.
I'm Dana Brigman. I spent years helping people train their dogs, manage difficult behaviors and build better relationships. Along the way, I learned that training alone doesn't always address what is really going on.
Today, K9 Coach is part of my larger whole-dog approach at The Well Oiled K9, combining behavior education, canine nutrition, natural wellness and practical support for the dog in front of you.
Explore the Resources Tell Me About Your DogWhy This Work Matters
Your Dog Is More Than a Behavior Problem.
A dog who growls, reacts, panics, guards resources, cannot settle or suddenly behaves differently is communicating something. Sometimes the answer involves training, boundaries and better communication. Sometimes the problem goes much deeper.
Pain, inflammation, digestive problems, nutritional imbalances, medications, hormones, aging, fear, past experiences and environmental stress can all influence how a dog feels and responds.
I've worked with dogs whose behavior was shaped by trauma, inconsistent leadership, poor socialization, chronic stress and physical discomfort. I've also seen what happens when pet parents spend months trying to train away a problem without understanding what is driving it.
My goal is to help you recognize what deserves attention, make better decisions and build a home life that supports both your dog's physical and emotional well-being.
What I Want for You and Your Dog
Less Guessing. More Understanding. Better Decisions.
Understand the Why
Look beyond labels like stubborn, dominant, aggressive, anxious or difficult. Learn to recognize the physical, emotional and environmental influences behind behavior.
Build Confidence
Learn how structure, expectations, communication and consistent leadership help your dog understand what is expected and feel more secure in everyday life.
Support the Whole Dog
Understand how fresh food, digestive health, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy and other natural wellness tools may fit into your dog's overall support plan.
Prevent Problems
Make thoughtful decisions about puppy development, socialization, daily routines, travel, boarding, safety and transitions before small issues become bigger problems.
Improve Quality of Life
Help your dog become more comfortable, confident and capable while respecting their age, history, health and individual limitations.
Become a Better Advocate
Know what questions to ask, what changes to watch for and when your dog needs a different approach or additional professional support.
Meet Dana Brigman
Dog Trainer First. Whole-Dog Health Coach Today.
My professional work with dogs began in 2012, with training, behavior and the relationships between dogs and their people. I've worked with everything from everyday puppy challenges to serious fear, aggression, reactivity, resource guarding and dogs struggling to adjust to new environments.
But the longer I worked with dogs, the more obvious it became that behavior and physical health cannot always be separated.
A dog with chronic digestive problems may also struggle with anxiety. A senior dog experiencing pain may become reactive. A dog with a history of trauma may live in a constant state of vigilance. And sometimes a dog simply needs clearer boundaries, predictable routines and a human willing to provide leadership.
That realization changed the direction of my work.
I expanded my education into canine nutrition, holistic pet health coaching, animal aromatherapy, herbs, homeopathy, energy work and other integrative wellness approaches.
Today I'm a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach, canine nutritionist, animal aromatherapist, homeopathy and herbal remedy educator, Reiki Master and experienced canine behavior professional.
I bring more than a decade of hands-on experience to the conversation, along with the lessons I've learned caring for my own dogs through aging, seizures, surgery, cancer and other health challenges.
I'm not interested in handing you a generic checklist. I want to understand your dog, what you've already tried and what actually needs to change.
Learn About My ApproachMy Philosophy
Eat Better.
Feel Better.
Live Longer.
Food matters. Emotional wellness matters. Your dog's environment, history and daily routines matter.
I believe in using the simplest, most appropriate tools first, then building a plan around the individual dog.
Sometimes that means fresh food, an essential oil, a change in routine or a different way of communicating.
Sometimes it means veterinary testing, medical treatment or a more structured behavior intervention.
The point is to stop treating every symptom as an isolated problem and start looking at the bigger picture.
Explore the K9 Coach Library
Practical Education for Real Life With Dogs.
Whether you're welcoming a puppy, dealing with a difficult behavior, helping a rescue dog settle in or supporting an aging companion, you'll find resources that help you understand what to do next.
Behavior & Emotional Wellness
Fear, anxiety, trauma, aggression, reactivity, resource guarding, hypervigilance and separation distress. Learn to recognize patterns and understand the factors influencing your dog's behavior.
Explore Behavior Articles →Training & Communication
Foundational skills, boundaries, leadership, impulse control, household routines and communication. Practical lessons you can apply without turning everyday life into a constant training session.
Explore Training Resources →Puppies & New Dogs
House training, crate training, sleep routines, socialization, puppy development, rescue dog transitions and helping a new dog become comfortable at home.
Explore Puppy Guides →Safety, Travel & Transitions
Preparing for boarding, pet sitters, unfamiliar caregivers, emergency evacuations, household changes, car travel and safety drills. Good preparation reduces unnecessary stress and risk.
Explore Practical Guides →Food, Gut Health & Behavior
The food bowl can influence far more than weight and digestion. Explore fresh feeding, gut health, food reactions and the connections between nutrition, inflammation and behavior.
Explore Canine Nutrition →Natural Wellness & Recovery
Essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, bodywork, nervous-system support, senior wellness and practical approaches to supporting comfort, recovery and quality of life.
Explore The Well Oiled K9 →An Important Distinction
I'm Not Offering General Obedience Training.
The training articles and guides remain available because good foundational skills matter. Every dog benefits from clear communication, reasonable expectations, structure and routines that make everyday life easier.
But my professional work today is focused on the more complicated situations: fear, trauma, anxiety, reactivity, aggression, emotional recovery and behavior challenges that may involve physical health as well as learned responses.
That work requires more than teaching a dog to sit, stay or walk nicely on a leash. It requires understanding the dog's history, environment, health, emotional state and the people responsible for their care.
When behavior coaching is appropriate, we begin with an evaluation. I determine whether the case is suitable for remote coaching, requires in-person work or needs additional veterinary or behavior-specialist involvement.
Start With Your Dog's StoryThe Whole-Dog Connection
Behavior Doesn't Happen in a Vacuum.
The dog who cannot settle may also be uncomfortable. The dog who suddenly becomes aggressive may be in pain. The dog who panics when left alone may have a complicated emotional history and a nervous system that struggles to recover.
That doesn't mean every behavior problem has a medical cause. It means we should stop assuming that every problem is simply a lack of training.
My approach considers nutrition, digestion, inflammation, physical comfort, medications, hormones, past experiences, household dynamics, daily routines and learned behavior.
Depending on the dog, the plan may involve environmental changes, behavior work, nutrition, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, bodywork or coordination with the dog's veterinary team.
Understand the Behavior ConnectionLearn at Your Own Pace
Different Ways to Learn. Different Levels of Support.
Not every question requires a private consultation. Sometimes you need a clear explanation, a practical guide or a little help deciding which information actually applies to your dog.
01 | Free Articles
Explore educational articles on behavior, training foundations, nutrition, natural wellness, puppies, senior dogs and common health concerns.
Browse the Article Library →02 | Downloadable Guides
Detailed, practical resources for specific topics, including behavior, puppy foundations, training, prevention and natural wellness protocols.
Explore Digital Downloads →03 | Classes & Membership
Go deeper with structured education, topic classes, member resources, live Q&A and opportunities to ask questions as you put what you're learning into practice.
Explore Membership →04 | Personalized Consultations
When your dog's history, symptoms, behavior, nutrition and daily routines need to be considered together, individualized support can help you establish clear priorities.
Tell Me What's Going On →Who This Is For
For the Dog Parent Who Knows There's More to the Story.
Maybe you've worked with a trainer and the behavior keeps returning. Maybe you've adopted a dog with a history you don't fully know. Maybe your senior dog has changed, or your puppy is developing habits you don't want to carry into adulthood.
Or perhaps your dog has a health condition, and you're wondering whether the food, medications, stress or environment might be influencing how they behave.
You may have already read dozens of articles, tried multiple products and received plenty of conflicting advice.
I want you to come away with a better understanding of your dog, a clearer sense of what matters and practical next steps that fit your real life.
Where Do You Start?
Start With the Dog in Front of You.
Explore the articles and guides if you're here to learn. If you're dealing with a complicated behavior or health concern, tell me what's happening, what you've already tried and where you're stuck.
We'll look at whether a consultation, behavior evaluation, educational resource or another next step makes the most sense.
Tell Me About Your Dog Browse Behavior Resources Member Access
Dana Brigman
Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach |
Canine Nutritionist | Canine Behavior Professional
The Well Oiled K9 | North Myrtle Beach, SC
Local and nationwide online support
Educational content is intended to help pet parents make informed decisions. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or emergency care. Serious aggression and bite-risk cases require individual safety assessment.