Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Zahul.
Hi Victoria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember. I grew up with dogs, I was completely horse obsessed as a kid, and honestly, if there was an animal around, that’s probably where you would have found me. Looking back, I probably should have known this was where I’d end up… it just took me a while to figure it out.
When I was 19, I got my first dog as an adult, a boxer named Maggie. She wasn’t just my dog—she was my heart dog. She was with me through every major chapter of my twenties. New jobs, buying my first house, heartbreaks, celebrations, figuring out who I was as an adult… she was there through all of it. We really grew up together.
When Maggie was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, my world shifted. My focus became giving her the very best quality of life possible and keeping her comfortable for as long as I could. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that when I care about something, I don’t do anything halfway. I wanted to understand everything I possibly could—mobility, therapies, supplements, nutrition, anything that might help her. My Google search history during those years was probably a little concerning.
Losing Maggie was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through, but she taught me something I’ll carry with me forever: our dogs rely on us to advocate for them, and that means we owe it to them to never stop learning.
Then came Rufio and Kaia.
Those two are really the reason I’m sitting here answering this interview today.
Both of them struggled with leash reactivity, and they humbled me… a lot. I know exactly what it’s like to scan the neighborhood before you leave the house hoping nobody else is outside. I know what it’s like to feel embarrassed when your dog loses their mind on a walk and think, “There has to be a better way.”
So I became obsessed with figuring it out.
Not obsessed in the cute Pinterest kind of way… obsessed in the “every free minute of my life was spent reading books, attending workshops, asking questions, watching trainers, and trying to understand why dogs do what they do” kind of way.
Because that’s how my brain works.
I never want to know that something works. I want to know *why* it works.
Around that same time, Rufio was diagnosed with cancer.
Once again, I dove headfirst into learning. This time it was canine nutrition, disease prevention, inflammation, supplements… anything I could get my hands on. I wanted to understand how to give my dogs the healthiest, longest lives possible, and hopefully prevent my future dogs from facing the same diagnosis. That journey eventually led me to become certified in canine nutrition.
What I didn’t expect was realizing how connected everything is.
Health affects behavior.
Fulfillment affects behavior.
Stress affects behavior.
Relationships affect behavior.
It’s never just one thing.
That realization completely changed the way I look at dogs.
And then there’s Kaia.
If Rufio sparked my curiosity about health, Kaia completely transformed the way I understood behavior. She’s incredibly intelligent, independent, opinionated, and has never been afraid to let me know exactly how she feels about something. She’s basically my little twin… which is probably why we understand each other so well.
She has challenged me, frustrated me, humbled me, and inspired me more than she’ll ever know. So much of my training philosophy exists because of the lessons she taught me. She made me realize that the goal isn’t to suppress a dog’s personality. I don’t want every dog to become a perfectly obedient robot. The goal is to help that personality thrive while giving them the emotional stability, confidence, and skills to successfully navigate the world.
People laugh when I say my dogs built this business, but it’s honestly true. Every philosophy I teach, every lesson I give, and every program I’ve created can be traced back to one of my own dogs teaching me something I didn’t know before.
What’s funny is while all of this was happening, I was living a completely different life Monday through Friday.
I earned both my Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Central Michigan University and built successful careers in retail banking and later in the automotive industry. From the outside, everything looked exactly like it was supposed to.
But here’s the thing…
Every lunch break I was reading about dogs.
Every weekend I was at a workshop.
Every vacation somehow involved dogs.
My friends were calling me about their dogs.
My family was calling me about their dogs.
Eventually I had to have an honest conversation with myself and admit that maybe this wasn’t just a hobby anymore.
It had become my passion.
So I took what was probably the biggest leap of faith of my life.
I walked away from corporate America and started From The Heart Dog Services.
Was it terrifying? Absolutely.
Would I do it again? Without hesitation.
Today I spend my days helping dogs with anxiety, reactivity, aggression, overexcitement, and all the behaviors that leave owners feeling frustrated, embarrassed, or overwhelmed.
The funny part is people think I’m in the business of training dogs.
I’m really in the business of teaching people.
Dogs are actually the easy part.
Helping people understand *why* their dog behaves the way they do—that’s where the magic happens.
I’m pretty direct with my clients. I don’t believe sugarcoating helps anyone, and dogs definitely don’t understand fluff. If I think you’re part of the problem, I’ll tell you. But I’ll also show you exactly how to become part of the solution. I think that’s why my clients trust me. They know I’ll always be honest, but they also know we’re probably going to laugh a lot while we work through it.
People sometimes ask me when I decided to become a dog trainer.
The truth is… there wasn’t one defining moment.
It was Maggie.
Then Rufio.
Then Kaia.
Each one taught me something different, and together they completely changed the direction of my life.
And then there’s Finley.
By the time Finley came into my life, I was already a trainer, but somehow he still manages to teach me every single day. He reminds me that not everything has to be so serious. He makes me laugh, keeps me humble, and reminds me to stop overthinking everything once in a while. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put the training bag down, be a little goofy, and simply enjoy your dog.
When I look back, every dog I’ve loved has shaped the trainer—and honestly, the person—I am today.
Maggie taught me compassion and advocacy.
Rufio taught me curiosity and the importance of health.
Kaia taught me communication, relationships, and emotional regulation.
Finley reminds me to laugh.
I feel incredibly grateful that what started as simply wanting to help my own dogs turned into a career where I get to help other people build stronger, healthier relationships with theirs. Looking back, I don’t think I found dog training—I think my dogs slowly led me here.
And honestly, I’m really glad they did.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. If someone tells you starting a business is easy, they’re either lying or trying to sell you a course.
There have been challenges at every stage, but they’ve changed over the years.
In the beginning, the biggest challenge was believing in myself enough to leave a stable career. I had my Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Central Michigan University, a successful career in retail banking and later in the automotive industry, great mentors, benefits, and a predictable paycheck. Walking away from all of that to start a dog training business wasn’t exactly the “safe” choice. There were plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was completely crazy.
Then came the challenge of wearing every hat imaginable. Trainer. Marketing department. Social media manager. Accountant. Customer service. Receptionist. Janitor. Website designer. If something needed to get done, it was me. I think every small business owner can relate to that.
As the business grew, the challenges changed.
One thing that actually surprised me was how much my corporate career prepared me for running this business. I spent years leading teams, building relationships, coaching people, navigating difficult conversations, and learning how to influence without authority. Looking back, those skills have been just as valuable as everything I’ve learned about dogs.
At the end of the day, dog training isn’t really just about dogs—it’s about people. Dogs don’t schedule the lessons, pay the invoices, or decide whether they’ll follow through at home. People do. My job is just as much about helping owners change habits, build confidence, and see things from a different perspective as it is about teaching a dog to walk nicely on a leash. I think my background in leadership and business has given me a unique perspective that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise.
I’ve always joked that dogs are often the easy part. Helping people change habits, expectations, and communication… that’s where the real work begins.
Another challenge has been learning how to become a leader instead of trying to do everything myself. From The Heart isn’t just a business to me—it’s something I’ve poured my heart into. Trusting other people with that hasn’t always been easy. But watching my team grow, develop their own skills, and become incredible trainers has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about helping other people become successful too.
Dog training itself can also be a challenging industry because everyone has an opinion. There are a hundred different ways people think you should train a dog, especially online. Early on, I felt like I had to prove myself. Now I’ve learned that I don’t need to be the right trainer for everyone. I just need to be the right trainer for the people who believe in the same philosophy I do.
I’ve also learned that owning a business means making difficult decisions. Sometimes you have to have uncomfortable conversations. Sometimes you have to hold boundaries, change policies, or make decisions that not everyone is going to agree with. That was uncomfortable for me at first because I genuinely want people to be happy. But I’ve learned that strong businesses—and good leadership—require clarity, consistency, and follow-through… just like dogs do.
One thing people probably don’t think about is the emotional side of this job. We celebrate incredible transformations, but we’re also there when dogs receive difficult diagnoses, when owners are overwhelmed, and sometimes when families have to say goodbye to a beloved dog. You can’t help but carry a little bit of that with you because these dogs become part of your life too.
It’s funny because when I was climbing the corporate ladder, I thought I was learning how to become a better leader. I never imagined those same skills would someday help me become a better dog trainer. But leadership is leadership, whether you’re managing a team at work or helping someone learn how to lead their dog with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
Would I say it’s been a smooth road? Not even close.
But I also wouldn’t change a thing.
Every challenge has made me a better trainer, a better business owner, and a better leader.
One thing I tell my clients all the time is that growth happens just outside your comfort zone.
Looking back, I realize I’ve had to take my own advice more times than I can count.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about From The Heart Dog Services?
At From The Heart Dog Services, we don’t just teach dogs to sit, stay, or walk nicely on a leash.
We teach dogs and their owners how to truly understand one another.
I always tell people that I’m far less interested in creating a perfectly obedient dog than I am in creating a calm, confident one. Obedience absolutely has its place, but if a dog is anxious, overwhelmed, constantly overstimulated, or unable to regulate their emotions, teaching commands alone doesn’t solve the real problem.
That’s where we’re different.
Everything we do is centered around relationships, communication, fulfillment, and helping dogs learn how to navigate the world with confidence. We look at the whole dog—not just the behavior they’re displaying. Their health, nutrition, daily routine, stress levels, exercise, environment, and relationship with their owner all matter because behavior never exists in a vacuum.
One of my favorite sayings is, **”Calm over obedient.”**
Our goal isn’t to create robots. I don’t want dogs who blindly follow commands because they’re afraid to make a mistake. I want dogs who can think, make good decisions, recover from stress, and confidently exist in the real world. Whether that’s walking through downtown, relaxing on a restaurant patio, calmly passing another dog, or simply settling in the house while life happens around them.
I also don’t believe in quick fixes because real behavior change takes understanding, consistency, and follow-through. Our goal isn’t just to help your dog succeed during training—it’s to help you succeed for the rest of your dog’s life.
One of the things that really sets us apart is that we’re just as passionate about educating owners as we are about training dogs. At the end of the day, the dog doesn’t live with me—they live with you. My job isn’t just to train your dog. It’s to give you the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to continue that progress long after our lessons are over.
Clients often tell me one of the things they appreciate most is that I make complicated concepts easy to understand. I don’t sugarcoat things, and I won’t tell you what you want to hear if it isn’t what’s best for your dog. I’ll tell you what you need to hear—but we’ll probably laugh quite a bit while we’re working through it. I believe honesty, education, and a little humor make learning much more enjoyable.
We’re also not in the business of controlling dogs. We’re in the business of creating dogs that don’t feel the need to control the world around them. To me, that’s a huge difference.
We offer private lessons, day training, training camps, structured daycare, puppy programs, workshops, and an online membership, but every service has the same goal: helping dogs become calmer, more confident, and easier to live with while giving owners the knowledge and confidence to continue that progress at home.
Something else I’m incredibly proud of is the team we’ve built. Every trainer at From The Heart is trained in the same philosophy and works closely with me to ensure our clients receive a consistent experience. As we’ve grown, it’s been incredibly important to me that clients receive the same honesty, education, compassion, and support whether they’re working with me or someone on my team.
Brand-wise, I’m probably most proud that we’ve never tried to be everything to everyone.
There are plenty of different ways to train dogs, and that’s okay. Over the years, I’ve become very comfortable knowing that I don’t have to be the right trainer for every person or every dog. Instead, we’ve stayed committed to our philosophy and the type of experience we want every client to have. I think people feel that authenticity.
Many of our clients come to us feeling embarrassed, overwhelmed, or convinced they’ve somehow failed their dog. They’re often surprised to learn they’re not alone and that with the right guidance, their relationship with their dog can completely change.
When someone leaves From The Heart, I don’t want them thinking, “My dog knows more commands.”
I want them thinking, “I finally understand my dog.”
If someone asked me what From The Heart Dog Services is really about, I’d say this:
**We help dogs feel safer, owners feel more confident, and relationships become stronger. Everything else is just how we get there.”
To me, that’s where real transformation happens. That’s what our name means. Everything we do truly comes from the heart—for the dogs, for their owners, and for the relationships they’re building together.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
When it comes to work, I’m definitely a lifelong learner. If I’m in the car, there’s a good chance I’m listening to something about dog behavior, leadership, communication, or personal growth.
Two books that have really stuck with me are **”Let Them”** by Mel Robbins and **”Emotional Intelligence 2.0.”**
*”Let Them”* was a great reminder to focus on what I can control instead of trying to control everyone else. As someone who naturally wants to help people (and maybe fix everything), it reinforced the importance of letting people make their own choices while staying true to my own values.
*”Emotional Intelligence 2.0″* has probably influenced me more than I realized. I think emotional intelligence is one of the most underrated skills in leadership and dog training. Whether you’re coaching a client, leading a team, or helping a dog work through fear or frustration, your ability to stay calm, self-aware, and communicate effectively makes all the difference.
Now for my guilty pleasure…
I absolutely love **”Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari.”** It has nothing to do with dog training, but I appreciate how honest and unfiltered she is. Sometimes after spending all day thinking about dogs and business, it’s nice to listen to something that’s just entertaining and reminds me not to take life quite so seriously.
At the end of the day, I just love learning. Whether it’s a dog training workshop, a leadership book, or a completely unrelated podcast, I think there’s always something valuable to take away if you’re paying attention.
Pricing:
- Private Lessons: Starting at $150
- Day Training: Starting at $300/day
- Training Camps: Starting at $1,695
- Structured Daycare Programs: Starting at $50/day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fromtheheartdogservices.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriaslifewithdogs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromtheheartdogservices
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheHeartDogServices
- Other: https://share.google/4I4oswjOhTDilaPRL
