MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Erin Buvala • Jake Buvala • Partners in life and dog training
We help people build the kind of relationship with their dog that makes anything possible.
Our goal isn’t perfect obedience. It’s creating a foundation of trust and communication that makes your adventures smooth, fun, and (relatively) stress-free.
We also know that not every moment of dog life is rainbows and butterflies.
We know what it’s like to be at your wits’ end with your dog’s behavior. Been through that ourselves, so we’re dedicated to helping our fellow dog owners make it out of that pit of despair.
Over the years, we’ve guided thousands of people from “what was I thinking?” to “we’ve got this!”
About Jake
Dog trainer • Puppy-Parent Crisis Specialist • Easily distracted
Jake started volunteering in animal shelters at age 13. Walking dogs, facilitating adoptions, and shadowing shelter trainers. By 17, he was training and competing in agility. Those early experiences shaped his approach to helping dogs and their people.
Jake started 3 Lost Dogs in 2009, after years of seeing dogs surrendered for behavior issues that could've been managed, if only their humans had better guidance
Over the past 15+ years, he’s worked directly with countless dog owners
Combining practical methods with an understanding of how life with a dog can actually feel. Including those dark, panicky moments no one talks about.
Over the years, he’s accidentally ended up with the specialty of helping people through the new-dog blues.
In 2015, he wrote an ebook called I Got a Dog – What Was I Thinking? It struck a chord with overwhelmed puppy parents and became the foundation for Puppy Survival School, our flagship program.
About Erin
Certified Family Dog Mediator • Dog trainer • Researcher
Erin joined 3 Lost Dogs officially in 2021, but she’s been part of its story for much longer.
Her animal career began in shelters. First as a volunteer, then as staff, then as a department supervisor. Working with everything from dogs and cats to cows and horses.
Her deep dive into dog behavior began when she adopted Bear, her reactive dog and greatest teacher.
In 2025, Erin became certified through Kim Brophey’s Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation program
There are a lot of dog trainer certification courses out there. Erin chose FDM because it prioritizes creating behavior change through welfare rather than strict obedience.
It’s a big-picture, humane approach that aligns well with the Academy’s mission.
With degrees in science and journalism, one of Erin’s roles is to dig into the latest dog research and translate it into stuff that actually makes sense.
She makes sure our advice is up-to-date and rooted in both science and real-life experience.
Originally from Queensland, Australia, Erin now lives in Arizona, USA. Trading the land of giant spiders and deadly for the land of scorpions and mountain lions. And giant spiders. And deadly snakes. Wait, why did she move here again?
Forever diving into the sea of conflicting advice so that you don't have to
We’re big believers in continuing education, and our idea of the perfect date is attending dog behavior conferences together. Between us, we’ve learned from events like:
- ClickerExpo
- The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) conference
- The Aggression in Dogs conference
- The Canine Science Symposium
Got life stuff/mental health stuff that makes dog stuff hard? That's okay, so do we!
Between work, family, school, money stress, and the ups and downs of mental health, it can be really damn hard to manage your dog or stay consistent with training.
Both of us have experience with these challenges, from ADHD to depression to just being stretched too thin. We get it.
That’s why everything in the Academy is designed for the messiness of real life. Flexible, adaptable, and judgment-free.
Ready to start your training journey?
Join the Academy and get the training plans, support system, and community you and your dog deserve.
