REBECCA PASKO shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning REBECCA, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are full of energy and movement. I usually wake up to my one-year-old’s cheerful “Hiiiiiiii,” which sets the tone for the morning. From there, it’s a whirlwind of chasing him around while making breakfast, all in the middle of caring for our five dogs plus anywhere from one to three boarding and training clients. It’s a balancing act between family life and business responsibilities, but I love the rhythm—it keeps me grounded in what matters most while also giving me a chance to practice patience, structure, and adaptability before the workday even officially begins.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Rebecca Pasko, a Marine Corps veteran turned professional dog trainer, and the founder of Happy With Dogs. With over 20 years of experience and multiple advanced certifications, I’ve dedicated my life to helping dogs and their people build lasting, positive relationships.
Happy With Dogs first took root in Miami in 2015, where we’ve grown into a trusted resource for families, busy professionals, and veterans seeking everything from basic manners to advanced behavior solutions. What makes us unique is our blend of expertise and heart: we combine world-class training methods with a deep understanding of the emotional needs of both dogs and their humans.
In Miami, our team specializes in in-home lessons, training retreats, and behavior modification, always with the goal of making life together easier, happier, and more fun. We also partner with organizations like Florida Atlantic University’s CPAWW program and the Humane Society of Broward, where we help veterans adopt and train shelter dogs—transforming both lives in the process.
Today, Happy With Dogs continues to expand its mission beyond Miami, offering virtual coaching, online training programs, and our Happy Hounds Club membership for dog owners everywhere. At the heart of it all, our brand stands for empowerment, education, and connection—helping people not just train their dogs, but truly enjoy life with them.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was free. I was an explorer. Growing up on my parents’ 20-acre farm, I spent my days caring for animals and running wild outdoors. We built forts, rigged up zip lines, and dug holes just to see what we might discover. Every day was an adventure, filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection to both animals and nature. That sense of freedom and exploration shaped who I am today—it’s where my love for animals was rooted and where I first learned the joy of hard work, responsibility, and discovery.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: Keep going. Be yourself. Don’t be embarrassed, scared, or nervous to be a little odd. The very things that make you feel different are the things that will set you apart in the best way. One day, those quirks and that unique way of seeing the world will become your strengths—they’ll help you connect with people, understand animals, and build something meaningful.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
In my early years as a trainer, I believed wholeheartedly in hand-feeding every meal as part of training. I advised clients religiously that all food must be earned, that a dog should only eat through training sessions. At the time, I thought this was the best way to build motivation and focus.
Now, I see it very differently. I no longer support that practice. In reality, it can create an unhealthy dynamic where dogs eat only because they’re hungry, not because they enjoy working with you or want to be with you. It risks turning food into a form of deprivation rather than a joyful tool.
What I’ve learned is that true training is rooted in relationship. It takes longer, yes, but it builds something much stronger and more meaningful. A dog who chooses to work with you out of connection and trust—rather than necessity—is a dog who is genuinely engaged and bonded with you. That shift in perspective has shaped not only my methods, but also the way I teach others to approach life with their dogs.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Absolutely—I love training dogs, and those are the days I feel like I’m tap dancing to work. The moments that light me up the most are when an owner trusts me enough to fully hand over their dog for training and doesn’t try to rush the process. When I’m not bound by a rigid timeline and can truly work at the dog’s pace, that’s when the magic happens. I get to see real transformation—watching a dog’s confidence grow, their behavior shift, and their relationship with their owner strengthen. Those days remind me why I started and why I’ll never stop.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.happywithdogs.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/happy,with.dogs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happywithdogsMiami/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/happywithdogs
