01.
Move from NYC to SF
Chris and Andrea, the co-founders of Pack Animals, packed up their NYC apartment and drove cross-country to California in 2020. They looked forward to a fresh start, and welcoming home a puppy, once they were settled in their new home.
02.
OCD Incident
Soon after moving into their new home, Chris experienced a triggering incident which spiraled into diagnosed contamination OCD. Daily life became very challenging as he and Andrea tried to navigate this new normal.
03.
Welcome home, Maggie
Despite the stress, the couple still decided to bring home a puppy in February 2021. Andrea had been preparing for a dog for years and thought the new addition would benefit her and Chris.
04.
Puppy blues and good news
None of the books or YouTube videos prepared Chris and Andrea for the real life experience of having Maggie. She was energetic, vocal, and had many potty accidents. But there was good news: Maggie encouraged Chris to try new things despite his OCD.
05.
Learning and growing
The effect that Maggie had on Chris and Andrea went deeper than either one of them anticipated. Chris experienced ongoing improvements with his OCD thanks to Maggie, and Maggie ameliorated some of the responsibilities that Andrea was shouldering. The three of them begun building a bond that went deeper than simply training, walking, or existing together.
06.
An idea sparks
After beginning her studies to become a certified dog trainer, Andrea started realizing how positive reinforcement training could be applied to how she viewed herself and her interactions with Chris. The couple set out to see if other families are aware of this or if they’re leaving significant untapped potential on the table.
07.
Pack Animals is born
Pack Animals is on a mission to improve human and canine lifelong wellbeing, simultaneously. First, we focus on helping people improve the lives of their dogs, then teach people how to apply those insights to themselves. We're confident that this combination will lead to lasting positive change for both humans and dogs.