Hi, I'm Lacey — and if you ask my dogs, I'm the person who gets a little goofy during playtime.
I offer dog training, walking, enrichment, tutoring, and check-in services for busy professionals who want their dogs to receive genuine one-on-one attention even when they can't be there. I am especially drawn to puppies, shy or anxious dogs, and those with reactive behaviors — the ones that other walkers sometimes find challenging. At the shelter where I volunteer, these are the dogs I seek out, and time and again I've watched even the most fearful dogs choose to trust. Watching a shut-down dog slowly open up is one of the most rewarding experiences I know. Witnessing the tension drain away and hope overcome the human that loves that dog is a close second.
An Annapolis local since 2010, I came to dog care the way most meaningful things happen: not by planning it, but by being changed by it. My first dog as an adult, Remy, opened my eyes to the remarkable inner lives of companion animals. Through him I discovered a new way of seeing the world — one filtered through curiosity, presence, and a genuine wonder at the unique personality of every dog I met.
Before founding Doggone Inspired, I spent my career as a real estate developer and federal community planner, with deep passions in the wine and culinary worlds along the way. The organizational discipline and attention to detail from that career now shows up in how I care for your dog — reliably, thoughtfully, and always with intention.
After losing Remy, I began volunteering at a local shelter, deepening my understanding of canine behavior and falling further in love with the incredible spirit dogs carry. I then adopted Teddy, a Havanese puppy who arrived just shy of four months old having already lived in three homes. His early experiences left their mark — isolation anxiety, confinement stress, and big puppy energy — and caring for him taught me to truly pay attention. It was Teddy who first showed me how to read a dog's body language, and how much dogs communicate when we're willing to listen.
My third Havanese, Banksi, was my greatest teacher of all. He came to me as a seemingly balanced three-year-old, but over time revealed deep anxiety and stress responses that required the full support of a positive reinforcement trainer, a veterinary behaviorist, and a behavior consultant. I studied, read, and listened — to the professionals and directly to my dogs — learning patience, empathy, and what it means to truly advocate for an animal's wellbeing.
Remy, Teddy, and Banksi — all three Havanese, each completely different — taught me that every dog is a world unto themselves. Remy taught me to see their uniqueness. Teddy taught me to read their language. Banksi taught me patience, empathy, and what it truly means to put a dog's needs before everything else.
My Teachers and Partners
