About Gilford's Golden Guardians

Kaarla’s parents brought home a golden retriever when she was in fourth grade; it was love at first sight as the pup peeked out from between the buttons of her dad’s pea coat. The pup was adorned with a big red bow and ultimately named “Peaches.” Her antics are still brought to life on every holiday when Kaarla and her siblings gather, forty years later. 

At the age of 23, Kaarla had recently graduated from St. Michael’s College with a BA, and bought a home with a large yard. While most people would have been looking for a new couch, she was determined to find the perfect AKC golden to accompany her for the next decade and beyond. Coppertone Katelyn of Barnstead, Katie, was trained using a variation of Koehler’s Method of Dog Training and worked at Easter Seals alongside of Kaarla for a number of years. She was amazing in temperament, agility, and most importantly taught to think on her feet. She opened doors; she pulled wheelchairs; she brought up firewood for the wood stove and alerted one night when Kaarla's son was choking. Katie saved his life. 

Kaarla later earned her Master’s in Human Service Administration with equal credits in Community Psychology. She has worked in the field of developmental services for 30 years. It was fate which would provide the synergy for her to combine her passions and create a program in which individuals would be paired with golden retriever pups for a life of service!

Kaarla has trained more than 70 service animals all of whom think on their feet and have demonstrated the ability to assess a situation based on their handler’s disability. They perform tasks and alerts in order to save peoples' lives and are trained to be one more tool in the tool box of health and wellness. 

Kaarla been using Koehler's Methods of Dog Training, Hands Free Systems, and Clicker Training for years. Kaarla trains using only positive reinforcement techniques. She is an expert on the ways in which dogs learn and sees every dog as unique with its own personality.

Kaarla has had great success training pups for for kids with autism; she trains diabetic alert dogs, medical alert dogs and emotional support animals for people of all ages. This is her passion.