Southern California · Rescue Dog Transition Specialist
Specialized support for the critical first 90 days after adoption — from a trainer with 20 years of experience working alongside rescue organizations.
"The work begins before the training does."Rescue Dog Transition Specialist
How it works
Before your dog even comes home, we align on the right setup, routine, and expectations for a smooth transition. Optional but often invaluable.
We meet your dog where they are — assessing decompression stage, existing behaviors, and what success looks like for your household.
Four to six in-home sessions, integration support for existing pets, and 90 days of email access so you're never left wondering if you're on track.
From families Sharon has helped
"We'd tried two other trainers before finding Sharon. Neither of them understood what our dog had been through. Sharon did — from the very first session."
"The 90-day roadmap she gave us was worth every penny on its own. We finally knew what was normal and what needed attention."
"She helped us introduce our rescue to our resident dog in a way that felt safe for everyone. Three months later, they're inseparable."
Services
Before training comes trust. Sharon's approach begins with decompression, safety, and understanding — the foundation every rescue dog needs before anything else.
From shelter to settled — a complete 90-day roadmap for your rescue dog and family.
Additional services
Not sure which dog is right for your home? We'll talk through what to look for, questions to ask the rescue, and how to set your household up for success before adoption day.
For families who need guidance on a specific behavior, a sudden change, or a challenge that's come up mid-decompression. A focused one-hour session with actionable next steps.
Introducing a rescue to a resident dog is one of the highest-risk moments in the transition. Structured support ensures both dogs feel safe throughout.
Fostering before adoption is wonderful — and sometimes confusing for the dog. Targeted support helps your foster dog transition smoothly if you decide to make it permanent.
Sharon partners with rescue groups, foster coordinators, and adoption counselors to be a trusted resource for adopters who need help in the first 90 days. Referral inquiries welcome.
Get Sharon's free PDF guide covering what to expect, what's normal, and what needs attention during your rescue dog's first month at home. Organizations are welcome to share it with every adopter.
Free download
The First 30 Days With Your Rescue Dog
A practical, compassionate guide to the decompression period — what to expect, week by week.
Videos
Training examples, client stories, and guidance for new adopters — a window into how Sharon works and what's possible.
Client testimonials
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A brief description of the client's story — the dog, the challenge, and how things turned out.
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A brief description of the client's story — the dog, the challenge, and how things turned out.
Training examples
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What the first days at home actually look like — and how to read your dog's signals.
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A step-by-step look at introducing a rescue to a resident dog safely and calmly.
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How rewards-based training builds confidence in dogs who've had a difficult start.
Ready to get started?
In-person sessions in the LA area or via Zoom — anywhere.
About Sharon
It started with a sweet girl named Stella — and a realization that the right support at the right moment makes all the difference.
Rescue Dog Transition Specialist · Pasadena & Greater Los Angeles
It started with a rescue dog named Stella — a sweet, scrappy girl Sharon adopted from the San Pedro Animal Shelter in the summer of 2008. "I could see that little Stella had so much potential. Little did I know she would bring out the potential in me."
That potential led to twenty years of working at the intersection of shelter life and home life — the place where dogs are most vulnerable and families most need support. Sharon has spent her career in that gap, not just as a trainer, but as a volunteer, an advocate, and a program builder.
For over a decade she has volunteered with Los Angeles Animal Services, working to improve the adoptability of shelter dogs and training the volunteers who care for them every day. As head trainer for K9 Connection — an innovative program pairing shelter dogs with underserved youth — she taught teenagers to use force-free, rewards-based methods to train dogs and prepare them for adoption. Both the dogs and the teens left more ready for the world.
She also volunteers with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, identifying and evaluating shelter dogs with the drive and temperament for search and rescue work — giving dogs a second chance at a meaningful life.
Sharon and her Belgian shepherds compete in agility, rally, nose work, and trick training. Her belief is simple: dog training should be fun, clear, and grounded in a genuine relationship. That's what she brings to every family she works with.
"My goal with every client is the same: clear communication, a close relationship, and a dog who is genuinely happy to be home."
— Sharon Nasse
Get in touch
Whether you're adopting next week or struggling right now — reach out. There's no wrong time to ask for help.
I serve families across the Pasadena and greater Los Angeles area. I also partner with rescue organizations, foster networks, and veterinary practices looking for a trusted referral resource.
If you're a rescue organization or veterinary practice interested in a referral partnership, please mention that in your message.
Not in Los Angeles?
Sharon is available for consultations via Zoom for families anywhere. Pre-adoption planning, decompression coaching, and behavioral guidance — all from home.