Hi, I’m Devene Godau, CPDT-KA—a certified professional dog trainer with over 25 years of experience helping dogs and their humans connect through positive reinforcement, enrichment, and a whole lot of real-life grace.

I created The Distracted Dog Lover because I know what it’s like to love your dog deeply… and still forget where you put the treats. I’m a dog trainer with ADHD, and I’ve spent years learning how to train dogs—and coach humans—in ways that work with our brains, not against them.

My Training Story…

My journey into dog training started with a very scared ex-racing greyhound. She had separation stress and confinement issues. Determined to help her, I sought out a training style I had never used before, based in positive reinforcement. She went from a mess to a certified therapy dog in just a few years. That eye-opening moment sent me down a new path—one rooted in compassion, science, and force-free methods. Since then, I’ve raised and professionally trained puppies bred to go into scent detection work, led enrichment and confidence-building programs, and helped countless families bring out the brilliance in their dogs.

My work blends puppy development, environmental and social confidence, scent work, and enrichment-based learning. I love helping both working dogs and couch companions discover how smart, capable, and connected they really are.