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Our Story
Enlightened Hounds Dog Training was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2017 by trainers Lydia Yancey and Meggan Porter. Since then, Enlightened Hounds has grown into a small team of trainers who share the same dedication for learning, teaching and caring for your pets. Through guidance and support, we have helped bridge the gap between humans and canines for thousands of families along their training journeys.
Enlightened Hounds Texas continues serving the Austin area under our trusted team of trainers. While in 2024, Meggan moved to Baltimore and started Enlightened Hounds Maryland, servicing the Baltimore and DC area. And in 2026, Lydia and fellow trainer Taylor, moved to Portland with hopes to bring their passion for humans, dogs and training to Enlightened Hounds Oregon.
We are proudly queer & woman owned, and remain an independent small business committed to supporting our surrounding communities.
Our Philosophy
At Enlightened Hounds, we believe every dog is a unique individual deserving of a training plan that reflects that. We will consider all aspects of you and your dogs life including their relationships, environment, health, training, and behavior history in order to better understand the root cause of their behaviors. Along the way, we will help you develop a better understanding of your dogs behavior and needs, helping to strengthen your relationship and communication skills. We teach using approaches that are up to date, science supported, and centered around your dog's physical and emotional well being. We take pride in helping people and dogs of all ages and skill levels in a judgement free atmosphere with the goal to make training educational, fun, fair, geared towards your goals and accessible for every member of your family.
Together, we can help you build a brighter future with your dog.
Meet the Team
Maida Barbour
she/her
CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Maida has spent the last two years in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina working with clinical animal behaviorists and veterinarians consulting on a wide range of intense behavior issues. There, she was certified through the Association of Professional Dog Training as a Canine Behavior Consultant. Prior to that, she worked in Austin, Texas, training dogs at Love-a-Bull rescue, Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, the Dog Alliance, and the Canine Center for Training and Behavior. Maida's goal is to enhance trust and communication between animals and humans. She has had the opportunity to study with leading industry experts such as Suzanne Clothier, Sue Sternberg, Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Ken Ramirez, and Grisha Stewart, all helping to influence and form her trust-based training philosophy.
As a child, Maida lived in a variety of countries and attempted to learn many languages. Her closest friends were animals— even in the strangest places she could find an immediate connection with dogs, cats, and birds. In college and graduate school, she studied language and cognition to better understand communication systems that stem from the gap between ourselves and others, whatever species they may be. She shares her home with her 12-year-old pit bull and her partner’s service dog, a 5-year-old lab.
BA Cognitive Theory, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
MFA Communication Technologies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Giulia Giuffre
CPDT-KA, SBA
she/her
Giulia's interest in learning about animals started when she was young and led to her studying Animal Behavior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Then, like many dog trainers, she had a troubled pup that needed some extra attention. Giulia began applying what she had learned about behavior and began working on building their communication and teaching him to make better choices. She saw his confidence grow and their relationship deepen.
The more Giulia learned, the more she noticed other dogs' struggles and wanted to help them as well. She has since been working professionally with dogs, cats, and pocket pets for over 10 years in a variety of settings including veterinary clinics, boarding facilities and animal shelters. She has earned her Shelter Behavior Affiliate with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed through Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers and is a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
Giulia loves attending seminars and conferences to continuously stay up to date on the latest research and training methods from industry behavior experts. When not working on continuing education, Giulia spends her time with her dogs; Guy and Pilot. They enjoy practicing new training games, going on hikes and watching TV.
