Meet Megan Tennefos | Pet Trainer and Nutrition Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Tennefos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training was born from a mix of frustration and clarity. I loved working with animals and their people since the day I started; and at the same time, I kept running into systems that prioritized speed, compliance, or “quick fixes” over actual welfare, education, or long-term success. I saw dogs and their families struggling not because they were doing something inherently wrong, but because they had previously been given incomplete or outdated information.

One-size-fits-all approaches started to fail, and I craved the freedom to slow down and look at the whole picture: behavior, enrichment, nutrition, health, environment, and pet-human relationship. Starting Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training has allowed me to create individualized, welfare-focused holistic support that is both ethical and genuinely helpful.

What should our readers know about your business?
My work with dogs is rooted in the understanding that their outward behavior is communication, and that it’s shaped by far more than training alone. Stress, environment, exercise, nutrition, health, enrichment, past trauma, history, and learning preferences all play a role in how an animal shows up in the world. When we take the time to look at the full picture instead of just the surface behavior, change becomes more sustainable and meaningful.

My approach is compassionate, evidence-based, and deeply individualized to each pet and their family. By weaving together training, enrichment, and nutrition, we don’t just see better behavior – we see calmer, happier dogs, more confident humans, and stronger relationships built on true trust.

Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training exists to challenge the idea that progress has to be forceful or even fast. It’s rooted in compassion, consent, and respect for the animal on the other end of the leash. The goal has never been perfection… It’s been peace – for dogs and for the people who love them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was planning a week-long visit, I would try to plan every minute around nature, movement, good food, and great conversations under the giant Arizona sky. We’d start mornings slowly by walking around the Fountain Hills fountain with a fresh Good Living Greens juice in hand. Many of our afternoons would be spent somewhere near water: paddleboarding at Saguaro Lake, relaxing by the Verde River, or even just hanging out by a pool. Water in the desert feels almost sacred.

We’d spend another late morning wandering around the Boyce Thompson Arboretum before finding a good spot to sit down and eat some lunch – a small or medium charcuterie box from Graze Craze is travel friendly and deeeelicious! When we got back into town, we’d make our way to Bone Haus Brewery right here in Fountain Hills. They have a prickly pear ale that is wonderful – not too sweet but not too bitter.

Of course, we would also have to drive up to Jerome for wine and museums, thrift our way through hidden gems, and balance it all with a little Scottsdale energy: shopping at Scottsdale Quarter and dinner at True Food. Sunday would be small-town charm at the car show at Phil’s Filling Station, and we’d end at night stargazing. Fountain Hills is a Dark Sky community, so the stars are incredible here. That’s probably my favorite part.

To me, the magic of this area is the contrast. You can be grounded in nature in the morning, floating on water by afternoon, and dressed up for dinner by night. Aren’t we lucky to live in a place that people vacation to?!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m incredibly grateful to the mentors, colleagues, and educators who have challenged me to always think critically and with animal welfare as the top priority; and push me to never stop learning. So much of my approach has been shaped by others who value ethics, science, and compassion. I also want to thank my clients who trust me with their beloved pets and their stories. Thank you – your trust is something I do not take lightly. I’m also grateful to have a supportive partner, family, and friends who believed in Love of Dog before it even existed.

Website: https://www.loveofdogarizona.com

Instagram: loveofdogaz

Facebook: Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training