For help with your pets’ behavior and to improve communication with them, you want training that comes from the HEART. Tracy Eckert, owner of Pawsitive Pets Training with HEART, is an Animal Behaviorist who truly trains from the HEART! 

Tracy has lived most of her life in Florida. Her younger years were spent on the east coast in Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties. She now lives here in Pinellas Park. With her BAE (Bachelor of Arts in Education) Tracy originally went into teaching elementary age students. She quickly became the head of the Exceptional Student Education department where she worked with every condition - from profoundly mentally handicapped to gifted and all behavioral and learning differences in between. 

She pursued her masters degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, as well as in all the art therapies. This is when Tracy became the Director of Therapy at an all girls therapeutic boarding school. Here, she worked with teens aged 13-19 years old who were having major difficulties living life to help them become productive. Many were suicidal, substance addicted, promiscuous, OCD, etc.

Tracy sort of “fell” into dog and cat training when she met an Animal Behaviorist who could tell she was a natural. This behaviorist took her under her wing, thus beginning her journey working with animals. In time, Tracy realized she wasn’t completely comfortable with some of the methods being used. This led her to seek more positive ways of working with animals.

Tracy refuses to work with many of the aversive tools; such as shock collars, choke chains, pinch collars, spray bottles, pennies in a can, etc. These tools cause additional mental, emotional, and physical issues that are quite negative. She teaches pet owners how to deal with situations, thereby creating greater pet and owner communication and emotionally balanced animals.

The name of Tracy’s business came from clients. They always told (and continue to tell) her that they love how everything she does with their pets seems to come from the HEART. Tracy is sure to keep the animals’ mental and emotional well-being at the HEART of all interactions. She truly enjoys animals. It’s obvious she wants pets and their owners to have a fulfilling life together. This is a big part of her work and what drives her to such great work with them.

Tracy is one of the few in our area who is a true behaviorist skilled to deal with ALL behaviors. She easily figures out positive methods to improve interactions between animals and humans. Tracy has extensive experience dealing with “aggressive” dogs, as well as fear, anxiety, separation, potty-training, nipping, chewing, etc. She also trains both Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs.