Chrysa Tsipi, Dog Behavior Consultant & Founder of Stand by the Dog.
Ioannina is in my roots. Born and raised here, I grew up surrounded by the rivers, mountains and open spaces that make this place so special. Today, I’m still here, helping people understand their dogs through my work, Stand by the Dog.
The name reflects my philosophy: stand by the dog, understand what they are, and aren’t, what they need, how they naturally behave and, most importantly, how they communicate. My role as a Dog Behavior Consultant is to guide both dogs and their guardians towards a more harmonious way of living together.
Recently, I made a dream of mine reality by creating a private sniffing garden in the neighborhood of Perama, on the outskirts of Ioannina.
The garden offers dogs 24 different “sniffing stories”, giving them the opportunity to explore, discover and use their senses freely. Sniffing provides important mental and physical stimulation, helps dogs release tension, build confidence and can support dogs dealing with fears, regardless of age.
I created the garden because safe spaces where dogs can simply be free to explore are rare. An enriched environment is an important part of my approach, and I wanted Ioannina to have a space where dogs could slow down, investigate and simply be dogs.
What I love most about Ioannina is its nature.
It’s the landscape I grew up with, where within minutes you can find yourself beside a river or among the mountains.
Nature gives us and our dogs a chance to reconnect with something bigger, and more essential, than us.
What I’d like to see change however is the way we understand dogs. I want to see calmer people and calmer dogs, and I’d happily say goodbye to old-school training methods based on fear or punishment.
Dogs are part of our world and deserve to be understood and respected.
My approach is deeply influenced by Turid Rugaas, whose teachings I was privileged to learn from as her student. I’m also a member of the Board of Pet Dog Trainers of Europe, which reinforces my role in promoting humane and ethical training in Ioannina, and wider Greece.
I’m often invited into classrooms, even kindergartens, to teach children how to understand animals, recognize their needs and learn their language. Because the relationship we build with animals begins with how we learn to see them. Teach children to understand dogs, and we take the first step towards a kinder world for everyone.
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@chrysatsipi @standbythedog (Facebook & Instagram)
E: standbythedog@gmail.com
M: +30 6972059729
