“True mastery in animal training isn't about control; it's about connection, understanding their world, earning their trust, and building a bond that lasts a lifetime.”
Introduction
The Story of Dr. John Hayes is not simply a Story about dog training. It is a Story about connection, curiosity, patience, and purpose. It is the journey of a man who devoted his life to understanding animals on a level that many people never stop long enough to see. Through decades of hands-on experience, research, observation, and compassion, he transformed a childhood fascination into a life dedicated to helping animals and the people who love them communicate with one another in healthier and more meaningful ways.
Born and raised in Chickamauga, Georgia, John’s early life was shaped by humble beginnings and the presence of working dogs within his family. His mother was only thirteen years old when she became pregnant with him, and because Of that, his grandparents stepped in and adopted him. They became the steady foundation of his childhood and raised him in a home where animals were not viewed as but as companions and working partners. Among those animals were Border Collies named Pep and Tansy, dogs that would unknowingly leave a lifelong impression On him.
One bond in particular stood apart. From the moment he was brought home as an infant, pep attached himself closely to him. “Ihe dog displayed an unusual protectiveness, carefully deciding who could approach the child and who could not. Even as a young boy, John found himself deeply curious about why the dog behaved that way. While most children simply accepted what they saw, he wanted to understand it. He wanted to know what the dog was thinking and feeling and why some behaviors appeared instinctive. Ihe curiosity never died. In many ways it was the beginning of everything that followed.
Growing up during the 1970s and 1980s, he spent much of his time surrounded by animals while the adults in the family worked. Those experiences gave him more than companionship. Ihey gave him a sense of peace, fascination, and emotional understanding that remained with him throughout his life. Animals became a constant presence in his world, and the more time he spent observing them, the stronger his desire became to understand how they experienced life.
Despite this passion, his path did not begin directly in the world of animal behavior. He attended Mercer University and initially pursued studies in technology and computer science. For a period of time, it appeared that his future would move in an entirely different direction. Yet even while studying and working in the technology field, animals remained a central part of his life. Training dogs continued quietly in the background, not yet a profession but something very personal and instinctive.
Eventually, there came a moment of realization that changed the course of his life completely. Nearly twenty years ago, he recognized that he was not doing the work he was truly meant to do. The realization was not dramatic or sudden. Instead, it came from years of internal reflection and from experiences that consistently drew him back toward animals and their emotional world. Once he chose to pursue that calling professionally, he never looked back.
"From the moment he met Pep, John Hayes knewthere was something more to understand. Peptaught him lessons in connection and protectionthat no textbook ever could. "
Phase 1: Early Roots and the Spark of Curiosity
Dr. John Hayes’ journey into the world of animal behavior began long before he knew it would become his life’s work. Raised in Chickamauga, Georgia, John’s childhood was woven with the presence of working-breed dogs, deeply embedded within his family’s daily life. His parents, though young when they started their family, provided a nurturing environment, but it was his grandparents who played a pivotal role in shaping his worldview. His mother was only thirteen when she became pregnant with him, and as a result, John was adopted by his grandparents, who became his steady rock, offering unwavering support and care.
In the Hayes household, dogs were not mere pets. They were integral parts of the family, partners in work and life. Among these dogs, there were two Border Collies, Pep and Tansy, whose role in John’s life would prove to be far more profound than that of mere companions. Of the two, it was Pep, the male Border Collie, who formed a special bond with young John. The moment John was brought home from the hospital, Pep attached himself to the child, guarding him closely and establishing an unusual but undeniable connection. This bond was more than just protective; it was the beginning of something deeper, something John, even as a young boy, could sense but not fully understand.
As a child, John found himself captivated by behavior. There was something inexplicably fascinating about the way Pep protected him and allowed only certain people near him. While most children would have simply accepted the dog’s loyalty as a given, John was not most children. He wanted to know why Pep acted the way he did. What was it about John that made Pep so protective? Why was Pep selective about who could come near? It was this curiosity, this burning desire to understand the emotional and psychological workings of the dogs around him, that would set the course for his future.
Even as a child, he had a sense of wonder and an inquisitive mind that drove him to seek answers. While most children were focused on play or school, John found himself drawn to animals, spending hours observing their behavior, wondering about their thoughts, and trying to understand their emotional states. The bond he shared with Pep was not simply one of companionship, but one of deep fascination and an unspoken dialogue. John began to realize that Pep was more than just a dog, but a creature with feelings, instincts, and ideas of his own. This early experience of the emotional depth of animals would be the basis for his future career.
John’s curiosity grew as he continued to watch and learn from the animals around him. Living in a small town surrounded by nature, his life was filled with animals of all kinds. However, it was always the dogs who captivated him most. His grandparents’ farm was home to various working dogs, each with unique personalities and behaviors. John’s interactions with these dogs, particularly Pep, planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong passion. He began to understand that each dog, just like each person, was different in its behavior and temperament, yet all shared an ability to form deep emotional connections with humans. This knowledge was a necessary part of his early education.
Despite his growing fascination with animal behavior, John’s path in life was not immediately clear. Like many young people, he initially followed a conventional route, enrolling in Mercer University to study technology. However, even as he pursued a career in the tech field, his love for animals never waned. In fact, it only grew stronger. While John navigated the world of computers, programming, and tech, he continued to train and care for animals, learning about them in his spare time. Though he was excelling in his academic field, something was always missing. The work he was doing was not aligned with the passion he felt deep within. His heart was still with the animals, and it became clear that his true calling lay not in technology, but in the world of animal behavior.
“Every dog I've met has taught me something new. They are the best teachers, offering lessons that go beyond what I could have ever imagined.”
Phase 2 : A Journey of Discovery and Personal Growth
The early seeds of Dr. John Hayes’ fascination with animal behavior took root long before he made the decision to pursue this path professionally. His childhood experiences with the family’s Border Collie, pep, ignited a curiosity that would evolve over the years, guiding him through a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Yet, for much of his youth, John was unaware of the life-changing impact this passion for understanding animals would eventually have on his life.
John’s academic journey began, like many others, with a traditional route. He enrolled at Mercer University with an eye toward technology, studying fields that were in high demand at the time. As a young man, the allure of a stable, well-paying career in technology seemed like a natural choice. Yet even while he was studying, John’s heart stayed with the animals he grew up with, with the animals he was training, with the profound feeling of kinship he experienced when working with them.
At Mercer, John pursued a degree in technology and computer science, following what seemed like a promising path. Yet, his passion for working with animals was never far from his thoughts. While other students might have spent their time focusing solely on their coursework, John found himself dedicating his spare time to learning about dog behavior, training techniques, and everything he could about animals. This quiet obsession ran parallel to his academic pursuits, but it was not until years later that he would come to realize how much more fulfilling this passion would be compared to the technical field he was studying.
“I’ve always had this curiosity about dogs and animals in general. But it wasn’t until I started focusing entirely on them that I realized just how much I was meant to be doing this,” John reflects.
Though John’s early professional experiences in the tech industry were undoubtedly successful, they left him feeling unfulfilled. Technology, while fascinating, did not ignite the same spark that working with animals did.
It became clear to him that while technology provided a steady career, it was not his true calling. He began to sense that his passion for animal behavior, which had always been a constant part of his life, was the path he was truly meant to follow. But this realization did not come quickly or easily.
It was during this time that John faced one of the most difficult decisions of his life: to continue on a well-established career path in technology or to step into the unknown world of animal behavior and dog training. At this crossroads, John chose to take a leap of faith. He decided to leave behind the world Of tech and pursue what truly made him feel alive, the world of animals.
It was not an easy decision. The comfort of a steady job, coupled with the uncertainty of a new career, was a challenge to reconcile. But John’s instinct was clear. He felt a deep, undeniable pull to dedicate his life to understanding animals, particularly dogs, and the ways in which they communicate with humans. It was the same pull that had started with Pep, his grandfather’s Border Collie, and had grown over the years into a calling he could no longer ignore.
“The moment John Hayes stopped chasing what looked successful and started following what felt meaningful, his life finally began to align with who he truly was.”
Phase 3 : A Shift in Direction — From Tech to Animal Training
For many years, Dr. John Hayes lived between two worlds. One was structured, logical, and rooted in technology and computer science. The other was emotional, instinctive, and deeply connected to animals. While he pursued academics and professional opportunities in technology, there was always another side of him quietly growing in the background, one that found far greater meaning in understanding animals than in understanding machines.
His time at Mercer University introduced him to the world of technology and computer science, and for a while, it seemed as though that would become the direction of his future. Like many seeking stability and meaning, he took what looked like a practical and promising route. He learned, he adapted, he collected knowledge in a field demanding precision and discipline. Yet no matter how much time passed, there remained a disconnect between the life he was living and the life he felt drawn toward internally.
Even during those years, animals remained a constant part of his everyday world. Training dogs was never something he truly left behind. It continued quietly alongside his studies and professional responsibilities. It was not yet a business, nor was it something he openly viewed as his life’s calling, but it was always there. While technology sharpened his ability to communicate and think analytically, animals continued to occupy the emotional center of his life.
Over time, that contrast became impossible to ignore.
John often found himself returning mentally to the same feeling he had experienced as a child while observing Pep. There was a sense of fulfillment and peace in working with animals that he could not replicate anywhere else. Technology gave him skills, but animals gave him purpose. One challenged his mind, while the other spoke directly to his heart.
As the years progressed, he reached a point where he could no longer deny that truth.
Roughly twenty years ago, John made a decision that would completely alter the direction of his life. He realized that he was not doing the work he was truly meant to do. Though he had invested years in technology, the field no longer felt aligned with who he was becoming. Deep inside, he understood that the connection he had with animals was not a hobby or a side interest. It was something much greater. It was the work he was supposed to dedicate himself to.
Making that transition was not simply about changing careers. It was about trusting himself enough to walk away from certainty and step into something unknown. There was no guarantee of success. There was only conviction, instinct, and a deep belief that his place in the world existed alongside animals and the people who needed help understanding them.
Note of Thanks
Dr. John Hayes extends his heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part of his journey. First and foremost, he is deeply thankful to his wife, Lauren Hayes, whose unwavering support and belief in his vision have been the foundation of his success. From the early days of their shared dream to the growth of the Animal Behavior Center, Lauren’s commitment has been instrumental in every step John has taken.
John would also like to express his profound appreciation for his family, especially his grandparents, who shaped his early life and instilled in him a sense of curiosity about animals. Their love and encouragement, along with the love and dedication of his mother, Connie Hayes, have guided him throughout his journey. Their influence has been a constant source of strength, reminding him of the importance of patience, empathy, and care in everything he does.
A special thank you goes to all the trainers, mentors, and students who have passed through the doors of the Animal Behavior Center. John is humbled by the trust they placed in him and the opportunity to share his knowledge with them. Their passion, dedication, and drive to make a difference in the lives of animals are what keep their work meaningful. Every trainer who has gone on to build their own success has been a vital part of spreading the message of compassion and understanding that John has devoted his life to.
Finally, John is grateful to all the dogs, both the ones he has worked with personally and the ones he has trained indirectly through others. They are his greatest teachers and constant reminders of the transformative power of understanding and connection.
thanks,
– Dr. (H.C.) John Hayes
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