Who are we?

We are a team striving to enhance the bond between pets and their people through positive behavioral and training techniques.



 

  • Mac

    Resident Good Boy

    Mac enjoys running and sniffing and wagging his tail in every direction. He is incredibly attentive to the emotional state of anyone he meets and has impeccable social skills. Other talents include Basic Obedience, Scent work, helping Desensitize and Counter condition reactive dogs, and giving many kisses to anyone in need.

  • Lisa Marie & Kit

    Gravity Inspectors

    Lisa Marie specializes in meaningful glances and Kit doubles as a warm heating pad. They are co-captains of the Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser Varsity Destructive Acrobatics Team. Lisa aspires to catch and destroy all red laser dots and Kit is a self-professed cat nip connoisseur.

  • Wesley

    Student Teacher

    Wesley enjoys drinking water then licking his human napkins, he adores scratches on his belly, and he has been known to submit frequent and fervent requests to the Mysterious Michigan Mud Monsters to become a horse of a darker color. He is an engaged student, has learned to trust, and has recently transitioned some dressage basics from his ground work into his riding work. He enjoys trail rides with friends and any water he finds along the way. He hopes to one day be as cool as his best friends, Caleb and Bela.

  • Founder/Trainer

 

Founder – Synergistic Species

Lori Giacolone is a Certified Veterinary Technician and behavior-focused animal professional with over a decade of hands-on experience working with dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic species.

Her work bridges two worlds that are often separated: animal training and veterinary medicine.

Lori specializes in helping animals and the people who care for them navigate stressful situations—whether that means preparing pets for veterinary visits, improving safety and communication between animals and handlers, or helping veterinary teams work more effectively with the animals in their care.

Throughout her career Lori has worked in emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals, where she developed advanced skills in patient handling, anesthesia support, emergency triage, and behavior-aware medical care. She is known among colleagues for her ability to read subtle behavioral signals across species and adapt handling techniques to reduce fear, stress, and risk.

In addition to her clinical work, Lori has spent years training and caring for animals in private and professional settings, including companion animals, working dogs, birds, and horses. Her training philosophy emphasizes clear communication, environmental awareness, and respect for the animal’s behavioral needs.

Today Lori provides:

• Behavior-informed training for dogs, cats, birds, and horses

• Veterinary handling and safety consulting for clinics and staff

• Education for pet owners on emergency preparedness and behavior

• Professional development resources for veterinary teams

Through her company Synergistic Species, Lori’s goal is simple:

help humans and animals understand each other better so both can stay safer, calmer, and more successful together.