Why is Onyx here?

People often ask why I have a service dog in training and why he is sometimes present within the Rebel Wellness environment.

The honest answer is simple. Life changes you.

Before massage therapy and wellness work, I spent years working in corrections, emergency response, and other high-stress environments where hypervigilance became second nature. Even after leaving those spaces, the nervous system does not always immediately understand that survival mode is over.

That experience shaped not only my own healing journey, but also the way Rebel Wellness was built.

I understand what it feels like to live with chronic stress sitting in the body. To constantly scan the environment. To struggle to fully relax even in safe spaces. And I know I am not the only one carrying that experience.

Onyx is part of my own support system while continuing his service dog training journey.

His training focuses on calm behavior, neutrality, confidence in public spaces, and learning how to respectfully exist within professional environments. Some days he may quietly rest during sessions while learning the studio environment. Other days he may remain home depending on the day, the training focus, or client needs.

For some people, a calm animal presence can feel grounding and regulating. For others, it may not feel supportive, and that is equally respected here.

At Rebel Wellness, consent and client comfort always come first. Clients are always welcome to request a dog-free session with no explanation needed.

Meet Onyx, the agouti Siberian Husky service dog in training at Rebel Wellness in West Des Moines, Iowa. Learn how Rebel Wellness approaches client comfort, nervous system regulation, trauma-informed care, and maintaining a calm, respectful wellness environment where dog-free sessions are always available upon request.