Daily Inspiration: Meet Taylor Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Smith.

Hi Taylor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My professional journey began in 2013 as a service dog trainer. This work became the foundation not only for developing technical training skills, but also for learning how to truly listen to and communicate with dogs—both energetically and somatically. While this form of communication was difficult to articulate early on, years of hands-on experience working with countless dogs, alongside my own personal healing journey with my animals, allowed this understanding to deepen and take shape.

In 2024, I expanded my practice by earning a certification in Nature and Forest Therapy, guided by a vision to integrate forest therapy principles into my work with dogs and their humans. This training enhanced my ability to support clients through a holistic lens, honoring the interconnected relationship between people, animals, and the natural world. In addition, I broadened my offerings to include death doula services for individuals navigating the aging or end-of-life stages of their beloved pets, with the intention of holding a sacred and compassionate space during the transition process.

Today, I welcome individuals and families with dogs and other companion animals who are seeking support, consultation, or a deeper, more meaningful relationship with their animals. My work is grounded in presence, respect, and a commitment to honoring the unique bond between humans and the more-than-human world.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has never been a smooth road—and I am deeply grateful for that. Like many people, the pandemic marked a significant period of awakening and reflection for me. It was during this time that I began to recognize there was more depth to life and to my own purpose than I had previously explored. I started to more fully understand my unique ability to communicate with and understand animals, and how that capacity could help bridge connection for people who struggled to relate to them.

One of the more challenging transitions came after leaving my service dog training role of eight years in 2020. Stepping away from a stable and familiar career was not easy. I took that time to pause, reassess, and pursue a long-held interest in emergency management, with the hope of eventually working in search and rescue while continuing to apply my dog training skills. Over the past four years, I have encountered multiple crossroads, requiring patience, trust, and a willingness to redefine what “career” truly means to me. Currently, I have been living in Washington state for the last few months due to healing from the death of a beloved dog companion and am now making my way back to Colorado.

Through those challenges, one truth became clear: the work I offer—helping people deepen their relationship with their animals and supporting them through the end-of-life journey of a beloved pet—is not simply a job or profession. It is a way of being. Holding sacred space, listening deeply to animals, and helping humans better understand them is how I contribute to the world. I believe that these small, intentional acts of presence and connection create ripples of healing that extend far beyond each individual interaction.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work centers on guiding humans and their companion animals—especially dogs—through meaningful transitions in their relationship. I specialize in helping people deepen communication and connection with their animals by learning how to listen beyond words. I am not a traditional dog trainer; my approach is grounded in energetic and somatic awareness, allowing me to understand how a dog is communicating through their body, nervous system, and behavior.

I work collaboratively with clients to create thoughtful, innovative solutions that help dogs feel safe, understood, and supported, which naturally allows more easeful behaviors to emerge. In addition to canine–human relationship work, I offer guided forest therapy sessions for individuals and their pets, using nature as medicine to support regulation, healing, and bonding.

I also offer death doula services for companion animals, providing a safe and sacred space for individuals navigating the aging or end-of-life stages of a beloved pet. This includes support with ceremony, ritual, and practical resources, allowing clients to approach this transition with intention, presence, and care.

What I am most proud of is my ability to hold space—meeting each human and animal exactly where they are. Whether someone is seeking deeper connection, behavioral support, or end-of-life care, my work is rooted in listening deeply and advocating for what the animal is communicating. What sets me apart is my holistic approach, which honors animals as sentient beings and recognizes the profound healing that can occur when humans learn how to truly listen.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can connect with and work with me through my website, www.liminalcommunication.com, where they can learn more about my offerings and reach out directly. I can also be contacted by email at liminal8communication@gmail.com.
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I welcome opportunities for collaboration and genuinely enjoy connecting with individuals, practitioners, and organizations who share an interest in supporting animals and their humans. I am currently building a resource page on my website to help people find trusted, local support for anything dog-related in the area. Supporting my work can be as simple as reaching out, sharing resources, or engaging in meaningful collaboration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liminalcommunication.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liminal_communication_/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trotgesmith/