Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here.
November 10, 2025
When Devene Godau adopted a retired racing greyhound, she thought she was just rescuing a dog. Instead, she found her purpose. What started as an effort to help an anxious greyhound with separation anxiety became a lesson in communication, connection, and compassion. Those lessons didn’t just transform her career; they changed how she saw herself.
A certified professional dog trainer with ADHD, Devene spent more than 25 years working with everyone from family pets to professional scent detection dogs for the TSA. She learned that dogs, much like humans, thrive when they feel safe, understood, and motivated — not shamed into obedience. Her work with scent detection dogs taught her that behavior isn’t about control, it’s about clarity. The same applies to people. Now through her platform The Distracted Dog Lover, Devene helps neurodivergent dog owners build stronger bonds with their pets using humor, empathy, and science-based, real-world strategies that actually work.
In this conversation, Devene and Tracy talk about why traditional training methods often fail for ADHD owners, what clicker training can teach us about communication, and how dogs mirror our emotions in ways that reveal what we need to work on ourselves. Devene also shares how gamifying training makes it easier to stay consistent, why sniffing literally boosts serotonin and calms a dog’s nervous system, and how the best kind of learning happens when you stop aiming for perfection and start enjoying the process.
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“Knowing that there was nothing wrong with me, my (ADHD) brain just worked differently, I immediately had more compassion for myself. It made life so much easier.”
- Devene Goadau
“We say dogs are stubborn; I say they’re unmotivated. It’s the same for ADHD. We just need the right motivation and structure.”
- Devene Goadau
“Training with kindness builds confidence. Fear-based training only builds worry.”
-- Devene Goadau
"Dogs are mirrors for our emotions. When I’m anxious, they pace. When I relax, they relax."
-- Devene Goadau
"My favorite thing is watching that moment when a dog finally understands what you’re asking. Their whole body changes."
- Devene Goadau
"I remind clients: your dog feels your tension. If you loosen the leash, they relax too."
- Devene Goadau
- Devene was diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s after realizing her child’s evaluation questions applied more to her than her son.
- Growing up quiet and well-behaved, she flew under the radar—high grades and compliance hid her attention struggles.
- College exposed the cracks: without structure, she struggled academically, later finding relief when medication helped her understand her brain.
- Her journalism degree led to marketing work, but she found real fulfillment training dogs especially scent detection and greyhound rescue work.
- Discovering positive reinforcement and clicker training transformed her approach, showing how communication and compassion build trust.
- Her greyhound with severe anxiety taught her that behavior issues often reflect emotional states—both in dogs and in humans.
[00:50:00 - 01:14:15] Emotional Connection, Anxiety, and ADHD Parallels
- Devene explains how dogs mirror human emotions, often responding to their owner’s anxiety or tension.
- She integrates gamified, sensory-based training using sniffing and play to regulate both dogs’ and owners’ nervous systems.
- Her work through The Distracted Dog Lover blends science, empathy, and humor to help neurodivergent owners train dogs in ways that truly fit their brains.
ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.
That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here
- Website: distracteddoglover.com
- Linkedin: devene-godau
- Instagram: disney_devene
- Gerty: thegerty.com