About Us

Dr. Doug Jernigan, a second generation "James Herriot" style of veterinarian, coaches humans to create relationships that last. Under the tag line of "Your Brain is a Border Collie!", he holds coaching/keynote seminars that blend the newest brain science and pet analogies with the statistically validated system of human behavior called DISC. These seminars contain knowledge that is easy to learn and quickly applied. It is presented in an environment that helps people learn how to maximize their natural strengths and limit weaknesses in connecting to and working with people for career, family, fellowship and fun! Current clients are as varied as military recruiters, small business owners, personal development, sales and marketing (products to real estate), state/provincial agencies, school guidance counselors, university business classes, chambers of commerce, non-profit personnel, fund-raising groups and veterinary teams. If it has to do with people, these seminars bring about positive relationship changes. Dr.J grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas and received his B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from Kansas State University. He practiced small animal medicine and surgery for 35 years in Topeka, Kansas. For "Dr. J", pets and their people are his life. The lessons learned from pets, their people and how they behave are his story. His interest in pets expanded to humans when he realized that pets could see good things in people that he didn't see. In 2006, Dr. J retired from practice to devote his time to coaching humans. He brings audiences this unique message: Applying your pet's view of life and it's strategies for living can take your life and relationships to a new level. If you have ever trained a pet, you can train yourself for success! People love their pets and pet analogies energize his presentations. He has spoken to dozens of organizations across North America. Audiences of all types can appreciate and enjoy his presentation: "Your Brain is a Border Collie!" A well-trained pet is a joy. Well-trained humans are an asset to themselves and the lives they touch. When we can teach ourselves to 'respond' rather than 'react' to situations in our lives, our stress disappears. Dr. Doug is married to Sondra Jernigan, Ph.D. They are advanced certified human behavior consultants with the DISC system of human behavior analysis. Their certification and membership is with Personality Insights, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia. DISC assessment and coaching seminars indentify a client's genetic 'hard-wired' behavioral strengths and teaches strategies for application. The Drs. Jernigan coach humans to master their people frustrations. These corporate, small business and personal development coaching programs help people to go from friction to function. They enable work or management groups to go from "turf to team" and from the "expected to the excellent"! Recent training has involved areas as diverse as real estate, landscaping, sales and marketing, hotel management, photography, military recruiters, government agencies, veterinary medicine, personal development and human resources. Today, in most western societies, our pets are seen as four-legged children. We all love our pets but usually have issues with people somewhere in our lives. Because we love our pets, we readily identify with and will consider analogies that have our pets involved. Dr. J reframes how we see our present and future lives, relationships, jobs or careers through our pet's behavior and attitudes. You may say: "They are just animals!" Dr. J would say that learning how to build the relationships our pets build with humanity (except for the jerks) would improve our lives and the lives of all those around us. This can be taught and applied. Knowledge of this type helps us understand how we got 'here' in our lives and new effective, fun ways to get 'there.' Between our ears (within our brains) we have a "trainer" and his or her "dog" that needs training. Dr. J focuses on pets, their people and how our pets act as mirrors for our behavior. The topics of his keynote addresses act as guides to a potentially more fulfilled, happier and healthier future because of the love of our pets and our emotional bond with them. Living with Joss, a classic Border Collie, started the odessy for Dr. J to look at the similarities of the brains and behavior of humans and pets. Joss was sweet, detailed and intelligent. She built great relationships. She was everything you could want in a companion. He began to realize that Joss used certain behaviors to build the relationship. All of our pets see us differently than we see ourselves. When we see us as they do, we begin to understand that we are different people than we think we are. If we adapt their view, we become much better humans and build much healthier relationships. Dr. J says: "While our dogs love us, they really love another dog. Primarily because we don't speak 'dog' very well!" Realizing that in their world we are just 'funny looking dogs' helps us to make a leap in our human relationships. This leap enables us to view others through their positive traits and see them as 'funny looking' humans. The relationships we have with our pets are available to have with family, friends and co-workers. Through the strategies our pets use, Dr. J brings insight into our lives and ways to apply this insight immediately.