Laurie Lawless is a nationally recognized expert in shelter dog behavior, with over 15 years of experience shaping behavior-forward systems across animal welfare organizations. Her career was sparked in 2008 when she rescued an 85‑lb Boxer named Charlie—his behavioral challenges launched her into the world of professional dog behavior work, and she’s been “blaming Charlie” ever since.

Laurie is the founder of Shelter Behavior Integrations (SBI) and set out on a mission to advise shelters across the U.S. helping them reduce euthanasia, increase adoption, and boost staff morale by embedding proactive behavior strategies into daily operations. Her philosophy is simple: every shelter can implement behavior-forward frameworks, with or without a dedicated behavior team, to benefit dogs, staff, and communities.