About

Jane Litovchenko

When I was 5, I moved to the US from Ukraine. My family moved eight times around the country until we finally settled in Needham. My mom didn’t allow me to have a dog because we moved so much. It was never the perfect time. However, when I lived in CA, I did own two rats that I actually taught to heel! Little did I know they would be my first of many off-leash training experiences.

Since I couldn’t have my own dog, I asked if I could volunteer at a local pet shop. Every Thursday after school, I would eagerly run to the store to help out the owner. This is where I developed my passion for animals.

One holiday my grandmother asked what would make me happy. I said it was to have a dog of my own. After ganging up on my mom, my grandmother and I went to the pet store, where I fell in love with and selected the cutest English Mastiff puppy. My parents knew nothing about the breed, and were in for a surprise when they learned that this adorable pup would grow to be around 375 pounds.

We named him Nasdaq. As Nas grew bigger and stronger, so did my interest in training dogs. My favorite show was Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer. Together with Nas, we practiced everything we learned.

In 2015 I graduated from UMASS Boston with a degree in psychology, and spent several years working with children with various abilities. My favorite pastime, though, was spending time with my dog, especially during our walks together in the woods. Ironically, the outdoors is where I feel most at home. I wondered if there was a way to combine my love for outdoor activity with my lifelong passion for dogs, and that’s how Jane of Bark was born.

Over the years, I have focused on expanding my dog skills and knowledge by taking a range of training courses. But experience is the best teacher, and I’ve learned most about dogs by spending so much time with different ones while also learning from my clients, who are often the best teachers when it comes to their own dog.

Today, I live in a house in Medfield with my 2 dogs — Rosie and Juno, who help me lead the dog groups on our adventures. I love this job, and I hope it shows. Other dog walkers say I’ve got the happiest group of dogs, and that’s the best compliment I can ever hear.