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Susan Hartzler and two Australian Shepards laying on the floor

Susan Hartzler: Living & Sharing the Human-Animal Bond

Susan Hartzler’s work explores how dogs don’t just live alongside us — they shape how we experience happiness, connection, stress, grief, and everyday life.

Early Life and the Foundation of Canine Connection

Susan’s path to dogs began with her childhood pet, a Chihuahua named Siesta, who showed her more about love than the adults in her life ever could, and who introduced her to the steady, uncomplicated love that would shape her life and work. She spent much of her early years outdoors, alongside Siesta in LA’s San Fernando Valley, at a time when orange and walnut trees were still a prominent part of the landscape.

She attended Granada Hills High School, where she was active in student council and a cheerleader, and she has remained close with friends she’s known since first grade; something she values deeply. Although Susan admits she’s not much of a cook, each holiday season she makes an exception by baking apple pies for a growing list of friends and family. It’s a tradition she returns to every year, and one that has less to do with baking and more to do with connection, generosity, and showing up for the people who matter most.

Journalism Roots and Professional Background

Her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Ring, told Susan she would become a writer. Years later, she landed her initial professional role as the first female sportswriter for the Daily Aztec: the student newspaper at San Diego State University, where she earned her degree in journalism.

After graduating, Susan began her career in television news as a writer and later as a producer before transitioning into public relations, focusing on the entertainment industry. She worked on independent films including Kiss of the Spider Woman and Dirty Dancing, as well as television shows such as “Blossom” and “Biker Mice From Mars.”

She later moved into the travel and hospitality industry, where she helped launch major resorts and spas around the world. Her work took her across the globe, combining storytelling, media relations, and destination marketing for luxury travel brands.

Expertise in Dog Sports and Therapy Dog Work

In the early 2000s, Susan discovered dog sports, and a community among fellow dog lovers. Over the years, she has explored agility, sheep herding, dock diving, and just about every dog sport she could find.

After a career spanning public relations, journalism, and lifestyle writing, Susan found herself drawn back to something more grounding and real: the steady, nonverbal connection she experienced with her own dogs. That shift ultimately led her to therapy dog work, where she saw firsthand how dogs can change the emotional atmosphere of a room without saying a word.

Content Creation and Media Presence

Today, Susan communicates through that lens; reflected in her Substack pages, multiple books and blog posts, and conveyed effortlessly in her public speaking and interviews. Her dog-centered stories, observations, and product insights are grounded in real life with her dogs, Seven and Paige Turner, who are professional actors and models as well as certified therapy dogs.

Blending storytelling with lived experience, Susan offers readers both emotional connection and practical takeaways.

Published Books and Literary Awards

Susan is the author of:

Her short stories have been published in anthologies including The Divinity of Dogs and Dogs and the Women Who Love Them. She is the recipient of the Maxwell “Angel on a Leash” Award from the Dog Writers Association of America and Carmel’s “Pawlisher Prize.”

Brand Partnerships and Dog-Centered UGC

In addition to her writing, Susan creates dog-centered content and user-generated content (UGC) for brands; focusing on how dogs actually interact with products in everyday life. Her approach is unscripted, experience-based, and rooted in trust.

Everything she creates is centered on a simple belief: when you truly understand your dog, you understand something important about yourself.

About Seven and Paige Turner

Seven and Paige Turner are Australian Shepherds, certified therapy dogs, and working partners in Susan’s writing and content.

Seven is known for his calm, grounded presence. He often connects in subtle ways, offering steady companionship that helps people settle without even realizing it.

Paige Turner is expressive, intuitive, and highly engaged with her surroundings. She brings energy and interaction into spaces that need it, often drawing people out in a different way.

Together, they reflect two distinct forms of connection—quiet presence and active engagement—both of which play a role in the human–animal bond.

Beyond therapy work, Seven and Paige Turner also participate in product testing and content creation, helping shape the real-world insights shared on Paws on the Go and in brand collaborations.

Learn more about Seven and Paige Turner on their dedicated page.

Work With Susan and Her Dogs

Susan partners with brands to create authentic, dog-centered content that reflects real use and real connection.

Opportunities include:

For collaborations or inquiries:
[email protected]