About

Built on 26 years with dogs and the people who love them.

Name: Three Dimensional Dog
Address: Birmingham, AL, US
Telephone: 205-563-8383
Price range: $159-$1,990

Three Dimensional Dog approaches canine behavior from a mental health and parent-training perspective. Meet the team.

Canine Behaviorist and President

Aaron McDonald

Canine behaviorist, author, dog trainer and consultant. 26 years in the field and well over ten thousand hours of instruction in the rehabilitation of canine behavioral dysfunction. Creator of the Unified Theory of Canine Behavior.

Experience

Author of Three Dimensional Dog, A Unified Theory of Canine Behavior
Lead consultant for the Kurdistan Regional Government's national canine security services, 2006
Hand in Paw, Board of Directors, 2026
Investigator, UAB Department of Psychology therapy dog study for traumatic brain injury patients, 2014
Co-creator of Transitional Partners, a dog-assisted work therapy program at East Side Mental Health Center
Bite prevention seminar for the Mountain Brook Police Department, 2017
Sought for comment by CNN, Yahoo News, Southern Living, Eating Well and petMD

From threedimensionaldog.com/full-bio. Real

The book Start the assessment

The team

3D Dog certified canine behaviorists.

KultureCity Sensory Inclusive certified. The site's badges show 2023 for Aaron and Amy and 2024 for Elyssa, and every behaviorist carries a sensory bag.

Real

Aaron McDonald

Canine Behaviorist and President

Amy Haycox

3D Dog Certified Canine Behaviorist

University of Texas at Arlington graduate. Primary trainer and point keeper for black bears, foxes and sandhill cranes at the Birmingham Zoo, 2018 to 2021, where she led the enrichment committee. 3D Dog certified since 2021.

Elyssa Bende

3D Dog Certified Canine Behaviorist

Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Operations coordinator at Make-A-Wish Alabama, 2020 to 2024. Her mission is to keep dogs from being rehomed or surrendered. 3D Dog certified since 2024.

Adair Klapow

Behavioral Sciences Advisor

Research assistant at the University of Alabama's Center for Youth Development and Intervention and the Cognition, Brain and Autism Lab. Brings comparative psychology and autism research into 3D Dog's service dog work.

Katy Dothard at a laptop showing a KultureCity certificate

Katy Dothard and Celeste Hicks

Client Services Representatives

The first voices you reach at 205-563-8383: scheduling, dispatch and payments for every in-home and online client.

Names, roles, bios and photos from threedimensionaldog.com, October 13, 2026. Photos courtesy of Three Dimensional Dog.

Endorsements

What clinicians and clients say.

"Great for the 'dog parent' who is interested in establishing a safe, mutually rewarding relationship with their pet."

Joseph E. Schumacher, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

"Aaron's ability to decode canine behavior is a skill that ultimately leads to more self-awareness for the owner on the other end of the leash."

Andon Briggs, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

"A great educational resource for the misbehaving dog."

Andrew Rozsa, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

"Transformed my chaotic life into one of peace, order, and the freedom to love and play."

Hannah Hatterick, 3D Dog client

In the media: Southern Living, CNN, Yahoo Finance, petMD, CBS 42, ABC 33/40, B-Metro, Good Grit. Real

Start with the free Quick Score.

Two minutes, 11 questions, no sign-up. See your dog's chart and one tip right away.

Get your free Quick Score 205-563-8383