Sailor Jerri, also known as Jerri Scherff, is a wellknown and influential dog trainer with a strong online presence and a modern, compassionate approach to canine behavior. With more than two decades of experience caring for animals, she has developed a training philosophy called the OpenMinded Approach and founded Tulsa Pack Athletics, a virtual training platform. Her work focuses on creating strong relationships between humans and their dogs, growing confident owners, and providing accessible education tailored to a wide variety of behavioral challenges.
Her Background and Journey
Jerri Scherff spent 18 years working as a veterinary technician, including managing small animal and exotic veterinary practices. She grew up in Kansas and spent much of her childhood on her grandparents’ cattle ranch, developing a deep bond with working breeds like German Shepherds. Her family has a long legacy in animal care remarkably, her grandfather was President Eisenhower’s dog trainer.
In October 2020, Jerri left her veterinary career to launch Tulsa Pack Athletics, her own dog training cooperative. This move allowed her to fully dedicate herself to behavior work, training, and coaching dog owners. She created the OpenMinded Approach (OMA) in 2021, a holistic method that views dogs, their owners, and society as interconnected pillars that benefit from mutual growth.
Her Mission and Philosophy
Sailor Jerri’s approach to dog training is grounded in empathy, accountability, and education. She believes that effective training involves not just the dog but the human building a strong, confident owner helps transform behavior long term. Her philosophy challenges rigid or punitive methods and instead promotes understanding, consistency, and self-reflection.
The OpenMinded Approach emphasizes community support, accessible training, and rethinking what behavior change can look like. Through Tulsa Pack Athletics, Jerri has built a global community of dog owners and trainers who follow her daily methodology and share resources, guidance, and feedback.
Expertise and Specialties
Sailor Jerri has particular expertise in working with large, powerful, or reactive breeds. Over her career, she’s helped clients with
- Reactivity and fearbased behavior
- High prey drive and behavioral challenges in working breeds
- Separation anxiety
- Bullyspecific behavior and misunderstanding of bully breeds
- Offleash work, hiking, and active lifestyle with dogs
Her own dog, Enzo a mix of American Bully and hunting dog plays a key role in her work. Jerri uses Enzo as a model of calm leadership, helping other owners learn how to build confidence and reduce fear responses.
Tulsa Pack Athletics The Platform She Built
Tulsa Pack Athletics is a virtual dog training cooperative founded by Sailor Jerri. It provides training through a combination of free resources, structured courses, and a unique apprenticeship program. These offerings make behavioral education more available to people worldwide, no matter their budget.
One of the signature programs offered is the Daily Method, which is an actionable, consistent routine that encourages both dog and human progress day by day. The training model is supported by community feedback and accountability, helping owners stay on track and build confidence over time.
Global Reach and Accessibility
Despite being based in Tulsa, Jerri’s impact is global. Her training programs reach people across multiple continents, and she’s built a diverse team of trainers who implement her methods. Through her cooperative, she makes world-class behavior work accessible to people who may not have local trainers available or who prefer learning online.
Open-Minded Approach and Its Impact
The OpenMinded Approach (OMA) developed by Sailor Jerri is defined by three pillars empowerment, accountability, and connection. Rather than creating a strict or one-size-fits-all training formula, she encourages owners to learn their dog’s body language, emotional triggers, and unique needs.
Her approach also challenges divisions within the dog training world. She has spoken about how traditional balanced training communities can feel cutthroat, while some force-free communities may prioritize human morals over realistic behavior work. To address this, she frames her training philosophy more like a recovery room a safe space for questioning, learning, and growing without judgment.
How It Works in Practice
In practice, OMA involves
- Daily interaction patterns and exercises with your dog
- Regular check-ins with the Tulsa Pack community or coach
- Behavior modification plans tailored to your dog’s triggers
- Owner coaching that helps you build confidence and consistency
For reactive or fearful dogs, OMA supports gradual progress by combining management strategies with behavior change, helping owners transform how they understand their dogs.
Media Presence and Content
Sailor Jerri is also a prominent figure on social media and in the dogtraining content space. She co-hosts the unPACKed podcast with trainer Mattison SkoogSimpson, where they dive into real behavior case studies, explore training strategies, and unpack owner-dog dynamics.
On her appearances and interviews, Jerri is open about her personal journey, including her recovery from substance use, and how that experience shapes her training mindset. Her willingness to discuss both personal and professional sides resonates strongly with her audience and helps build trust.
Speaking and Teaching
Jerri speaks at industry events and has been recognized by organizations like the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, where she’s hosted workshops and webinars. Her authentic personality, combined with her technical knowledge, makes her a popular guest and teacher in the modern dog training world.
Challenges and What Sets Her Apart
Transitioning from veterinary medicine to full-time training was not easy. As described in her interviews, she risked a lot she saved up and made a courageous leap with only a few months’ buffer to launch her business. But her commitment to both accessibility and quality has made her work stand out.
One of the most significant contributions she has made is changing how people think about dog training. Many see her as pushing the industry forward by centering not just dog behavior, but the role of the human as a lifelong learner and consistent leader. Her emphasis on community, coaching, and human growth sets her apart from more traditional or celebritystyle trainers.
Why People Follow Sailor Jerri
There are several reasons why pet parents and fellow trainers resonate with her
- Her authenticity she openly talks about her own struggles and recovery.
- The depth of her experience decades in vet medicine and animal care add credibility.
- The balance she offers a structured, practical, and emotionally intelligent training method.
- Her inclusivity accessible pricing, free resources, and a supportive community.
- The global reach of her platform people from around the world can access her training and mentorship.
Sailor Jerri, also known as Jerri Scherff, is a transformative figure in the dogtraining world. From her long career in veterinary medicine to founding Tulsa Pack Athletics and creating the OpenMinded Approach, she has built a training philosophy rooted in empathy, empowerment, and community. Her work challenges traditional notions of dog training by stressing the importance of both human and animal wellness. Whether you’re dealing with a reactive dog, a working or bully breed, or just want to strengthen your bond with your pet, Sailor Jerri’s accessible methods and honest teaching style offer a path forward one based on understanding, consistency, and partnership.