OUR OLK9 Certified Dog TRAINERS

Meet Our Pro OLK9 Dog Trainers

Bryan & JoAnne Swihart - owners

Bryan & JoAnne Swihart are the owners and head trainers for the Off Leash K9 Training program in Georgia – offering locations in Peachtree City, Augusta, Smyrna, Duluth, Athens, Columbus, and Macon. They moved to the Atlanta area to settle near family after opening successful locations in Charlottesville, Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bryan is an Army veteran with multiple deployments; while deployed he was impressed with military working dog’s impeccable obedience training and high level of confidence enabling them to be the most well trained canines in the world. Bryan has a lifelong love of dogs starting with his first dog “Squeak,” who used to sleep under his crib every night. He has owned and trained a wide assortment of dogs ranging from Chihuahuas to Pitbulls; including his current comrades, a Rejected Labradoodle, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix, and the newest addition a German Shepherd Hound Mix. Bryan has a special love for “Bully Breeds” and wants to empower people to showcase what wonderfully loyal and loving dogs they really are. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he can now focus where his passion is. With a degree in business and finance giving him a solid small business foundation, with the precision and passion needed to transform your dog from unruly to obedient, frightened to confident, timid to content.

JoAnne’s passion is transforming fearful and anxious pups into stable confident members of the family! This passion began 5 years ago while fostering an extremely fearful young pup, who soon became a beloved member of the family. Obedience training helped transform the dog from a dog who was terrified of people to a super snuggle bug and constant companion for their 4 year old son. JoAnne has background in business and biological research and left her corporate career to join her husband in running Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia full time 3 years ago.

Bryan and JoAnne are thrilled to bring Off Leash K9 Training to Georgia, specializing in the same obedience training techniques used by the military and law enforcement. This style of training encompasses his core beliefs and philosophy of consistency, fairness, and crystal clear communication that will turn your dog into a well behaved member of society in any situation.

Our Amazing K9 Trainers

Taylor Lam - Trainer

Taylor Lam was born and raised just outside of Atlanta with a love for all living creatures. She grew up in a multi-dog household, having at one point a total of 5 dogs ranging from small dachshunds to large pitbull/mastiff mixes. From a young age, she had a passion for helping animals of all shapes and sizes. Taylor attended the University of Georgia in Athens where she received her B.S.A. in Avian Biology. All throughout college, she volunteered with local humane societies, kennels, and veterinary clinics. After college, Taylor worked for a canine rescue organization called RescueMe, that specialized in disabled and diseased canines. There she learned about canine nutrition and its role in canine health as well as how to train and assist dogs with disabilities. By combining her animal health knowledge and her knowledge as a dog trainer, she has been able to create a unique learning and training experience for all of her clients and their fur-kids. She enjoys being able to help dog owners gain a deeper relationship and bond with their canine companions through patient, persistent, and positive training. Check Out Some of Taylor’s Before & After Videos!

Sam Mirtsopoulos and Dan Timlin - Trainer

Sam Mirtsopoulos and Dan Timlin are both lifelong dog owners and dog lovers. They are both born and raised in New York, but moved to Athens, GA from Connecticut at the beginning of 2017. Sam’s love for dogs all started with her family’s GSD, Lucy, and Dan’s started with his family dog, a golden retriever, Dakota. Sam started volunteering with various rescue organizations when she was just 14 years old, quickly realizing training dogs was her calling. She is an ABC graduate, and attended the Michael Ellis school for dog trainers in California. There, she worked closely with incredible trainers such as Michael Ellis, Forrest Micke, and Andrew Ramsey to name a few, while growing her knowledge of many different training styles and methods. Sam has worked various jobs along the way in police k9 kennels, grooming salons, and for pet dog training businesses. While Dan has loved dogs his entire life, his love for training didn’t truly blossom until he met Sam, and they got their first dog together, a Belgian Malinois, Vandal. With Vandal and Sam’s helps, Dan has learned all about puppy development, advanced obedience, relationship building, communication, and protection work. Now Sam and Dan work together to help clients understand their dogs better, and live a much happier life with their pets, while giving their pets the freedom they deserve. Check Out Some of Sam & Dan’s Before & After Videos!

Greg Morris - Trainer

Greg Morris was born and raised in Vero Beach Fl, where from an early age he developed a love and passion for dogs while helping his father raise and train their hunting dogs. A United States Navy veteran, he was deployed on multiple cruises in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After serving he pursued his other passion of cooking, becoming an award winning Pit-Master at one of Atlanta’s most renowned BBQ restaurants. But his love and passion for dogs never ceased, only growing stronger. After Buster, his chocolate Lab of 15 years, passed away, he decided that life was too short and that if you were going to do something, you should do the one thing you love. He began to spend all of his free time volunteering at local shelters and rescue missions, watching and learning dog behavior at all levels. After researching and observing dozens of local trainers he was most impressed with Off Leash K9’s methodology of obedience learning, confidence building and the extensive knowledge of all the trainers. He lives with his wife Terri and their thrice rescued pup Toby with a backyard that is a doggie heaven. Greg has a special fondness for rescue dogs that suffer from anxiety and fear issues, taking great pride in reforming and building confidence in them. His goal is to help create that special bond between dog and owner that forms with our obedience training programs and to make sure that you walk away from a lesson with all questions answered and a smile on your face! Check Out Some of Greg’s Before & After Videos!

Rob Summe - Trainer

Rob Summe is an Atlanta native and United States Marine Corps Veteran. He spent 20 years in Law Enforcement and maintains his GA P.O.S.T. certification. Rob worked the uniform patrol division, criminal investigation division and was a member of the SWAT team. Rob was also a canine handler for 8 years and a police canine trainer for 4 years. He is a certified trainer in the areas of obedience, aggression control, tracking/trailing, article searches, area/building searches and narcotic detection. Rob is also the owner of a security consulting business called Konflikt K9 LLC. Rob has dedicated his life to training and working with all types of dogs. He thoroughly enjoys helping build the relationship between dog and owner. Check Out Some of Rob’s Before & After Videos!

MIRANDA MCKINLEY - Trainer

Miranda McKinley was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and spent several years in Colorado and Wyoming before settling down in Georgia in 2013. She has always been passionate about animals- horses and dogs in particular. Her Family always had 2-3 dogs in the house growing up and her grandparents bred Arabian horses. Miranda trained and showed horses all through high school, and still has her horses to this day. She began working in veterinary medicine when she came to Georgia and loved that it allowed her to help so many people and animals. Miranda became interested in behavior and training after meeting so many of my patients and owning/fostering several rescue dogs. She loved veterinary medicine, but decided to take the leap and pursue a career training and help pets and people in a different way. Check Out Some of Miranda’s Before & After Videos!

Mike Trimble - Trainer

Mike Trimble is a lifelong dog owner and animal lover. Mike has always had a special affinity for rescues. He discovered his passion for training when he adopted a challenging Boxer mix, Obi. After completing the Advanced Obedience program through Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia, Mike found himself naturally helping others and soon became known as the ‘dog whisperer’ of his local dog park. His next rescue, a Rat Terrier mix named Roxy, flourished under the same training regimen! She went from being shy and knowing no commands at the shelter, to being much more confident and fully obedience trained in just a couple of weeks. The message was clear – keep going! Obi and Roxy continue their training, currently accompanying Mike as helpers for reactivity cases. His primary motivation is to improve quality of life for people and their dogs through a structured bond that fair and balanced training builds. Finding creative, real-world methods to help every client overcome their challenges is what he strives for! Check Out Some of Mike’s Before & After Videos!

Savanna Hicks - Trainer

Savanna Hicks is from Islamorada, Florida moving to North Georgia at 16 year old. Her mother is a dog groomer, so Savanna practically grew up in her moms dog grooming shop! Having trained and competed in equestrian sports all her life, Savanna just became very involved in training and competing in various dog sports over the last few years, to include flyball, agility, dock diving, lure coursing, rally obedience, barn hunt, trick dog, and some scent work! She currently has 7 (yes 7!) of her own pups but each has their own particular job “dog sport”. Savanna is extremely passionate about working with senior dogs and she competes regularly with her 9 year old, mixed breed Axle Ray, placing 2nd overall in the veterans division for the Dock Diving National Championships with a 26’ jump!! Savanna has a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the University of North Georgia and worked as a veterinary assistant for a several years. Her border collie mix, Marley, originally brought her to Off Leash K9 Training and the training methodology resulted in a life-changing experience! She also wants all to know she has a small farm with mini pigs and horses to round out her life. Savanna is now committed to helping others build a loving, working relationship with their own dogs! Check Out Some of Savanna’s Before & After Videos!

Sharon summe - Trainer

Sharon Summe was born and raised in Georgia. She has always been an animal lover and care giver. From a young age she has always had a passion to help all of her furry friends. Sharon attended Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA and obtained an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology; took the VTNE and became a registered veterinary technician. Sharon has spent well over a decade working in the ER and ICU departments of one of the most renowned emergency/specialty veterinary hospitals located in Atlanta. After assisting her husband Rob, a fellow OLK9 trainer, she was excited to see that training was another avenue to help owners with their dogs, this way improving the bond between dogs and their owners. Sharon finds that training the dogs that are lacking in confidence the most rewarding. She likes seeing the transformation of a dog that comes out of their shell and emerges a more confident, obedient and happy dog. Check Out Some of Sharon’s Before & After Videos!

Josh Crummie - Trainer

Josh Crummie was born and raised in Central Georgia! He realized his passion for training at an early age by training his German Shepherd from a puppy. He looked forward to practicing everyday after seeing the potential in his companion and learned very quickly that this was his calling. Josh went on to train several other family pets in his life including his childhood miniature Schnauzer and his Labrador Retriever who was a retired bomb dog! While training his Labrador, Jo-Jo, he found a special interest in high drive dogs who enjoy working! After hearing about Off Leash from his best friend, and now coworker, his passion was reignited. Since joining the team, Josh has dedicated himself to helping each and every client strengthen the bond with their dog through training. Check Out Some of Josh’s Before & After Videos!

Blake Rogers - Trainer

Blake Rogers was born and raised in Augusta, GA but spent some time in Blairsville, PA where he attended Wyotech for High Performance Automotive Technology. For 7 years Blake pursued his career as a master tech mechanic until his girlfriend, Kirsten, introduced him to the world of dog sports. Together, with their golden retriever Enzo, they have competed in trick dog, agility, flyball, and in 2019 they competed in the National Championship for Dock Diving! Blake’s all about learning new skills and living life to the fullest! His favorite part of working with Off Leash as a trainer is that it allows him to help so many families build better bonds with their dogs, presents tons of opportunities to experience different areas of training, and allows him to still be involved with cars and traveling. Check Out Some of Blake’s Before & After Videos!

Elena Feliciano - Trainer

Elena Feliciano was born and raised in Cumming, Georgia. She began sailing at age six and became a sailing instructor at age 14. She was able to travel to Seattle and New Zealand as a sailing instructor where she taught children and adults how to sail. In addition she was also a lifeguard instructor for for Delta. These experiences made her realize how much she enjoyed teaching. She loved that sense of accomplishment when someone learned a new skill. Her teaching skills extended to training her childhood pup. Unfortunately, as her pup grew, he became extremely aggressive and had to be put down. She knew from that point that she wanted to help other families and their pets and teach them how to overcome problems. She decided to get a job working with dogs. She started as a kennel tech and was soon promoted to a dog trainer. At that point, she realized there was no turning back and wanted to make dog training her career of choice. Check Out Some of Elena’s Before & After Videos!

Thomas J Cervone - Trainer

Thomas J Cervone was born and raised in Connecticut and also spent a few years living on the East Coast of Florida before settling down in Georgia. Thomas has always had a dog or two in his household growing up leading to a love for dogs. He has held other careers previously, but when his good friends and trainers introduced him to the world of dog training, there was no turning back. Thomas has a passion for training so that families get the most out of the joy of having a dog in their home. He also has a beautiful wife, two small sons and a Lab at home. Thomas loves having the kids grow up around so many dogs. Check Out Some of Tommy’s Before & After Videos!

Paige Williams- Trainer

Paige Williams was born and raised in Nicholson GA. I have had a love for animals since I was young, I grew up with a Cocker Spaniel and a German Shepherd at home. My love for animals took me to the veterinary field where I was a veterinary assistant for 11 years. I have also worked as a groomer and doggie daycare manager. I am married to my husband David, who I met while working at a vet office. Together we have a Chihuahua named Poncho, a Jack Russell Terrier named Coco and an American Pitbull Terrier named Legacy. I have a love for terrier breeds especially Jack Russell Terriers. To me, life is better with a Jack Russell around. I’ve had all kinds of animals from snakes to horses but dogs are my passion and becoming a trainer has only made that passion grow. I was introduced to training when I shadowed my friend and fellow trainer Savanna. I was inspired by Savanna and the way the Off Leash Training methodology worked. I knew instantly that this is the career path that I have been waiting for. I love being able to help people strengthen their bond with their dog and I also love to see the dogs’ personalities and confidence grow as the continue to learn during training. Check Out Some of Paige’s Before & After Videos!

Audrey Baker- Trainer

Audrey Baker was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina where she spent most of her childhood and early 20’s focused on becoming an equestrian. She has shown in Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, and some smaller one day eventing trials. Audrey’s love of dogs and animals started very early. She has always had dogs, growing up with a Pit Bull and then later Dobermans. Audrey has been a professional dog groomer for the past 11 years. While she still grooms a bit, her main focus has become training dogs. Audrey moved to Georgia in 2016 and found her way to Athens, GA in 2020 where she joined the OLK9 team. She currently competes with her youngest Doberman Pinscher in conformation ring and hopes to start in Rally Obedience soon as well. Check Out Some of Audrey’s Before & After Videos!

Anna Mcewen- Trainer

Anna McEwen was born and raised in rural Indiana where her love of animals really blossomed. As a little girl, she always knew she wanted to work with animals in some capacity, often checking out books from her local library about various dog breeds, what they were bred for, and how to care for them. After settling in Central Georgia in 2005, Anna went on to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Writing and Psychological Studies from Mercer University. Her passion for helping others lead her to become a coach, counselor, and mentor for those who strived for better career opportunities in their own lives. Although she continued volunteering at the Animal Rescue Foundation in Milledgeville, Georgia and growing her experience with pet sitting and dog walking, Anna knew she wanted to do more. She decided to take the same advice of honing her skills and following her passions that she gave to so many others for years as a career counselor, and finally made a career change of her own! Now a part of OLK9, she has been able to combine her love of helping others and working with animals every day! She even uses the OLK9 methodology on her personal dog, a Labrador mix named Sage, and has noticed a world of difference in his obedience training. Anna loves being able to share that same transformation with her clients and their doggie best friends, creating stronger bonds and happier and healthier lives together. Check Out Some of Anna’s Before & After Videos!

ELLEN CERVONE- Trainer

Ellen Cervone was born and raised in Connecticut, after spending three years in Florida she and her husband have now settled down in Georgia with their two small children. Along with being a mother and wife, Ellen has always had a passion for helping people. She’s worked with special needs, the elderly, and children but her passion has and always will be dogs. Ellen has had a love for animals for as long as she can remember. She’s always had a dog in her life whether it was her pet, a stray she rescued or a neighbors that she was pet sitting. Ellen found her way to the dog training business after her husband started working for Off Leash K9 Georgia. She started as a camera woman but couldn’t resist getting more involved when she saw how rewarding being a dog trainer is. Since joining the company Ellen has fulfilled her true passion in life. By becoming a dog trainer she is able to help people and their adorable pets live their life’s to the fullest! She is hoping to make a difference in as many people’s and pet’s life as possible. Check Out Some of Ellen’s Before & After Videos!

Daniel Bozard- Trainer

Daniel Bozard is a native of Marietta, Georgia, Daniel, and his family returned home from Louisiana to be closer to their family during the pandemic. After spending a career in higher education and non-profit fundraising, the pandemic presented an opportunity to make a career change and pursue an area of lifelong passion for Daniel. Having grown up with Shelties and Aussies, Daniel’s 4-year-old mixed breed, Beignet, had a completely different personality and was highly reactive. While transitioning home to Atlanta, Daniel thought the family may need to rehome Beignet until they sought out the services of a professional trainer. That experience quite literally changed the life of his family as well as Beignet. Beignet thrived with the structure, and Daniel found joy in the presence and connection that came from working with Beignet. Daniel is grateful to turn this passion into a career and to continue to develop his craft by being part of the Off Leash Georgia team. He looks forward to sharing with you what he continues to learn along this journey to help you and your dog build a harmonious and mutually rewarding relationship. Check Out Some of Daniel’s Before & After Videos!

Amber Poe - Trainer

Amber Poe was born and raised in Augusta Ga. Since a little girl she has always loved dogs. She grew up with family dogs and she taught them a bunch of tricks. After graduating high school Amber went to Augusta University for a biology, pre dental degree and worked a part time job at a doggy daycare. She watched the groomer at the day care and fell in love. She left Augusta University and became a dog groomer at a corporate store. Amber owns and breeds Australian Shepherds and Dobermans. She competes with her dogs in conformation and fast cat. She has also achieved many tiltes on her dogs including working titles and grand champion. After 4 years of grooming she decided she couldn’t ignore her passion for training dogs anymore. Audrey an Off Leash trainer talked her into applying and it took off from there. She enjoys training dogs and loves how rewarding it is.

Rebecca - Trainer

Rebecca was born and raised outside Pittsburgh, PA where she developed a love and passion for animals from an early age. She grew up with numerous pets in the house including giant breed dogs and cats and worked for 2 years in her teens training vaulting horses. Her passion for training and caring for animals led her to graduate from the animal behavioral college in 2018. She has over 6 years’ experience training dogs including volunteering at shelters by training their dogs. Rebecca’s favorite part of her job is watching the confidence build in both the dog and their owners and the freedom that provides both of them.

claire - Trainer

Claire was born in Dothan, Alabama and raised in Colquitt, Georgia. From an early age, she had a love for dogs and other animals. After high school, Claire moved to Columbus and attended Columbus State University. She graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. While in college, Claire started a career in retail. After over 14 years, she decided to pursue her passion for dogs and became a trainer with Off Leash. At home, Claire has four personal dogs: Tilley, Charlie, Georgie and Jack. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing and yard work.

Samir - Trainer

Samir has always been fond of animals, especially dogs. Having grown up around many strays on the streets of India, he always considered them to be his best friends who were always there for him. Although he moved to the states with his family, got a degree in Biology and got involved in developing his family’s hotel business he could never forget the love he felt for animals as a child. He left the family business 5 years ago to travel the world and to pursue his passion for wildlife. Traveled through 9 countries, volunteering at various conservation projects in S. America, Mexico and India involving alpacas, jaguars, pumas, seabirds, stray dogs, primates, bears and tigers. During his travels no matter where he was in the mountain towns of Ecuador or in some remote village of India, there was always a dog, who found him and showered him with unconditional love. Having these experiences Samir came to realize that there is something special between him and dogs and he needs to use this gift wisely. Ever since getting involved in the dog training world has been fascinated with service, therapy and working dogs. He’s blown away by the infinite possibilities that dogs can provide if we cultivate that human-animal bond with a proper foundation and training. He’s delighted to have a career where he can literally transform the lives of dogs and their families.

Dillon Rhodarmer - Trainer

Dillon Rhodarmer served in the Marine Corps for 5 years as a military police officer. He spent his first 2 years in Iwakuni Japan and 2 years at Camp Lejeune as well as deploying for 6 months to Afghanistan as the Lead Forensics Expert. Dillon has been around dogs his entire life, with his pup Indie being his current love since 2016. Indie and Dillon now enjoy going to dog sporting events with Indie working up the ranks of AKC Lure Coursing and FastCAT in the All-American category with plans towards earning as many AKC titles as possible.

Nic Hooks - Trainer

Nic Hooks was born in Savannah Georgia but grew up all over the U.S due to his Dad being in the Marine Corps. He always had dogs growing up but Roxy his little brothers Doberman was the one who really sparked his passion for training dogs. After high school Nic followed in his Dads footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. There he served as a Military Working Dog handler before being selected for MARSOCs Multi Purpose K9 program. He has attended Vohne Licke Kennels for MPC Handlers course and has participated in multiple Train the Trainer programs. After his time in the Marine Corps he started working at K9s for Warriors a non profit that trains rescued dogs to be service dogs for disabled veterans. Outside of work he enjoys spending time hiking and camping with his fiancé Caroline and his 2 dogs Lana and Willow.

Joe Norfleet - Trainer

Joe Norfleet currently lives in and I live in Marietta, GA. Since he was a young child he always had a passion for training dogs. The pandemic allowed him the opportunity to get his certification as a dog trainer and start full time training dogs! Joe has experience training dogs ranging from puppy imprinting and socialization to behavior modification. When he is not training dogs, Joe spends his time with his animal family which includes Midnight the cat and dog Ziggy.

Carolina Davies - Trainer

Carolina Davies was born and raised in Southern California to immigrant Argentine parents; she came to Georgia as former military spouse. As a child and as an adult she has always had dogs in her home. Mom of two teenagers, both children have had medical alert service dogs. She was the handler for both dogs as a service dog team. Her son got his service dog in 2012, a golden retriever named Zeppelin, and that sparked her interest in dog training. Her daughter got her service dog, a papillon named Spud in 2016. Carolina continued to stay home to raise her children, mainly because of her son’s profound developmental delays, and complex needs. However, that was until her divorce in 2021 when enrolled at Animal Behavior College; in which she earned a certificate in animal behavior and dog training. While going to school she started working at a dog day care as a caretaker. Looking for an opportunity to advance her new found skills, she found Off Leash K9 training and is now accomplishing a dream she’s had since the first service dog came home. She is now dedicating this next chapter in her life to continuing to give her son the best life possible, sending her daughter off into adulthood and especially helping clients with their canine bond through obedience training.

Jahi Hamilton - Trainer

Jahi Hamilton was born and raised in Tucker GA in the metro atlanta area. He grew up having and training dogs from a very young age. Jahi attended the University of Georgia where he earned his B.S in psychology. He also raised a guide dog named Ray and trained with the Guide Dog Foundation. Jahi has experience volunteering at local shelters and vet offices. Through these experiences Jahi has learned a lot about animal behavior. He is currently pursuing his professional dog trainer certification through the Canine College of International Studies. Jahi enjoys working with people and their dogs of all ages and sizes and believes in a gentle but balanced approach to training.

Anna Slusser - Trainer

Anna Slusser was born and raised in Acworth, GA. She grew up in a family that constantly fostered dogs, big and small. Her mother took to dog training, training their family dogs and Anna took after her. She has always had a passion for animals but dogs have a special spot in her heart. After working in customer service for five years Anna has developed a passion for people and making friendly connections with clients. She is so excited to have career that focuses on the people just as much as the pups.

LuChia - Trainer

LuChia was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has loved animals for as long as she can remember, and is a dedicated advocate for animals of all species. She is passionate about sharing the importance of obedience training, which is how she found Off Leash K9 Training. During the pandemic, LuChia’s Pit/Lab mix became human aggressive due to lack of socialization. After bringing her best friend “Chance” threw Off Leash K9 Training’s program, LuChia knew she wanted to help others achieve the same. She has been working with animals for over 15 years, and has an incredibly soft spot for bully breeds. She has a true passion to help the ones that get overlooked. LuChia works side by side with various rescues throughout Georgia, and is also a part-time veterinarian assistant. She is passionate about her work, and will continue to help animals and their humans achieve a life of love, respect, and understanding. Checkout Some of Luchia’s Before/After Videos

Morgan - Trainer

Morgan was born and raised in Nicholson, Ga, where I grew up in a family that always had dogs. My dad bred Labrador Retrievers for hunting and companionship for a couple of years. I also have a horse named Midnight, and I absolutely love horseback riding and going on trails.
I got my very first dog, a German Shorthaired Pointer named Jax, who is now 8 years old. I have three other dogs as well: Kevin, an 8-year-old German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix; Dante, a 5-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer/Weimaraner mix; and River, a 4-year-old Mini Aussie.
I’ve been working in the Veterinary Medicine field for 11 years, and I’ve always had a passion for training my own dogs. I enjoy taking them hiking, on lake adventures, playing fetch, going jogging, and even dock diving. Many people have complimented me on how well-behaved my dogs are, and I’ve been inspired by trainers like Savanna Hicks and Paige Williams from Off Leash K9 Training. It’s been on my heart to share my love for dog training and help others train their dogs.

Matt Gilbert - Trainer

Matt Gilbert isn’t just a dog trainer – he’s an animal enthusiast with a heart for furry friends and feathered marvels. Certified as a Biology teacher in the State of Georgia, his passion for animal communication stems from years immersed in the intricacies of biology and evolution! This scientific foundation flows into his dog training philosophy, where he believes each dog holds a unique pawprint of potential. Whether navigating playful pups through basic commands or helping anxious furballs overcome challenges, Matt offers patient guidance and effective tools, empowering both dog and owner. When he’s not out sniffing adventures with his loyal Doberman companion, Dax, you’ll likely find him surrounded by his feathered family – a mischievous green-cheeked conure named Kiwi and a lively flock of seven chickens.

Shane Hutchins - Trainer

Shane Hutchins was born in Tampa, Florida and grew up in Metro Atlanta. He developed a passion for dog training after getting involved with his wife in protection sports with their Dutch Shepherds. The high degree of obedience required to compete led to him diving deeper and deeper into a wide variety of training styles and techniques. This passion grew into him co-founding a working dog club where he continued to develop his skills. Eventually, he decided to switch professions and pursue dog training full time. Shane loves building confidence in dogs of all ages and helping owners and dogs better understand each other so they can have a more fulfilling life together. Most of his free time is spent at trials, attending seminars, training with friends and continuing his education. His hobbies outside of working dog sports include computer games and anime.

Darian miranda - Trainer

Darian Miranda is a lifelong animal lover with a creative flair. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, her love for animals started with her family’s boxer, Cyrus, and has only grown from there. After high school, Darian moved to Florida to pursue her education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Animation and a prior Associate’s degree in Fine Arts. While her artistic background is an important part of who she is, her passion for animals goes hand in hand.

Over the years, Darian has had a variety of pets, including her two dogs, Kaius and Nux, two horses named Moose and Jesper, and a cat named Itto. She’s been riding horses since she was five and even competed in 4-H and eventing, and she still attends multiple clinics for horse training and behavior. Her passion for training animals led her to try her hand at dog training! Now, Darian actively participates in dog sports with Nux, her 2-year-old Border Collie, focusing on activities like agility, dock diving, herding, disc, and rally & obedience.

With a deep love for animals and a natural talent for training, Darian blends her creative background with her hands-on experience, making her as dedicated to her pets as she is to her craft.

Jennifer - Trainer

Jennifer was born in raise on Douglasville, Georgia and has always had a deep passion for animals, particularly dogs, from a young age. Growing up surrounded by pets, she developed a natural affinity for understanding their behavior and needs. After completing an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and working as a legal assistant for several years, Jennifer realized an office job was not the right fit, so she decided to pursue her dream career as a professional dog trainer. She has worked with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments, helping them become well-behaved companions and assisting owners in fostering strong, positive relationships with their pets. When she’s not working, Jennifer enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and exploring new places with her family.

Chelsea - Trainer

Chelsea was born and raised in Northern Kentucky where she got her love of dogs from her mother’s hunting vizsla! She later found her beloved german shepherd- Rogue, in a dumpster thus beginning her passion for saving animals. Chelsea was a volunteer at Save The Animals Foundation in Cincinnati for many years, fostering and nurturing scared abandoned pups during her career in cancer care. She moved to Georgia in 2023 and decided it was time for a career change and to really pursue her passion in animals! Chelsea enjoys being outdoors, exploring new places with her dogs and kids and helping anxious and fearful pups gain their trust and confidence and blossom into happy, healthy dogs!