Sophie Lawson KPA CTP, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
In 2020, Sophie Lawson decided to pursue a career in the animal industry. She had grown up going to Brittany Spaniel field trials with her father and already loved dogs. She worked as a Pet Care Specialist at a local dog boarding facility for 3 years where she worked with hundreds of dogs. She brought home a Golden Retriever puppy named Goose in March 2021. She became more involved in the dog sport world and decided to enter Goose in dock diving, trick dog, agility, barn hunt, CAT, and FAST cat. She also trained Goose to be a Crisis Response Therapy Dog and an animal actor. Goose is now apart of multiple animal acting agencies and has been in multiple jobs such as photoshoots and commercials.
Since 2020, she has graduated from ELLAS Animals INC. Foundational Obedience Dog training course and received her dog trainer certification. She worked over the next year to receive her certification in public access and task work from ELLAS Animals INC. She also worked at Petco as a professional dog trainer and received another dog trainer certification after completing Petco's dog trainer course. She was accepted into the Karen Pryor Dog Trainer Academy and graduated to earn her KPA CTP certification in early 2023. She is also a member of the Association for Professional Dog Trainers.
Most recently, Sophie has worked as the lead dog trainer at a dog boarding/daycare facility to further her hands on experience and became an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She also has be invited to speak at SPCA events to teach the general public about service animals. She created Hero Hounds with the goal to help those struggling create a brighter future.
Lucy Caldwell
Our newest trainer Lucy started with training horses in 2016 and continued for about 7 years! With the experience of teaching, rehabilitating and competing with all types of horses Lucy wanted to continue and further her knowledge of training through dogs!
Her first dog being a border collie Australian shepherd mix Lucy learned lots of force free tricks with that pup! Now Lucy has a retired psychiatric service dog named Chase, a husky she trained herself and her current service dog in training, Mazikeen, an American show line German shepherd who was previously reactive and through force free methods has healed from her anxieties and now is able to work as a service dog in training!
Using the experience she gained through her service dogs and working with the horses Lucy eventually came to work as a dog trainer through a chain company for 3 years. Lucy earned her certification, as well as gaining experience through each individual dogs story. Lucy is also in the process of receiving her certification through Karen Pryor Clicker Training Academy, she is on the road to be finished and certified by October!
Lucy specializes in basic puppy obedience while helping you as parents have a well mannered pup to grow into a well mannered adult! While learning with Lucy she will provid the skills and tools for parents to continue maintaining that behavior and relationship. Lucy also specializes heavily in reactivity of all kinds! Whether it is excitement, fear, people or dogs, Lucy will build a personalized training plan that fits you and your dog to help you on the best road to success without the use of fear or punishment!