Meet Your Team

Our Team Approach

Though every client is assigned their own personal SA trainer, you also benefit from the work we do together behind the scenes. We are constantly striving to fine-tune our processes and strategies to provide you and your dog the most solid relief possible. That means coming together for regular case meetings to share new ideas, putting our heads together to punch through difficult cases, and making sure we’re always at our best for you.

How We Choose Our Trainers

As you can see from their bios, our team-of-trainers are highly accomplished, expert dog trainers in their own right before they began their journey with us to become Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers. We look for the very best—trainers with extensive experience in behavior modification work, the best education the industry has to offer, highly honed skill sets, and that special touch to provide the support you need to get to the finish line.

Our Staff

Lisa Lyle Waggoner

Lisa is a CPDT-KA, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer-Level 2, Faculty for the Victoria Stilwell Academy of Dog training and Behavior and founder of Cold Nose College in Murphy, NC. A passionate advocate for science-based, force-free dog training, Lisa is a regular contributor to Whole Dog Journal, and the co-instructor of the Separation Anxiety Certification Program.

Casey McGee

Casey, CSAT, CTC, CPDT-KA runs Upward Hound Dog Training and is on staff with the Academy for Dog Trainers as a coach and mentor. She has a particular passion for animal rescue and welfare, and is developing best practices for shelters and rescues working with separation anxiety. Casey was inspired to specialize in this work by Bruce, her own beloved lab with separation anxiety.

Tiffany Lovell

Tiffany, CPDT-KA, CSAT, AAI owns Cold Nose College, Space Coast, FLA and is the only Fear Free Certified Professional in her area. Her written work can be seen in Whole Dog Journal and Barks from the Guild. Tiffany’s focus is education, and she is truly passionate about working with separation anxiety.

Tina Flores

Tina Flores, KPA-CTP, CSAT and Puppy Start Right Instructor is the owner of Doggy Einsteins Training. Her passion for helping pet guardians learn to effectively communicate with their dogs through the use of scientifically-based, force-free training methods stems from her experience and love of her own (recovered) separation anxiety dog, Chile.

Maia Huff-Owen

Maia Huff-Owen, M.A. M.Sc., KPA-CTP, CSAT. Maia is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy, a Fear-Free Certified Professional and a passionate student of animal behavior. Having come to professional dog training by way of research in graduate school, Maia has been lucky enough to have extensive and ongoing training from some of the most respected specialists in the animal behavior world. Among her best teachers, however, she counts her wonderful dog, Cliquot, whose recovery from a long list of phobias has cemented her passion to help change the lives of fearful dogs and their guardians for the better.

Jane Wolff

Jane, CTC, CPDT-KA, CSAT is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers whose interest in training really took off after working with her own separation anxiety dog (now recovered), Nina. When she is not working with separation anxiety, Jane loves teaching group classes and helping fearful dogs feel better about the world. She is currently working with her second own separation anxiety dog, Asha.

Jenna Powell

Jenna Powell, CSAT, CPDT-KA, Puppy Start Right Instructor, and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator is the owner of Mindful Dog Training in San Diego, CA. Jenna credits her own recovered separation anxiety dog, Bentley, for inspiring her to help other dogs and their guardians overcome this devastating phobia. It is her top priority to use the most humane and effective training methods to help you and your dog connect and thrive.

Tim Steele

Tim Steele, CTC, CSAT, is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers and a complete animal behavior nerd. After teaching parrots for many years, Tim got a dog, met a great trainer, and was hooked. While he often works with happy puppies, Tim also helps dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds who are fearful of people, other dogs, and being left alone. He lives in Northern California with two crazy Jack Russell Terriers who he adores and an ever-evolving string of dogs who stay with him temporarily for training. It’s never dull and always fun at their house.

Ally Verba

Ally, CPDT-KA, CSAT, has been helping families attain their training goals since 2010. Though Separation Anxiety and puppy training + socialization are her specialties, she is happy to take on additional behavior cases of all shapes and sizes! Ally’s approach to training is based on choice, empowerment, and positive reinforcement. She believes that allowing our pets to navigate their worlds without unnecessary fear and anxiety helps to not only create healthy human-canine bonds, but also sets up our pets for the years to come.

CC Bourgeois

C.C. is a CPDT-KA, Pat Miller Certified Trainer, CSAT, Faculty Advisor for the Victoria Stilwell Academy of Dog Training and Behavior and the owner of Wonder Dog University serving Charleston, SC and globally, online. Specializing in Separation Anxiety was motivated by her own – now recovered – dogs, Rocco and Jasper. C.C.’s extensive experience with rescues and as a large shelter Behavior and Training Manager shaped her mission to help humans understand their dogs better and give them the real-life tools for success.

Tara Houser

Tara Houser, MS, CSAT, KPA-CTP, PMCT2, CPDT-KA, has been training professionally in her business, Real Pet Behavior, since 2010. Her compassion for both ends of the leash grew from her experience in helping her dogs thru challenges with separation and noise sensitivities. She now enjoys helping dogs and their people overcome similar struggles and build stronger relationships using evidence based, force free training techniques.

Rachel Thornton

Rachel Thornton, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CSAT, Faculty Advisor for Victoria Stilwell Academy of Dog Training and Behavior. Rachel is the owner of Cold Nose College, Natchez Trace as well as a well-known trainer and mentor in the service dog community. Rachel has expertise in breeding and raising puppies and enjoys continued study of dog behavior. She delights in assisting dogs and their owners to work through behavioral challenges, like separation anxiety, to achieve less stress and more fun.