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, put our heads together to punch through difficult cases, and make 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, is the owner of Upward Hound Dog Training and an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers. She has lifelong experience in the helping professions, a passion for animal rescue and welfare, and an undying love for Bruce, her own separation anxiety dog (now recovered).

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.

Peggy McCarty

Peggy is a graduate of the renowned Academy for Dog Trainers, a CPDT-KA, and a dog*tec Certified Dog Walker. She is a member of the APDT and Pet Professionals Guild. Peggy is the owner of The Hound Haven and works extensively with fearful, anxious and reactive dogs using force free training.

Tara Houser

Tara, MS, KPA-CTP, CDW, PMCT-2, CSAT is the owner of Real Pet Behavior. She is currently continuing her studies with the Academy for Dog Trainers and working on her first book on noise phobias. Her amazing boy, Yippie, was her inspiration for becoming a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer.

Shelly Keel

Shelly, CTC, CDW, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CSAT is the owner of A Good Dog Day. Shelly is a graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers, Karen Pryor Academy, Marine Humane Society Canine Behavior Academy and the dog*tec Dog Walking Academy. Shelly closely partners with veterinarians, breeders and shelters.

Terrie Hayward

Terrie, M.Ed., CSAT, CPDT-KA, ACDBC, KPA-CTP is a Karen Pryor Academy Faculty Member. She has written several behavior and training articles for Bark’s Magazine, Grooming Business, Deaf Dogs Rock, and KPA. Terrie owns PAW, LLC and regularly travels the globe to hone her training skills with a diverse group of animals.

CC Bourgeois

C.C., a CSAT, CPDT-KA and Pat Miller Certified Trainer owns Wonder Dog University. WDU offers online and in-person training and resources for the prevention and modification of anxiety, fear and aggressive behaviors. As the guardian of a dog recovered from SA, she understands first hand the excitement of those breakthrough moments!

Jennifer Reed

Jennifer, CPDT-KA, CSAT, became interested in animal behavior as a journalist. In 2004, she graduated from the ASPCA Dog Training Program in NYC and founded Big Apple Dog School. After offering classes, privates and seminars on everything from puppies to aggression, Jennifer’s thrilled to focus exclusively on canine separation anxiety.

Josh Boutelle

Josh Boutelle, CPDT-KA, CSAT is the owner of City Pups SF in San Francisco and is an instructor for the San Francisco SPCA and widely respected dog*tec Dog Walking Academy. In addition to working with dogs suffering from separation anxiety, Josh has a special interest in helping anxious and reactive dogs live better lives in urban environments.

Jackie Johnston

Jackie Johnston, CTC, CPDT-KA, CSAT is the owner of Believe in Your Dog located in Boulder, CO. Her focus is on separation anxiety, but she is fluent in all aspects of behavior. Her education and background has provided her with the most up-to-date, safe, and effective reward-based training methods.

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.

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.