About Us

Highland Canine Training Center is located on 17+ acres of training grounds, surrounded by relaxing countryside in the foothills of North Carolina. Highland Canine Training is just minutes away from many NASCAR shops and garages and only a short drive from beautiful Lake Norman and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.

Our facility has several large training fields, fenced areas for exercise as well as ponds and nature trails for walks. Visitors are always welcome during business hours - appointments are requested to ensure the availability of staff.

Statesville Regional Airport is 21 miles from the Training Center, and is very conveniently located minutes from Downtown Statesville.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is less than an hour drive from the Training Center. Airport pick-up and delivery is available.

Highland Canine offers on-site housing for police dog handlers and working dog clients during their stay at our facility. We also offer affordable housing for students of our dog trainer courses.

Jason Purgason, CPDT-KA - Training Director

Jason is the training director of Highland Canine Training, LLC. A reserve police officer and former Police Canine Handler, Jason conducts police canine handler courses as well as trainers courses and all working dog training. Jason earned his Police Canine Instructor's Certification and has trained canines in the areas of Narcotics Detection, Explosives Detection, Police Patrol, Urban Disaster, Scent Discrimination Tracking and Cadaver Detection. Jason has instructed seminars for Police Canine Handlers at NASA, the Pentagon Police and for many other professional, government and law enforcement teams across the world. >>READ MORE

704.728.9494 Email jpurgason@highlandcanine.com

Erin Purgason, BS - Owner

Erin is the owner of Highland Canine Training, LLC and has been a sworn law enforcement officer since 2002. She directs our In Kennel obedience and behavior modification programs and also assists with the training of dogs for police patrol, detection and search and rescue. Erin conducts private lessons to help clients understand dog behaviors and better work with their dogs. She trains service dogs for the disabled and also assists with teaching students in our trainers courses. Erin has worked with animals in clinical settings since 1995 and has owned and worked with dogs all her life. Erin also handles a scent discrimination tracking bloodhound for K-9 Search and Rescue. Erin is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

704.500.8367 Email epurgason@highlandcanine.com

Bobbie Ellis, MSW - Head Trainer

Bobbie has a BA from Elon University and a MSW from the University of New England. She conducts a majority of the In-kennel training and behavior modification training in addition to assisting with private lessons and teaching group classes in Harmony and Statesville, NC. Bobbie assists in training Personal Protection Dogs as well as the other working dogs at our facility and assists with students in our dog trainers courses. Bobbie enjoys working with "problem dogs" as well as working with dog owners to teach them how to understand their behaviors and better communicate with their dogs to make for lasting, enjoyable relationships. Bobbie is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for the AKC.

704.539.5604 Email rellis@highlandcanine.com

Linda Taylor, BA, CPT - Charlotte Dog Trainer

Linda proudly serves our clients in the Charlotte, Matthews, and Pineville areas. Linda has been in the training field since 1998. Her instruction teaches the importance of the client-dog relationship and the impact this has on successful training. Linda will discuss your goals and design a training/obedience program based on the individual needs of both the owner and the dog. Linda’s focus is on pet obedience, behavior modification and therapy dogs. Her skills in working with people as a personal trainer also makes her an excellent resource to pet owners to learn their important role in the development and training of their dog. Linda also teaches group classes at our Matthews and Mooresville, NC locations. Linda is a Certified Therapy Dog Trainer and is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. >>READ MORE

704.500.6810 Email ltaylor@highlandcanine.com

Jaime Stuart, MA - Lake Norman Dog Trainer

Jaime Stuart assists owners and their dogs at our facility conducting private lessons and group classes. Jaime also conducts In-home dog training, behavior modification and evaluations for owners in the Lake Norman, Troutman, Mooresville and Statesville, NC areas and is a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Jaime assists with the training of service dogs as well as working dogs in training for police, detection, protection and search and rescue. Jaime conducts lectures and training on human decomposition and other topics as part of our school for dog trainers. Jaime also assists in teaching cadaver dog and Search and Rescue Dog Seminars throughout the country and abroad. She has worked for 5 years as an assistant at several local animal hospitals. Jaime has also coordinated cadaver dog training for more than 3 years through the Anthropology Department at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
>>READ MORE

704.498.6115 Email jstuart@highlandcanine.com

Jared Komar, BS - Trainer

Jared works at our Harmony, NC location training working dogs for police patrol, narcotics detection, explosives detection, trailing, tracking, cadaver detection, search and rescue as well as personal protection, competition and sport dog training. Jared also works with training on and off leash obedience and working with dogs to rehabilitate problem behaviors. Jared specializes in working with dogs that are aggressive and often difficult to handle. Jared assists with instructing working dog seminars and conducts a majority of the decoy work for training police and protection dogs at our facility. Jared is also a helper and decoy for the American Police Dog Tactics Association where he assists with seminars and certifications.

704.498.7907 Email jkomar@highlandcanine.com

 

Ray Figueroa - Atlanta Dog Trainer

Ray Figueroa assists our clients at our location serving the Metro Atlanta area of Georgia including, Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County and the surrounding areas. Ray is a police canine trainer and instructor in the Metro Atlanta area where he also serves as a full time police canine handler. Ray utilizes his experience with working dogs as well as pet dogs to help owners better understand and work with their dogs. Ray has a great deal of experience working with dogs of all breeds and sizes. He also assists with working dogs as well as seminars. Ray is a member of the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA), National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA), the Law Enforcement K9 Training Specialist International, Inc and is a Certifying Official for the American Police Dogs Tactics Association. He is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator
>>READ MORE

770.639.4733 Email rfigueroa@highlandcanine.com

Alison Pennington - Charlotte / Lake Wylie, SC Dog Trainer

Alison Pennington assists our clients in Charlotte, NC, Lake Wylie, South Carolina and the surrounding areas. Alison is a graduate of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog Trainers and is certified in on and off leash obedience and canine behavior modification. Alison assists with training therapy dogs as well as working with dogs in agility and rally-obedience. Alison enjoys training dogs and working with clients to help resolve problems such as jumping, pulling, biting, fighting, and aggression. Alison conducts private lessons, In-home training and group classes to help dog owners learn how to better understand and communicate with their dogs in order to develop better relationships between them. She also continues to work with local shelters and rescue groups to assist in rehabilitating problem dogs. Alison is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator
>>READ MORE

704.770.8205 Email apennington@highlandcanine.com

Brittany Horbert - Tampa / Clearwater, FL Dog Trainer

Brittany Horbert assists our clients at our newest location serving the Tampa - Clearwater areas of Florida including Tampa, Clearwater, Odessa, Holiday, Land O' Lakes, Temple Terrace, Lutz, New Tampa, South Tampa and the Palm Harbor, FL areas. Brittany is a graduate of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog Trainers and is certified in on and off leash obedience and canine behavior modification. Brittany assists dog owners by teaching private lessons, in-home training and group classes. She offers on and off leash obedience training as well as behavior modification to assist owners in resolving unwanted behaviors such as jumping, biting, countersurfing, shyness and aggressive behaviors. Brittany specializes in dogs with disabilities and currently owns a deaf collie mix. She is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator
>>READ MORE

813.300.4160 Email bhorbert@highlandcanine.com