Dog Training Suffolk VA

Audrey moved to Suffolk, VA when she was four. Her first dog was a Pitty/Lab mix named Sammy – Audrey’s family got her at eleven months from a shelter. Sammy was very timid and did not leave her bed in the kitchen for almost a week, and Audrey spent the first night sleeping on the floor with her. It didn’t take Sammy long to come out of her shell and start being her crazy self.

Audrey’s dog training journey began right there with Sammy. She taught Sammy the basics of sit and down, how to search a room for her toy, how to spin, speak, and even how to close the door to her room. Sammy is now nine years old and spends her days following Audrey around the house, and giving the best snuggles at night.

Until middle school, Audrey thought she wanted to be a vet, but started to lose interest in the idea. She had always known that she wanted to work with animals, specifically dogs, but couldn’t think of what else she could do for a career. One year at Audrey’s homeschool co-op, they offered a dog training/animal behavior class. The teacher of the class was a professional dog trainer, and Audrey was amazed at how much control she had over her dog and how effortlessly she trained. After that class, she did whatever she could to learn more about becoming a dog trainer. Originally, she was just going to apprentice under a trainer in her local area, but their methods didn’t sit right with her and they did not have much control over their dogs, so she decided to look for other opportunities. 

That’s when Audrey discovered the School for Dog Trainers. She went through the twelve week obedience and behavior modification course at their campus in Alabama at the beginning of 2024.

“I loved every day there,” says Audrey. “Every day was a new challenge and had new lessons to learn. After completing the course in Alabama I was offered an internship at their main campus in North Carolina where I got a lot of experience working with different dogs and their owners. 

“My favorite kinds of dogs to work with are puppies and shelter rescues. I love puppies because I enjoy helping them grow and helping their owners understand them better. It’s so rewarding to see what changes for the better can be made in a realatively short time with even the craziest puppies. Shelter rescues hold a special place in my heart, both my dogs have been rescued from a shelter. I love helping people provide a structured, loving home for these dogs. Working with people dedicated to helping their new pet is such an enjoyable experience for me. The transformation made in shelter dogs with training and love is one of my favorite things to witness, and I love being a part of it. It is my goal to work with pet parents in my area and help them achieve a structured, enjoyable life with their pet, and helping them understand their dogs needs and behaviors.”