ABOUT US

Margie has been an instructor for more than 25 years. Margie is a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers International (APDT),  an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenship, and S.T.A.R Puppy Instructor/Evaluator and an Evaluator for Therapy Pets, Unlimited. She is the Team Evaluator for Heart to Heart Pet Partners, Inc. 

Margie completed Service Dogs Inc.'s' Assistance Dog Training for Professionals in Dripping Springs, Texas, and Paws and Stripes Key Elements to Training Service Dogs. 

 Her passion is gentle, motivational training for dogs and their people. 

Kay has completed the K9 Nose-work Instructor certification classes and is a member of APDT, PPG, and is an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenship and S.T.A.R Puppy Instructor/Evaluator. She has been an Instructor since June 2008. Kay has 2 rescue dogs and supports various pet rescue organizations.  

When she's not training dogs you'll find her photographing people, places, and pets wherever she goes. 

Her skills cover many avenues, but her favorite classes to teach are  "Reindeer Games'  and Sensitive Dog Classes.

 Alisa has been a group class Instructor since 2003 and is a member of APDT and PPG.  

She believes dog training should be fun for everyone and strives to incorporate humor and lighthearted learning techniques into all classes.       

           One of her favorite moments happens when the dog surprises the owner by doing something previously thought impossible. Alisa can typically be found teaching Playground classes early Saturday mornings. 

Amata holds a Masters of Science and loves studying canine behavior and learning theory.

 Her Australian Shepherd, Edraith, has animal acting experience, is a Trick Dog Champion (TDCH), NADAC Agility Trial Champion (NATCH), and, most importantly, her recently retired Search & Rescue partner tasked with finding missing people (NASAR certified).

Amata is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She has worked with Island Dog since 2013.

Amata enjoys teaching Gymtastic Tricks and Agility classes for Island Dog; helping teams blossom as dog and human build confidence and trust in each other. Training is simply developing a partnership and having fun!

 Mimi brings to Island Dog a rich combination of administrative experience as well as 40 years of experience teaching dogs and their guardians. 

 Over the last two decades, Mimi has shared her life with a variety of 'doglets' - Natchez, a chocolate lab, was her first therapy partner, followed by a gentle German Shepherd, Tess, and a pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lilly and Abbey. And home companions Spenser and Sally.

One of the greatest joys in her life has been the opportunity to work with like-minded folks to honor and deepen the human-animal bond.

 Luka, A Shih Tzu rescue, is a registered Pet Partner Therapy Dog working with Heart to Heart Pet Partners, Inc. Mimi is the Volunteer Coordinator with Heart to Heart Pet Partners and teaches Skills for working Therapy Dogs with Island Dog. 

Alexis graduated from UAH with a BS in Biological Science, and a minor in Psychology. The perfect combination for dog /people training! She is an AKC Canine Good Citizenship, S.T.A.R Puppy, and Fit Dog Instructor/Evaluator. Alexis began working with Island Dog in October 2021

Woody, is an alumnus of Huntsville Animal Services. He’s a friendly, outgoing German Shepherd / Labrador Retriever who loves to learn new behaviors. He is a registered Pet Partner and a certified  Heart to Heart Therapy Dog working at Tutt Fann Veterans Home.

Alexis teaches Puppy Socialization, Family Manners, Foundations, Fit Dog, Rally 'O and Sensitive Transition Classes and assists with Reactive dog classes.

Leah is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT- KA), an AKC GCG Evaluator/Trainer, and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She has worked with Island Dog since 2024.

Leah has been professionally training dogs and coaching their people since 2016. She has a BS in Biology and a successful dog training business in Guntersville, AL.  Her Miniature American Shepherd, Jetty, loves Island Dog as much as she does. They take classes to keep their bond strong. But more importantly, for fun! Jetty enjoys Agility and trick classes. He also assists in Reactive and Therapy Dog classes. 

Leah and her husband have a hobby with a menagerie of animals. Her favorite pastimes include backpacking with her dogs, kayaking, and scuba diving.

Archer and Julia have three rescue dogs, Hazel, Grace, and Jayda.

Archer brought one of his dogs to reactive dog training and had a lot of success with the class. All three of his dogs have now taken classes at Island Dog.

Enjoying watching his own dogs learn he decided to become an assistant instructor. He began working with us in February 2020.

Archer is an assistant instructor for Family Manners and Foundations and subs in Playground Classes.

Julie has two dogs in her family. Annie is pictured. 

Holly, now deceased,  came to her as a little black lab puppy that she raised for a Florida guide dog school.

 As a puppy raiser, she learned the importance of exposing Holly to a variety of people and places. Clicker training was invaluable in teaching Holly the essentials of becoming a polite dog in society in a fun and rewarding way!

Julie enjoys assisting, especially for our Gymtastic Tricks classes! 

Stephanie discovered her passion for working with animals when she started a pet-sitting business at age 14. 

She is a certified trainer through ABC Animal Behavior College. And is working on a degree in biology with the goal of becoming an Animal Behaviorist. 

Stephanie loves watching dogs learn and grow and finds it very rewarding to see the bond that develops between dogs and their humans.

MariBeth started training her first dog using traditional obedience training but after becoming a therapy dog handler, she quickly learned the value of clicker training. Both of her therapy dogs went deaf while they were still working and the hand signals she taught them through clicker training were what allowed her to continue working with them. 

She believes that behavioral issues can be solved with positive motivational training and knows firsthand that it is a confidence booster for many dogs. She has taken a wide variety of classes with her dogs since they think "school" is great fun! Playground is a favorite class to teach. Koda worked for 9 years as a Therapy dog.  Skout is her husband's personal therapy dog. Luca, the cat, rules the roost and has learned a few tricks watching the dogs earn treats.  Hazel is working towards becoming a Therapy Dog.

. 

 Melissa wanted to train her own service dog. She and Winston came to puppy classes at Island Dog and the rest, as they say, is history. Sir Winston Churchill is a certified Service Dog. 

Melissa assists in Puppy and Family Manners Classes.   Her intimate knowledge of living with and training a service dog is invaluable for our clients.

Melissa is on a leave of absence.

Michael custom-designed our facility for dog training and maintains the equipment used in our facility. His gentle way with animals has allowed him to meet fabulous dogs all over the world. 

Darwin, (his owner) a Labrador mix, is always by his side, except when he's (Darwin) chasing squirrels and chipmunks.

Michael's sailing adventures and meeting dogs on Caribbean Islands led to the name Island Dog for the training center.