Welcome!
Welcome to Southern K9 Co.We are not just a dog training company we are a training family. I am Chelsea, hopefully your soon to be dog trainer!
Get to know me!
Our inspiring beginning
Hi, I'm Chelsea, founder of Southern K9 Co.
My journey into dog training began in a way I never expected. After being attacked by a dog while walking home with a friend, I was able to save my friend's life during the incident. For my actions, I received a Life Saving Award, but the experience left me with lasting physical and emotional trauma. Instead of allowing that experience to define me or create fear, I chose to turn it into a purpose.
That day sparked a desire to better understand dogs—not to blame them, but to learn why they behave the way they do. I became passionate about helping owners understand their dogs on a deeper level, believing that lasting behavior change starts with understanding the emotions, instincts, and experiences driving a dog's actions.
To build that knowledge, I pursued extensive education in Animal Psychology, Pet Psychology, Dog Emotion & Cognition, Animal Care, Veterinary Support Assisting, Animal Training, and many other areas of canine behavior. Over the past 10+ years, I've gained hands-on experience working with and learning from some of the industry's top training facilities while shadowing experienced professional trainers.
I am originally from Virginia, but very excited to bring my experience and passion to North Carolina, where I'm dedicated to helping families build happier, healthier relationships with their dogs. Whether you're welcoming a new puppy, working through behavioral challenges, or training a future service or therapy dog, I'm committed to providing the best training so both you and your dog succeed.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you bring out the best in your dog.
Successful training begins by recognizing that every dog is unique
At Southern K9 Co., I believe there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to dog training. Every dog is unique, with its own personality, genetics, life experiences, and home environment. That's why every training plan is tailored to the individual dog and the goals of its family.
My training is rooted in positive reinforcement, using rewards such as treats, praise, play, and clear communication to build trust and encourage lasting behaviors. I believe dogs learn best when they feel confident, motivated, and successful!
I also believe that structure, consistency, and leadership are just as important as rewards.Dogs thrive when they understand what is expected of them and my goal is to teach you and your dog how to communicate clearly and effectively.
While training tools can be valuable communication aids in certain situations, they are never the foundation of my training and are never pushed on my clients. If a tool is appropriate for a specific dog, I take the time to educate owners on its proper, humane use. However, I firmly believe that successful training comes from building a relationship—not relying on equipment.
Above all, I focus on understanding why a dog behaves the way it does. Rather than simply correcting behaviors, I work to identify the underlying cause so we can create meaningful, lasting change. Why do I train this way?Because every dog deserves an approach that is as unique as they are.
"Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen."
-Orhan Pamuk