Explore! (Start Your Journey)

Group Classes

A cost-effective way to get you and your puppy and dog training.  Classes are typically 4 to 6 weeks in length meeting for 1 hour each week.  Click the topic below to learn more about the classes offered.

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Group Class Schedule Calendar

Barn Hunt

Manners

NASDA

Puppy Classes

Scent Work

Private Coaching

We offer custom 60 to 90 minute coaching sessions at our training facility or out and about.

This is great to get one-on-one coaching for specific skills, address behavioral issues and help you prepare for your new puppy.

Gwinnett County & Surrounding Area

Athens-Clarke County

Virtual Dog Training

Drop-Off Training

Need a professional to jump-start your puppy’s or adult dog’s training and socialization?  We understand you have a busy life with work and family.  Our team loves building the foundation to set you and your new addition up for success.  These sessions will be done at our facility or out on adventures.

Day Training

Field Trips

Our Team

Paula Nowak, Owner, Head Trainer & Behavior Consultant

Paula Nowak, the owner of Canine Country Academy, LLC, began her dog training passion over 12 years ago by taking her own dogs through group classes at Canine Country Academy. While she was enjoying teaching her own dogs she was also training sales professionals in the corporate world. She soon realized that training people with dogs brought her much more joy! 

Rachel Stroud Anderson, CPDT-KA, Dog Trainer

Rachel Stroud Anderson only began owning dogs when she became an adult. When she was attending the University of Georgia for a degree in Music Education, she adopted her first dog Sasha. She immediately began learning about dogs and dog behavior. The classes she was taking at the time (educational psychology and learning theory) started to have some overlap with her hobby of training Sasha. 

Rachel Emery, CPDT-KA, Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant

Rachel Emery has been passionate about dogs and dog behavior for many years and jumped at the opportunity to work full time with the dogs of Canine Country Academy as the daycare and boarding manager starting in the summer of 2012. After the closing of our daycare and boarding services she transitioned to auditing and assisting in a variety of classes at CCA.

Sara Beth Pinson, CPDT-KA, Agility Instructor

Sara Beth has been committed to working with pets and their people for more than 20 years. She has 15 years of experience in animal care, playgroup management, and customer service with pet resorts and also worked as a program animal keeper and trainer with the free flight show at Zoo Atlanta, vet assistant in a small animal practice, and professional dog walker.

Behavior Consulting – The Canine Country Approach

At Canine Country, we approach behavior problems holistically: looking at the whole dog – mind, body, and emotion – to ascertain the root cause of behavior issues. We work with the dog and owner, together, from the inside out. Because we do not apply typical dog-training “band-aids” to treat symptoms, we help you achieve longer and more lasting behavior changes.

When necessary, we also work closely with your veterinary team to ensure that any behavior issues potentially caused by physical problems are brought to light and that any physical problems can be remedied by a veterinarian expert. In fact, we are proud to have many great cross consulting relationships with veterinary clinics in the area.

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100% Positive Reinforcement

The use of punishment or aversive techniques can be a recipe for disaster for a dog suffering from reactivity, aggression, or fear. Beware of “dog experts” who would try to convince you that your dog suffering from behavior problems is trying to dominate you. In many cases, dogs with these types of problems are dealing with fear issues that have been completely misunderstood or overlooked. 

Our role as your behavior consultant is to help you better understand what your dog is communicating and to fix the root cause of that fear.

Check out our Reactive Dog Program  CLICK HERE

Let’s Dig Deeper…

Does your dog suffer from any of the following?

  • Aggression
  • Reactivity
  • Fear
  • Separation anxiety
  • Housebreaking Issues
  • Destructive chewing
  • Other stress-related behavior problems

If so, please call us directly at (678) 979–2016 or contact us to discuss.

We are happy to customize and quote a tailored, consultative solution for your dog’s particular behavior issues. Generally lasting about 90-minues, our in-home or on-site behavior consultations will HELP YOU get your beloved canine back on the right track to a happy and more balanced life!

Upcoming Events

Odor Recognition Test

Sunday, March 17, 2024 

Are you ready to take the next step towards NACSW competition?  We are hosting an ORT for all three odors at our Lawrenceville facility.

$35 per dog / each dog needs their own handler

Registration is OPEN!

Click HERE to see all the details

Intro to NASDA Workshop

Friday, March 1, 2024 at 1pm

A fun 4-hour workshop focused on introducting you and your dog to sniffing out things like rats, deer antlers, and personal items (keys, wallet, hat, and more).  Dogs of all ages, sizes, and experience levels are welcome.

Dogs attending need to be comfortable being near new people and dogs.  We do offer classes and private lessons for dogs who are more sensitive.

Click HERE for all of the details

The Play Way Workshop

Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28, 2024

A unique workshop an approach, presented by Amy Cook, PhD, for those helping dogs with behavior challenges interested in using play to help them.

Registration NOW Open! 

Click HERE to register

Additional Resources

 

Testimonials

Blog

Safety First When Traveling

You never want to imagine or even think about being in an accident with your beloved dog along for the ride.  How do you have your dog ride: in a crate, loose, bucked in with a harness? I would have NEVER imagined getting into an accident while headed to a class with...

Where to get a puppy or dog

Are you considering getting an adult dog or puppy? Once you make the decision to get a dog or puppy, you have to figure out where you’re going to get it! There are quite a few ways you can acquire a dog or puppy, but not all ways are equal. Different people have...

The Business Changed Overnight

No one could have been fully prepared for COVID-19. As a business owner, it has been a very tricky course to navigate. What's great about being a small business owner is the ability to pivot what we offer almost overnight. Plus a team of trainers and video editor who...

Locations

Canine Country Academy - Lawrenceville

This location offering indoor and outdoor training opportunities.  We offer drop-off training services, private lessons, group classes, and events.

975 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Canine Country Academy - Athens

This service area offers in-home private lessons and board and train services in our trainer’s home.  We also teach puppy class at Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming in Watkinsville.

 

In-home Service Areas by City

We offer in-home private lessons and day training options in these cities: Athens, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Norcross, Snellville, Sugar Hill, and Watkinsville.

 

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