Paula Nowak, owner of Canine Country Academy, LLC, began her dog training passion seven years ago by taking her own dogs through various 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! She started learning all she could about dog behavior and training through books, seminars, conferences and apprenticing with CCA’s founder Cathy Bruce. Paula now runs the business side as well as teaching group classes, private lessons and presenting educational talks with the goal of injecting fun into all aspects of dog training to help dogs and their owners live together happily.

Paula has been featured on Atlanta Plugged In helping even more people learn about various dog training and behavior topics. She also contributes to blog posts including: Brit & Co, Chewy.com and CEO Blog Nation.

She shares her life with her husband Buddy, who has been a huge support in her following her passion of dog training and their four amazing Terriers. Paula has earned her AKC Novice Rally title with one of her dogs, Curly. She has also achieved a NW1 and NW2 title with her dog Molly and looks forward to their first attempt at NW3. Curly also has an Advanced trick dog title through Kyra Sundance’s Trick Dog program. Norby, their 2 year old Toy Fox Terrier, is working on Nose Work Competition and his first Trick Dog Title.

During her training at Canine Country Academy she fell in love with teaching not only her own dogs, but the ability to help other dog/human relationships develop the close bond she experienced through training. Her love of animals dates back to early childhood and continues to grow with each new experience. Over the last 9 years, she has also been involved in rehabilitating Rat Terriers through rescue organizations. She has worked with New Rattitude Rat Terrier Rescue & Adoptions. She also works with Rescue Ranch a local dog rescue organization. Teaching people and dogs has connected her with an amazing organization, Mister Migs, where she is currently partnering as a mentor. Mister Migs makes Dog Gear for Good providing real-life work and community experience to marginalized youth.

Paula is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), AKC Star Puppy and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Connection, Cooperation & Control – Level 1 Instructor and Certified Trick Dog Instructor through Kyra Sundance’s program. �She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. While educating others is her passion she also takes every opportunity to learn from some of the best educators by attending seminars, conferences and reading their books. These include: Suzanne Clothier (currently working on C.A.R.A.T. 1.2), Clicker Expo speakers, S.A.N.E. Solutions for Challenging Dog Behavior with Kathy Cascade, International TTouch Instructor and more. In 2017, sheattended the Association of Professional Dog Trainers conference in Richmond, VA.

Paula is excited to be a part of Suzanne Clothier and Cindy Knowlton’s newest relationship centered program Connection, Cooperation & Control. She is one of the inaugural pioneer trainers bringing this program to the Southeast. It is absolutely amazing!

Kathy Lalani has always had a love for animals. Dogs in particular hold a special place in her heart. Before Kathy started her journey as a dog trainer, she was a school psychologist and then a stay at home mom to two children, aged 6 and 2. When she saw the apprenticeship program offered by Canine Country Academy, she jumped at the chance to attend their weekend seminar. At the end of the weekend, she knew that she wanted to learn CCA’s training philosophy. Part of what drew her to sign up for the apprenticeship was because so much of the philosophy ran parallel with the encouraging, positive mindframe of school psychology.

Kathy has two rescue dogs and has been extremely excited to apply all that she has learned. Her dog, Ducky, is a laid back character who would rather get some days off from his younger, much more energetic sister, Bunny. Bunny recently received her Novice Trick Dog Title through Do More with Your Dog. They have also dabbled in scent work, rally, barn hunt, and cani-crossing. Kathy continues to be excited to learn about all the different things she could do with Bunny. Meanwhile, Ducky continues to enjoy his peaceful moments.

Kathy’s passion for learning all about dog training and behavior stems from her desire to help people form happy, positive relationships with their dogs. She firmly believes that the more educated people are about dog behavior, the less dogs there will be in shelters. She continues to study and learn as much as she can about dog behavior in order to pass on the knowledge to anyone who may need it.