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

Foundation Skills

Sniffy Skills

Private Coaching

We offer custom 60 to 90 minute coaching sessions at our training campus in Lawrenceville, in-home, 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

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.

Board & Train for Puppies

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!

Jeanne Anderson, Scent Work Instructor

Jeanne is passionate about helping dogs boost their confidence and have a job using their amazing noses through Scent Work classes. She fell in love with the sport with her two Corgis as an alternative activity to agility. It transformed her more sensitive dog, Dixie. They continue to compete in both AKC and NACSW.

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Amy Rose Baumann, CTDI

Amy is a skilled dog trainer and behavior consultant who enjoys educating dog owners and highlighting how brilliant their dogs can be. Her approach to dog training is effective, kind, and injected with fun. While she enjoys teaching foundation behaviors and troubleshooting challenges her passion is trick training. Tricks are more than to make people laugh. They can lighten everyone’s mood and shift gears for dogs who already have good manners.

When Amy isn’t training other people and their dogs, she is spending time with her Briard named Poison Ivy aka “Ivy”. They compete in a variety of dog sports including Barn Hunt. Ivy is also working on her Expert Trick Dog Title with DMWYD and Elite Performer with AKC.

Amy is also a AKC Evaluator – CGC and Tricks.

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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.

Naomi Collazo, Volunteer

Naomi is our volunteer who assists in group classes, private lessons, and events. She is a brilliant high school student who is interested in animal behavior.

She has enjoyed training her dog, Marley, and pet bird using positive reinforcement methods.

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 Stay in Touch

We are all very busy these days. It's important to stay connected to know what's coming up, tips, educational resources, and more. When you share we share!

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!

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Upcoming Events

Barn Hunt Fun Trials

Saturday, May 24th at CCA Lawrenceville

This event will be run like an official Barn Hunt trial, but it will not count towards your titles. It’s a great opportunity to support a new local club and have the opportunity to run your dog(s) in a trial environment.

Spectators are welcome without their dogs.

Volunteer opportunities, no experience required.

Click HERE to REGISTER

Intro to Paddleboarding with Your Dog Workshop

Saturday, June 14 at 4:30 pm at CCA Lawrenceville, GA

This 90 minute workshop will introduce you and your dog to paddleboarding (or Kayaking). We will discuss the supplies needed and start working on necessary skills to safely get out on the water.

Dogs attending need to be comfortable being near new people and dogs.

$100 for Working Spot (limited to 8)

$50 for Audit Spot (limited to 10)

Click HERE to REGISTER

See ALL Events HERE

Additional Resources

Testimonials

Blog

Help Your Stressed-Out Dog

by Paula Nowak | July 7, 2024 | Featured | 0 Comments

Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life, for us and for our dogs. Work deadlines, bills to pay, or if you’re a dog, things like fireworks, or the new neighbor dog next door - these can all be acute triggers. For some dogs, just like some people, though, the...

Is my dog a good Therapy Dog candidate?

by Paula Nowak | December 29, 2019 | Featured, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

We are often asked about preparing a puppy or adult dog for therapy dog work. The well-meaning dog parent does not truly know what a therapy dog candidate should possess in regards to skills, preferences, and what organization makes the most sense for their interests....

The Business Changed Overnight

by Paula Nowak | April 7, 2020 | News, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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

In-home Service Areas by City

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