About Your Trainer

Alyssa Ford

Obedience Instructor & AKC CGC Evaluator

Alyssa Ford is an obedience instructor and dog trainer who believes great training starts with communication, trust, and a little bit of fun. With a lifelong connection to animals and years of hands on experience working with dogs and their families, Alyssa focuses on helping owners understand how their dogs think, learn, and respond to the world around them.

She currently leads group obedience classes and evaluates dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, helping teams build the skills needed for confident and well mannered companions. Alyssa specializes in practical, real life training that families can actually use at home. Her work includes foundational obedience, household manners, and behavior problem solving.

Her approach centers on clear cues, positive reinforcement, and building motivation through play, treats, and engagement. Alyssa is known for her upbeat and encouraging style that helps both dogs and owners relax, learn, and succeed together.

At home, Alyssa lives with her husband, their two teenage children, and a lively household full of animals. Her dogs Cookie and Smokie, two rescue Shih Tzus, are constant life/training partners and proof that small dogs can do big things-no matter their background. The house also includes home security compliments of Great Pyrenees/Aussie X -Barbeque, along with three cats named Salem, Bunny, and Toast. Toast is a Savannah cat who often acts more like a dog than a cat and happily joins in training sessions. (How does she do it?!?)

Living with a busy multi pet household keeps Alyssa grounded in the real challenges dog owners experience every day. From teaching polite manners to managing different personalities under one roof, that real world experience shapes the supportive and practical approach she brings to every client she works with.

Throughout life, Alyssa has experienced and overcame many forms of abuse and hardship. Instead of allowing those experiences to define her, she chose to grow stronger through them and build a life centered around compassion, trust, and resilience. That journey deeply shapes the way she works with dogs today. Alyssa believes that just like people, dogs deserve patience, understanding, and the chance to learn in a safe and supportive environment. Her training philosophy is rooted in helping dogs build confidence, overcome fear, and develop trust with their humans. Having walked her own path of healing and growth, Alyssa is passionate about giving dogs the same opportunity to move forward, learn, and thrive.

Alyssa is also the author of Happier Dog (& Owner): One Tap at a Time, a guide focused on helping owners build better communication and stronger relationships with their dogs through positive training techniques.

Her goal is simple. To help dogs and their people build a happier and more connected life together.

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