The Best Dog Training in Upper St. Clair, PA

At home, Lauren is lucky to have two incredible dogs: Betty, her spirited 7-year-old Cairn Terrier x Shih Tzu rescue, and her playful American Miniature Shepherd puppy, Judy, who joined the family in late 2024 and quickly graduated through SMSPGH’s Growing Up Puppy Program.

A brief two-year detour took Lauren and Betty to teaching pups in sunny Florida, where she mastered the art of in-home lessons and mobile training – because who doesn’t love a good road trip with a furry co-worker?

When she isn’t training Lauren can be found tending to her many houseplants, or exploring the Laurel Mountains with the pups and family. She never turns away good pasta or a chance to say hi to your dog!

Since joining the team in May of 2022, Alicia has been able to adopt her own dog whom she met through SMSPGH.  She picked up a little hound mix pup named Cooper who has graduated from SMSPGH’s Growing Up Puppy Program. They now enjoy adventures together going off-leash wherever available!

When she’s not in the office, Alicia can be found strumming her ukulele or rehearsing dance steps between true crime podcasts.  She looks forward to good books, getting lost in the woods with her family (and Cooper!), and getting on the back of a horse as much as possible.

Christina was originally working in her chosen field of geology.  Hired quickly out of college, she later found the field to be unstable and unfulfilling.  With an ongoing (and successful) career in the service industry, the complications of 2020 had an impact on her outlook and long-term goals. She couldn’t help but notice the uptick in pet ownership – namely, dogs, and realized many people were going to need help training them. That keen observation led her on a hunt that brought her to SMSPGH, and we’re so glad to have her!

Outside of work, Christina is often outside! She tends to find her way to water (rivers are her favorite).  Dogs have always been in her family, and she hopes this change in path will open the door to finding her canine kayak buddy who will also keep her company in the kitchen while she’s cooking or when out in her garden.

She was an active field member of the Air Search Rescue Canine Team and trained two of her own dogs for SAR (search and rescue). Copper, her Bloodhound, was trained for tracking in the event of a missing person, he passed away in June, 2022. Bentley, her Shepherd-mix is trained in human remains (cadaver) detection.

Lisa and Copper were members of the Go Team Therapy Dog Team. Copper was in a live stage play in 2014 and was in the pilot episode of the ABC sitcom, Downward Dog, in 2017. All three dogs were hired to be in a Chewy commercial in 2020. Copper and Chase, her German Shorthair Pointer, were selected for a NatGeo Wild short. Chase was selected in 2022 to be the subject of a movie to help local kids learn about movie production and editing.

When she’s not training dogs or doing “businessy things”, she and her family enjoy time in the mountains, playing in streams, hiking, camping and outer “outdoorsy” activities.

Having grown up with and loving dogs, Kelli’s career started off in doggie day care. Next, she spent time in a vet clinic where her experiences would lead her to a specific interest in dog training. While working with her German Shepherd, Odin (photographed above), she found how much stronger their bond got through training. Honing her skills and closeness with Odin sparked the fire in her to help others get that same connection with their dogs – there’s nothing like it!

Kelli enjoys working with a team, sharing ideas, and learning together.  When she isn’t living her passion for dog training at work, she’s out on the trails hiking with Odin and Cobra. You might also catch her caring for one of her many reptiles at home! She’s a true animal lover we’re excited to have on our team!