About Us
Savannah LeFors, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified Professional
and
Karen Newton, AKC Certified Dog Trainer
Hello! I’m Savannah LeFors, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Fear Free Certified Professional, and I have been training dogs since 2015! I was the coordinator of Tallahassee Memorial’s Animal Therapy Department and I have been screening, training, evaluating, and managing over 180 therapy animal teams that visited the Big Bend region's healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and schools for over 2 years. I also have experience assessing and training service dogs as part of an internship.
I was raised in Saint Augustine, FL, and after moving away to get my degree in Tallahassee at Florida State, I realized my heart lives here! I am excited and passionate to help the residents of the First Coast bond with their dogs and enjoy everything our amazing coast has to offer! As a child of two Deaf parents, I am fluent in American Sign Language, so I am also thrilled to provide accessibility to dog training for all Deaf people as well!
Although I have learned a lot via reading books, attending seminars, and training clients’ dogs,
I have learned the most about dog training from my two dogs! I have an Australian Cattle Dog, Sydney, and a Dalmatian, Bindi. They are both totally Deaf, so we do things a little differently!
I specialize in dog body language and have learned to think outside of the box to work with them, and can apply my knowledge, skills, and research in science-based, positive reinforcement training to help with you and your dog's needs!
Karen Newton, AKC Certified Dog Trainer
Hello! My name is Karen Newton and I am so excited to have recently joined Savvy Dog Training. I am AKC Certified and love working with both the people and the pets! My favorite specialties are basic obedience, new puppies, and preparing families to bring home a new baby to their original dog “babies”.
When I am not dog training, I am an educator and work with Deaf students, therefore I am fluent in American Sign Language. I am excited to share Savannah's passion for accessibility.
I have always been a dog lover, but mostly had smaller dogs. At one point I owned three miniature dachshunds. I still have one, my senior pup named Bella. My dog training skills really got put to use when we brought home an Australian Shepherd puppy, Lenny.
And like all crazy Aussie lovers we of course had to get Lenny’s half sister, Bridget, a year later. Having high energy dogs has really taught me a lot about positive reinforcement, advocating for your dogs, and providing enrichment.
I am a teacher at heart and love using my education career background and skills when working with you and your pups!
Certifications & Continuing Education
In this industry, it is important to always be learning something new!
Below are certifications and titles Savannah holds, as well as seminars or webinars she's attended!
Certifications:
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Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Knowledge Assessed
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AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
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AKC Certified Temperament Test Evaluator
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Fear Free Certified Professional Dog Trainer
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AKC Certified Trick Dog Evaluator
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AKC Certified STAR Puppy Evaluator
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AKC Certified Community Canine Evaluator
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Pet Professional Guild Canine Training Professional
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Victoria Stillwell Academy Mentor Trainer
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Member of Pet Industry Advocacy International
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Deaf Dogs Rock recommended trainer
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PetWorks Approved Dog Trainer
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SniffSpot's Best Dog Trainer in Florida
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Member of Florida Force-Free Veterinary Behavior and Trainer Network
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Certified member and evaluator of Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy
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Member of Florida Courthouse Therapy Dogs program
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Member of Intermountain Therapy Animals R.E.A.D.® Program
Seminars Attended:
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Predatory Behavior in Dogs, Jean Donaldson, 2023
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Deaf Dogs Unleashed, Tiffany Baker, CBCC-KA, FDM, CCUI, 2023
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The Really Real Relaxation Protocol, Suzanne Clothier, 2022
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The CARE Protocol for Reactive Dogs, Jennifer Titus, 2021
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Solutions for Working with Shy, Fearful, or Anxious Dogs, Kathy Cascade, PCT-A, 2021
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Tellington Touch for Stress Relief, Lauren McCall, 2021
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Stress and Your Dogs Behavior, Leslie Sinn, CPDT-KA, DVM, DACV, 2021
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Behavior Chain Fundamentals, Louise Stapleton-Frappell, PCBC-A, 2021
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Aggression Treatment and Context, Ken Ramirez, KPA CTP, 2020
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Speaking Dog! Canine Communication, Pamela Reid, Ph.D., CAAB, 2020
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Defensive Dog Handling, Trish McMillan Loehr, MSc, CDBC, ACCBC, CPDT-KA, 2020
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Building Resilience in Dogs, Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB, 2020
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Dog-to-Dog Reactivity: The Process of Shaping Emotional Self-Control,
Emma Parsons, BA, KPA CTP, APDT, CDBC, 2020
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Reactive Dog Games, Emma Parsons, BA, KPA CTP, APDT, CDBC, 2020
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Remote Consultations for Aggression Cases, Michael Shikashio, CDBC, 2020
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Re-thinking Puppy Socialization, Chirag Patel BSc, CPBC, AAB, 2020
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Introducing Highly Reactive and Aggressive Dogs, Ken Ramirez, KPA CTP, 2020
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Tools and Emotions in Training, Cliff Erhardt, 2020
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Foundations of Agility, Dudley Shumate Fontaine, 2019
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Creative Solutions to Common Problems, Pam Dennison, CDBC, CWRI, 2019
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Teach the Leash, Pam Dennison, CDBC, CWRI, 2019
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Growing Up Tasty: Spice Up Your Training, Dudley Shumate Fontaine, 2018
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The Bite-O-Meter, Sue Sternberg, 2018
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Understanding Sociability, Sue Sternberg, 2018
