ABOUT SPEAKING K9

I am the owner and head trainer of Speaking K9. I was raised by my parents who have owned and operated Don’s Pet Care in Ogden, UT since 1989. I learned various training techniques by traveling with my family gaining skills that I continue to use to this day.
I assisted my family in raising and training 17 Guide Dogs for the Blind. I have also assisted my mother Dona Sellers as a trainer for the Canine Companions for Independence program which provides trained service canines to people in need. These opportunities have allowed me the ability to broaden my knowledge and support of service dogs and service dogs in training.

I have learned a great deal about working canines in my travels, I was the head obedience instructor for Havoc K9 from 2014-2015. This knowledge allowed for me to produce three successful working canines in the United States, and one in British Columbia, Canada.
I am the assistant training director of the 4 Paws 4 Patriots – Utah program and have been since 2015. I maintain a working relationship with the American Kennel Club as a  CGC evaluator and I continue to further my dog training education by attending seminars from a broad spectrum of professional dog trainers. I am the President of Salt Valley Working Dogs, and I have titled in AKC Rally, Dock Diving, French Ring, and IPO. I am currently competing in French Ring and Dock Diving with my Dutch Shepherd mix Red.

I am an assistant trainer with Speaking K9. My love for animals began at a young age and I have always had a passion for dogs. Growing up with dogs, I have always taught them to sit, lay down, stay and small tricks. I loved spending all my time with my dogs when I was able to. After I found my love for animals, I started working at North Ogden Animal Hospital in 1996 where my love for animals grew even stronger.

 

Fast forward to the future, I started taking my dogs to Dons Pet care for multiple puppy classes and obedience trainings. In 2019 I got my first German Shepherd, and continued trainings when I had met Lindsey. With the help and the knowledge I gained from Lindsey, I got my first sport dog which is a Dutch Shepherd. This is where my love for training began. In 2020 I started an internship with Speaking K9. I volunteered with 4 Paws 4 Patriots as well as attending any trainings to shadow. This helped me gain knowledge and learn everything I know now. In 2021, I began assisting in puppy classes, advanced obedience classes, and CGC classes where I became a CGC test evaluator. Over the past couple years, my passion for dog training and my love for dogs has grown more than I ever thought it would. I am always continuing my training in order to provide you with effective, professional and humane training for your dog.

I am an assistant trainer with Speaking K9. I grew up in the world of dogs, with my grandparents owning Don’s Pet Care since before I was born and my mom, Lindsey Ellis, establishing Speaking K9. We had both family pets and client dogs of all sizes and different temperament. I have been told that training dogs and reading them comes very naturally to me, which I attribute to being around so many of them for my whole life.

 

I have always been passionate about dog training, and that career path was accelerated with the start of the pandemic in 2020 and many people adding dogs to their families. Since then I have been working for Speaking K9, assisting with group classes as well as board and train dogs. I conduct private lessons with clients and firmly believe in the motto “You haven’t tried everything yet!” I am committed to help each individual and dog accomplish whatever their personal goals may be.

 

In addition to attending workshops and seminars to grow as a trainer, I also volunteer for 4 Paws 4 Patriots – Utah and am working towards my decoy certification in the sport of French ring. I have lived in Utah my entire life and am now raising my daughter here. I look forward to continued success and contributing to the Utah dog community!