About Chris

Chris has been a lifelong animal lover and professional dog trainer for over 20 years. Chris’s experience is practical and deeply rooted in science-based and proven training principles. Chris has been a student of many world renown trainers learning and using only cutting edge, kind, and result driven techniques.

Chris has experience in the area of practical pet training, behavioral work, competitive obedience, protection training, and trick training. Chris is a Training Without Conflict Certified Professional Dog Trainer taught by by 2 times World IGP Champion & 15 times National IGP Champion Ivan Balabanov. Chris handles the training of our trainers, the severe behavioral cases, talking to the clients about our programs, and board & train’s.

Chris believes in order to build a lifetime loving bond with your dog it is imperative to have a happy, healthy, and  harmonious relationship with your four-legged companion. Sound training, proper socialization, appropriate outlets for your dog’s instinctual nature, and great nutrition are key. Chris believes with a committed dog owner, every dog can be trained.

About Violet

Violet is in charge of keeping the business running smoothly. From managing trainers to taking inventory, to keeping the academy and dog related equipment sanitary, maintaining the schedule, accounting, to caring for the dogs and assisting with training, Violet has a background in holistic nutrition and a passion for holistic living with dogs. She’s a natural nurturer and has learned to apply her knowledge with dogs ensuring they only get the very best treatment possible. Violet is a huge part of why our business runs so smoothly and why we keep growing as a company. Violet is a lifelong animal lover who’s been around dogs most of her life. Violet and Chris are married and together create a powerhouse of a team in running the business, training and caring for the dogs.

About Anna

Anna is a senior training instructor at Asheville Dog Academy. Anna has been an animal lover her entire life. She first started working with dogs in 2015 and completely fell in love with it.  Over the years, she began working for a nonprofit dog rescue organization in her hometown where she would foster and help train dogs in hopes of finding them loving homes.Doing this made Anna realize that dog training was something she wanted to do. 

In 2018, Anna decided to enroll in professional dog training school Starmark Academy and attended their program covering many facets of dog training. After plenty of hard work and dedication, she knew this was her passion and dream career and decided to pursue it. 

Anna has been with Asheville Dog Academy since the beginning of 2020 and has already put in several thousands of hours in training time teaching private lessons and working all the dogs that come in for training.  She’s helped countless families have much better relationships with their beloved pups.  Anna loves her work and it shows.  Anna handles our private lessons and group classes at the academy. We’re very happy to have her as part of our team.

About Rebecca

Rebecca is a senior training instructor at Asheville Dog Academy.  She’s been with Asheville Dog Academy for over 2 years now and has put in thousands of hours in training many different dogs and puppies. Rebecca has always loved animals and has been around them all her life. Rebecca started off as a client with Asheville Dog Academy when she enrolled her dog Bullet who had aggression issues that have been worked with and he has not had an aggressive episode since.  Rebecca can now take Bullet anywhere and everywhere and he’s always on his best behavior.

Rebecca handles our private lessons and group classes at the academy. Rebecca is a Training Without Conflict Certified Professional Dog Trainer taught by by 2 times World IGP Champion & 15 times National IGP Champion Ivan Balabanov. Rebecca is well organized, strongly committed and has unwavering calm demeanor. She’s made an amazing addition to our training team and we’re a very happy to have her with us.