About Us
Savannah LeFors, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified Professional
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!
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In 2024, I felt frustrated that I could not candidly recommend an in-home pet sitting company for my client's dogs. I decided to start one myself! I personally train each pet sitter and require lots of credentials before they enter your home to care for your pets!
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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!
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
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Seminars Attended:
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The Great Big Dog Bite Outbreak, Michael Shikashio, CBDC, 2024
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Enriched & Engaged: Enhancing the Lives of Dogs Under Restriction, Jess Erace LVT, CCAT, CPDT-KA, FFCP and Sarah Rodriguez CDBC, CPDT, 2024
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All Dogs Love Me!, Emma Parsons, BA, KPT-CTP, CDBC, 2024
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Shark Week: Taking the BITE Out of Conflict for Improved Connections & Training
Outcomes, Carmaleta Aufderheide, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CSAT, 2024 -
Treats: Your Best Friend or Your Worst Enemy?, Jess Feliciano, CDBC, 2024
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Thinking Outside the Kennel: Approaches to Assessing & Modifying Canine Reactivity
in Shelters, Laurie Lawless, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA, 2024 -
Preventing Aggression at the Source: How Can We Change a Broken System?, Dr. Jessica Hekman, 2024
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Trainers & Vets: Collaboration is the Best Treatment for Pets, Dr. Kelly Moffat and Sam Freeman, CPDT-KA, 2024
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The Play Way! A Therapeutic Intervention for Stress, Fear, Anxiety, and Aggression, Dr. Amy Cook, CDBC, CPDT-KA, 2024
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Canine Conspirators: How Dogs Made the Modern World Possible, Dr. Clive Wynne, 2024
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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
