About US
Our story begins with a heart dog...
The term “heart dog” refers to the dog who comes along once in a lifetime & grabs your heart so tightly that they change the way you live life (Raygan Swan). I’ve worked in animal hospitals since I was 16 years old, but pursued a career in teaching Literature while still working with dogs during holidays.
The summer of 2013, I arrived at my summer job & found a puppy in a cardboard box at the front door of the facility I worked at. I was immediately smitten. I quickly realized, however, that this dog would need more from me than a simple walk every day. She was incredibly smart, driven, & energetic. So I enrolled us into an obedience class & fell in love with training dogs. I dropped my university teaching career & began training full time.
June Bug literally changed the course of my life, gave me new purpose, & continues to teach me every day.
The Trainers
Ashton Wells
Owner/Dog Trainer
CGC Evaluator
Ashton loved dogs at a very early age and had the privilege of growing up alongside some great canine companions. In high school, she worked at a doggie daycare and boarding facility and volunteered at her local humane society. Even while pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and Literature, she spent her summers and holidays working at boarding facilities, vet clinics, and training centers.
Eventually, she decided that she enjoyed teaching dogs more than teenagers and made the leap to training full time! In the eight years that have followed, She has enjoyed helping dogs and their humans build better relationships by teaching them how communicate and enjoy each other! She and her husband Nick have two rescued herding breed mixes, June Bug and Kona Bean, and occasionally foster rescues as well.
Chase Cumbie, CPDT-KA
Dog Trainer
Chase has always loved dogs but like most people never really took the time to learn to “speak” their language. That is, until he met Ashton at the vet clinic where they worked. He was fascinated by the training techniques he saw and quickly decided to begin studying on his own. Ashton soon agreed to let him begin shadowing her and the rest is history.
Chase’s favorite part of dog training is figuring out the relationship between a dog and their human as well as learning dog body language to better communicate with them. He is always amazed at how much dogs are capable of learning. He and his wife Lauren see that truth lived out every day with their two rescue pups Caspian and Lewis!
Chase Cumbie, CPDT-KA
Dog Trainer
Chase has always loved dogs but like most people never really took the time to learn to “speak” their language. That is, until he met Ashton at the vet clinic where they worked. He was fascinated by the training techniques he saw and quickly decided to begin studying on his own. Ashton soon agreed to let him begin shadowing her and the rest is history.
Chase’s favorite part of dog training is figuring out the relationship between a dog and their human as well as learning dog body language to better communicate with them. He is always amazed at how much dogs are capable of learning. He and his wife Lauren see that truth lived out every day with their two rescue pups Caspian and Lewis.
The Five Freckle Pack
All dogs are good dogs!
We consistently and continually strive to enhance the quality of canine and human lives by enhancing the relational bond between humans and their dogs, promoting mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and celebrating all things dog. We believe that all dogs are inherently good and deserve the very best we can give them, and we work hard to help you unlock that goodness.
Services
Serving Montgomery, Alabama and the surrounding areas.
Obedience and Manners
When asked about their training goals, most clients simply answer, “I just want a well-behaved dog!” Our relationship-based training style lays a foundation of impulse control and good manners based on trust and communication. We want our dogs to WANT to listen to us and make good choices that get rewarded!
Enrichment Training
Beyond “listening to commands,” we want to give our dogs a life that is happy and fulfilling! Our dogs need mental stimulation and a healthy release for their energy! Enrichment training goes beyond “obedience” and teaches our dogs to use their brains, focus their energy, work with us to achieve goals, and have fun!
Workshops & Classes
Our workshops and classes are designed to educate and empower dog owners. Some of these classes include our pups, some are just for humans to gain helpful knowledge, and some are online so that you can access them when you need them! We cover topics such as Canine Body Language, Puppy Basics, Potty Training, and even Beginner Obedience!
You can’t change a dog’s past, BUT you can re-write their future
Rescued dogs receive a 20% discount on all obedience training services with proof of adoption.
If you are interested in rescuing a dog, we encourage you to check out our journal, Underbite! We offer many informational articles on adopting and rescuing, including how to pick the right dog for your lifestyle!