Sophie is our Training Manager at Paws Pet Resort and has been a dedicated member of the Paws team since 2021. Growing up with pets, her passion for animals has been lifelong, but her love for dog training truly began when she attended puppy classes at Paws with her family’s dogs when the facility first opened. That early exposure sparked a commitment to training that has continued to grow throughout her career.

Since joining Paws, Sophie has enjoyed being involved in every aspect of the training programs we offer. From working hands-on with puppy students and adult dogs to coaching clients directly, she is passionate about helping owners build strong foundations and create a better future with their pets.

In addition to her training experience, Sophie holds a degree in Veterinary Technology and has hands-on experience in the veterinary field. She places a strong emphasis on continued education and is deeply committed to ongoing learning, growth, and refining her skills to provide the highest standard of training and care.

Sophie has 2 personal dogs, Journey, an Australian Shepherd, and Roam, a Golden Retriever. She enjoys competing in a variety of dog sports and activities, using these challenges to strengthen their bond and continue growing together. Sophie is also a volunteer puppy raiser for a service dog organization and will often have a future service dog accompanying her.

Olivia is our Assistant Training Manager! She has always had a special connection with animals. She grew up riding, training, and competing with horses, which taught her patience, communication, and trust—skills that now shape her work as a dog trainer.

In July 2023, Olivia graduated from Kennelwood Academy for Professional Dog Trainers, where she learned everything from puppy imprinting and agility to scent detection, tracking, advanced obedience, retrieval, and protection work. While there, she also discovered how much she loved working directly with owners—helping them feel confident and capable as they learned alongside their dogs.

Olivia completed her training with her Belgian Malinois, Cisco, who’s now her loyal adventure buddy. Whether they’re hiking, swimming, or working on new skills, Olivia and Cisco are always finding new ways to grow together.

“My number one goal is to be completely transparent and help my clients achieve any goals and expectations they have with their dog,” Olivia says. “Watching that bond strengthen and seeing the success on both ends of the leash is what truly inspires me every day.”

Jessica's passion for animals began at a young age while growing up on a hobby farm surrounded by horses and dogs. At just 8 years old, she began competing with horses, an experience that instilled a strong sense of responsibility, dedication, and care when working alongside animals.

While attending college, she welcomed her first dog of her own and quickly discovered a passion for dog training and education. She trained under the mentorship of a professional trainer with more than 30 years of experience specializing in service and therapy dogs. During this time, she successfully trained her personal dog as a service dog for anxiety support.

She later began teaching both basic and advanced obedience group classes at a boarding kennel in Brookings, where she worked for 3 years. From there, she pursued her goal of opening her own dog training business while continuing her education under the mentorship of a trainer specializing in aggression, protection, and sport dogs. Jess brings extensive hands-on experience and practical knowledge in pet obedience, service dog training, therapy dog development, and advanced working dog programs. She is a certified AKC evaluator and has dedicated her career to helping owners build stronger relationships and deeper bonds with their dogs through training.

In her free time, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports with her Dutch Shepherd, Karma; working personal protection with her German Shepherd, Ringo; and training alongside her certified Search and Rescue Area Search Border Collie mix, Cardi.

Kaci grew up in Garretson, South Dakota. Growing up with dogs her entire life, her love for animals developed at a young age and continued to grow into a lifelong passion. That passion truly solidified when she began working at a veterinary clinic, where she spent three years gaining valuable hands-on experience caring for animals.

After her time in veterinary medicine, Kaci decided to pursue dog training as a full-time career. She dedicated herself to researching the field, taking classes, and gaining practical experience to build a strong foundation as a trainer.

At home, Kaci stays busy training and working with her two dogs, Ghost, a German Shepherd, and Reid, an Australian Shepherd, who continue to inspire her passion for training and working dogs.

Talladega grew up in Centerville, South Dakota, where her passion for animals began. Raised around horses and dogs, she developed a deep understanding of both animal behavior and the importance of building strong connections between animals and people. While growing up, Tally taught children how to ride horses on trail rides, gaining valuable experience in guiding both animals and the riders.

Having dogs her entire life, Tally’s interest in training truly took off with her first personal dog, Zeke. Working with Zeke sparked a deeper passion for training, leading her to pursue hands-on experience in the field. She joined Paws Pet Resort in the fall of 2025, starting with boarding, where she loved caring for pets and building relationships with clients.

After working with Zeke in training classes, Tally discovered a true passion for dog training. She especially enjoys the challenge of working with young puppies, shaping fresh minds, and supporting owners as they learn alongside their dogs. Tally looks forward to continuing her education at a professional training school soon and is excited to keep growing her skills to better serve both dogs and their families.

Carleigh’s passion for dogs began at a young age, growing up in a household that always had at least three dogs as part of the family. In 2022, she moved to New York, where she began her professional career working with dogs at a daycare and boarding facility. During her time there, her interest in canine behavior, learning, and training quickly grew. She spent approximately a year in a back-of-house lead position, gaining valuable hands-on experience caring for and working with dogs of all temperaments and personalities.

After returning to Sioux Falls, Carleigh joined the team at Paws in late 2023. Around the same time, she rescued her first dog of her own, a Golden Retriever/Labrador mix named Kyle. When Kyle first came home, she was highly reactive and under-socialized. Through consistent training and guidance from the Paws training team, Kyle has made tremendous progress and now confidently walks around the facility with ease.

Working alongside Kyle and the Paws team has allowed Carleigh to expand her knowledge of dog training, behavior, and body language. She is passionate about continuing her education and is always striving to further her skills in order to provide the highest level of care and support for the pets entrusted to her.