The Full Story
ABOUT
Cassidy's journey into the world of animal training began at a young age, learning from one of the best, Joan Embery. As a youth animal trainer and handler, Cassidy worked with warthogs, lemurs, mules, horses, and more. She conducted live ambassador shows focused on education and conservation, not performance, and even appeared on television alongside Joan, handling animals like pythons with calm professionalism and poise. These early experiences gave her not just skill, but a deep respect for interspecies communication.
She went on to earn a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, then worked as a veterinary technician in Salt Lake City and at Auburn University. Her career took a major leap forward when she was selected to train dolphins and sea lions for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. Cassidy served on both the MK 6 combat diver interdiction and MK 5 object recovery teams, where precision, teamwork, and advanced conditioning techniques were critical. She later brought that same standard into the dog world, earning her NEPOPO® Silver and Gold certifications from Belgium's Finest K9 and working with Auburn University's Detection Science Lab, where she handled and trained detection dogs and puppies for scientific research.
Cassidy now lives with her husband and two dogs, Koda the black Lab and Uzi the Belgian Tervuren, on the Georgia-Alabama line. As the founder and lead trainer of Little Ache K9, she brings her full expertise to each dog she works with, blending elite animal behavior knowledge with practical, compassionate training. Cassidy believes good training starts with understanding the dog in front of you. Whether she is working with puppies, rescues, detection dogs, or complex behavioral cases, her goal is always the same: to help people build lasting, meaningful bonds with their dogs through clarity, consistency, and compassion.
PUPPY DEVELOPMENT
Cassidy’s puppy development program focuses on building confident, thoughtful, and resilient young dogs through age-appropriate training, exposure, and clear communication. Puppies are introduced to new environments, surfaces, sounds, people, handling, play, and early obedience in a structured but positive way. The goal is not to rush young dogs, but to help them develop strong nerves, good habits, and trust in their handler. A balanced start for puppies learning how to navigate the world with confidence.
DOG TRAINING
At Little Uchee K9, we offer personalized training programs designed to build lasting communication and trust between you and your dog. Whether you're looking for a full board-and-train experience, private in-home sessions, or group workshops at our training compound, Cassidy tailors every program to meet the needs of both pet and owner. From basic manners to reactivity and advanced obedience, we use balanced, behavior-based methods that actually work, for dogs of all ages, temperaments, and backgrounds.
KENNEL SERVICES
We offer limited, high-quality boarding for dogs who need a safe, enriching home-away-from-home. Whether you're heading out of town for a weekend or a long trip, your dog will stay in a peaceful, structured environment with daily enrichment, social time (if appropriate), and expert supervision. Because we’re a small-scale, trainer-led program, we can accommodate special needs, elderly dogs, and dogs who may not do well in a traditional kennel setting.
BOARD & TRAIN
Foundational Obedience at Home
Training starts in a home-like environment, where dogs learn the essentials, including sit, down, place, leash walking, and impulse control. We focus on building clarity and consistency in a calm, distraction-free space. This gives your dog the tools to make good choices before we ever step out into the real world.
Public Proofing & Real-Life Skills
Once your dog has a solid foundation, we take training into real-world environments like parks, stores, and busy streets. Here, we reinforce recall, off-leash obedience, neutral greetings, and calm behavior under pressure. Our goal is to make obedience reliable anywhere, not just in the training room.
Training That Fits Your Dog
Every dog is different, and so is our approach. We primarily use the NEPOPO® system for clear, balanced training, but also offer fully force-free programs using the same positive reinforcement techniques Cassidy used with sea lions. Whether your dog needs structure, sensitivity, or both, we’ll meet them where they are and build from there.
