Get to know your trainers.

A two woman team bringing their passions, strengths, and education together to help dogs and their people.

Meghan Burton

Owner, Head Trainer

Like most people who end up as dog trainers, Meghan really dove head first in to the profession after bringing home Kyra, a 7 week old German Shepherd puppy, who would ultimately be the catalyst for everything that Canine Lifestyle Academy has become. Kyra struggled with separation anxiety, leash reactivity, and noise sensitivity, and required Meghan to get acquainted with the world of behavior modification!

In addition to being a lifelong German Shepherd lover, Meghan has a soft spot for pit bull type dogs. She volunteered her time as a trainer for local pit bull rescue, Jasmine’s House, and ran the rescue for a year when the director took time off after having a child. While working with Jasmine’s House, Meghan brought home Grant, a black and white pit bull who is the best helper dog a trainer could ask for.

Sadly, in 2017, Meghan lost both of her German Shepherds to cancer. With a Shepherd sized hole in her heart, she was finally able to bring a new baby home in June of 2018, a little sable girl from Blackthorn Working German Shepherds, Blackthorn’s Queen Yalena – but around here, she goes by Dutch.

In addition to her canine kids, Meghan has a human child, Kaily, as well as husband, Paul.

After growing up with relatively easy English Springer Spaniels, Bethany got the training bug after adopting Juno, an adolescent pit bull, in 2013. After trying the traditional methods recommended by the rescue – and having little success – while still clicker training at home, she decided to throw in the towel with the aversive tools and cross over completely. Because Juno was leash reactive, finding the right class was key, and this search led her to Canine Lifestyle Academy. With outdoor classes, room to move, and a flexible schedule, they were set up for success.

When Meghan announced she was accepting interns, Bethany jumped at the opportunity.

She added Cocker Spaniel mix, Maxwell, to the household in 2016, who is training for agility, in addition to continuing work on his separation anxiety and reactivity.

Bethany, who struggles with anxiety herself, has a soft spot for the sensitive dogs who don’t have the words to verbalize their feelings, and for their people who often feel frustrated and disappointed.