About Raising Angels Dog Training
MY STORY
Hi, I'm Laura.
It's really nice to meet you.
I'm a certified, insured force-free dog trainer — and the person who genuinely can't wait to meet your dog.
I didn't stumble into dog training. I was drawn to it, pulled by that specific kind of joy that happens the moment a dog and their person finally click — when the confusion lifts, the tension eases, and they both exhale. I've been chasing that moment for over a decade now, and it never gets old.
For more than 10 years, I've been working with dogs and their families across the Lake Norman area, building calmer homes, stronger bonds, and more confident dogs — one family at a time. I started Raising Angels because I believe every dog deserves to be taught with kindness, patience, and respect. Not fear. Not pain. Never intimidation.
Whether you have a new puppy, a rescue carrying some baggage, or a dog whose behavior has you at your wit's end — I want you to know something: there's a way forward. And I'd love to help you find it.
MY PHILOSOPHY
Behavior is always communication.
Ten years of working with dogs has taught me one thing above everything else: when a dog pulls, reacts, barks, freezes, or shuts down — they're telling you something. They're not being stubborn. They're not being defiant. They're communicating the only way they know how.
My job is to help you understand what your dog is trying to say, and respond in a way that actually helps both of you.
I've worked with dogs of every breed, size, age, and temperament. Tiny terriers and giant Great Danes. Shy rescues and overstimulated adolescents. Puppies who bite everything and dogs with deep-rooted fears and complex histories. No breed is too difficult. No history is too complicated. No dog is too far gone.
THE RAISING ANGELS APPROACH
Force-free isn't just a method — it's a promise.
When I say force-free, I mean it completely. No shock collars, no prong collars, no choak chains. Not sometimes. Not as a last resort. Always.
Training always consists of:
- Reward-based methods grounded in modern behavioral science
- Training that builds confidence, not fear
- Approaches that strengthen your bond instead of straining it
- Lasting change that feels good for both of you
The goal is simple: calmer behavior, clearer communication, and a stronger relationship between you and your dog. Science backs it. Experience confirms it. And every family I've worked with has felt the difference.
TRAINING & CREDENTIALS
Certified, insured, and genuinely committed.
Certification isn't just a credential — it's a commitment to doing this work responsibly. Every training approach I use is grounded in modern behavioral science and humane, ethical practices.
I'm fully insured and actively involved in professional organizations that hold force-free trainers to the highest standards of care and accountability. Dog behavior science doesn't stand still, and neither do I. Staying current with the latest research, methods, and professional standards isn't optional — it's what responsible training requires.
Every family who works with Raising Angels deserves a trainer who is genuinely at the top of their craft. That's a standard I hold myself to every single day.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Training that fits your real life.
No two dogs are the same, and no two families are either. I come to you — right to your home, where your dog actually lives — so that everything we work on is rooted in your real environment and your real routines.
A free 1-hour consultation
We start by talking — about your dog's history, your goals, and what daily life actually looks like in your home. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a genuine conversation so I can understand what you're dealing with.
A plan built around you
From there, everything is designed around your specific situation — your schedule, your environment, your dog's personality. Because a plan that doesn't fit your real life won't work in the long run.
Clear guidance you can actually use
Every session ends with practical steps you can apply immediately. Because the most important training happens between our sessions — in the quiet moments, the daily walks, the routines you build together.
Support every step of the way
You'll never feel like you're doing this alone. I'll make sure you feel confident, informed, and genuinely supported throughout the entire process.
WHY IT MATTERS
This work is about relationship.
Raising Angels Force Free Dog Training exists to help create calmer homes, stronger bonds, and more confident dogs — one relationship at a time.
Training is not about control. It's about communication. It's about helping your dog feel safe, understood, and capable — and helping you feel like you finally understand each other.
When that happens, everything changes. The walks get easier. The chaos settles. And you look at your dog a little differently — with more patience, more understanding, and a whole lot more love.
That is why I show up every day. That is Raising Angels.
Let's Start with a Conversation
Your first hour is free.
We'll talk about your dog, your goals, and whether we're a good fit for each other.
No commitment required — just a chance to find a way forward together.