Our Philosophy

Wild at Heart Canine Academy is based on the belief that dogs are animals and therefore live by a different set of rules than us.

This can cause confusion and chaos for people who have never owned a dog before, or have trouble with a new addition to their household.

Here at Wild at Heart Canine Academy, we use the latest science based training techniques to solve why your dog is doing certain behaviors and make a training regimen to help you reach your goals with each dog. We teach both yes and no so that the dog clearly knows exactly what is and is not expected of them, leading to an educated decision based on that knowledge. We strive to be fair and responsible trainers so that we set a good example for our clients.

Meet Our Canine Coaches

Hanna Keith

Hanna was born with a love of animals regardless of species or size and was even called an animal whisperer by her friends and family when growing up! Almost all of Hanna’s jobs revolved around dogs as well: she spent 6 years as a dog bather, which helped her learn canine body language and handling skills; at doggie daycares, which allowed her to see proper and improper body language and play styles; at pet boutiques, which gave her a wider knowledge about good nutrition and a variety of toys; and even as a pet sitter that allowed her to learn how to coexist with multiple animals at once!

Hanna has always had a passion for learning as much as she can about canine behavior and will strive to always continue that quest for new knowledge. Her passions led her to attend Purdue University and earn a degree in Animal Behavior and Wellness. Immediately after graduation, she traveled to Starmark Academy in Texas, where after hard work and dedication, she graduated top of her class and was proud to earn the title of Certified Canine Trainer and Behavior Specialist. From there she spent over a year working at a canine training facility in Arkansas, practicing her knowledge and really hone in on her skills. Finally, Hanna made the big decision to open up her own practice, Wild at

Heart Canine Academy!

Hanna is also a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (AKC CGC) Evaluator and has since attended multiple seminars for continued education in different aspects of dog training including scent detection, protection, and more.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor Degree in Animal Behavior and Wellness- Purdue Univeristy 2018
Certified Canine Trainer and Behavior Specialist- Starmark Academy 2019
AKC Evaluator 2020
Pat Nolan seminar for duck hunting and scent detection 2019
International Association of Canine Professional Member (IACP) 2021
Completed a 4-month Mentorship with Walk With Me Ottowa 2020
Completed a 6-month Mentorship with Pheonix K9 Training 2022
Multiple protection and competition obedience seminars with Pawfect K9 - Working Spot

EXPERIENCE

Member of K9 Working Dogs of Dallas - PSA Club since 2021
Protection sports: Both IGP/IPO and PSA
Competition obedience
Trick teacher
Scent detection
Performed scent detection and obedience seminar at local Senior living center, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Lead a defensive handling and dog behavior seminar for Circle of Life Hospice Care nurses and staff
Multiple obedience demonstrations at Holland Barn Venue for various events

Aubrie Keith

Aubrie is Hanna’s sister and has spent many years working with Hanna and assisting her in all of her adventures and jobs. By becoming Hanna’s assistant, and working hard to learn from her over the past few years, Aubrie’s knowledge about dog handling, nutrition, and training has skyrocketed.

Because Aubrie was self taught by Hanna, they have the same training techniques and can fluidly transition and work with each other, which causes less confusion for clients and their dogs. Aubrie has worked very hard to get where she is now and is very excited to begin this journey as an Apprentice Trainer with Wild at Heart Canine Academy.

Not only is Aubrie knowledgeable with dogs, but she also brings many other skills to the table. She has almost a decade’s worth of customer relations and sales, which has molded her into someone that can easily explain what she is selling, make sure it is the right product for you, and she does it with a bright smile and a winning personality.

She also is very creative, has a love of making jewelry and fashion and wants to one day create hand made dog tags, matching jewelry, patches and more to bring a more personalized touch to the business.