MEET YOUR TRAINER
Hi, I’m Kaitlyn.
I’m the owner and trainer behind Central Texas Kennels, but more than anything, I’m just someone who genuinely loves dogs and loves helping people enjoy life with them.
I’ve spent years working with everything from family pets to hunting and retriever dogs, and one of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to know each dog’s individual personality and figuring out what helps them thrive.
My goal isn’t to create a “perfect” dog—it’s to help you have a confident, well-mannered dog that you can truly enjoy taking along for everyday life, adventures, and everything in between.
MY APPROACH TO TRAINING
- Train the dog in front of you -
INDIVIDUALIZEDEvery dog is different, so every training program should be, too. I adjust my approach to fit the dog in front of me—their personality, learning style, confidence level, and individual goals—rather than expecting every dog to learn the exact same way.
PRACTICALI want the things your dog learns here to actually matter when they go home. That means focusing on reliable, real-world behavior that makes everyday life easier—whether that's relaxing at home, walking through town, traveling with you, or spending a day in the field.
RELATIONSHIP FOCUSEDTraining is about more than obedience. It’s about building trust, creating clear communication, and helping you better understand your dog. My goal is to send home a dog that not only knows what’s expected of them, but has a stronger foundation for a lifelong relationship with you.
MY BACKGROUND
It all started with a chocolate Lab named Charlie. In 2020, what began as simply wanting to learn more and do more with my own dog quickly turned into a love for training—and before I knew it, I had caught the training bug. I joined a local HRC group, and that’s where I really fell in love with retriever work and the incredible drive, desire, and work ethic of a well-bred retriever.
Through HRC, I met the owner of FR Labs and eventually began working for them, where I was able to continue my education and gain hands-on experience in both obedience, retriever training and hunt testing. I spent that time learning, working dogs, asking questions, and building the foundation that shaped so much of the trainer I am today.
When my husband left the military, I decided it was finally time to take everything I had learned and build something of my own. The kennel was originally opened in Giddings, TX in January of 2024 (hence the name Central Texas Kennels). Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to train so many different breeds for all kinds of goals—from family companions and everyday obedience to hunting and retriever work.
One of the things I love most about dog training is that you never stop learning. Every dog that comes through my doors is different, and everyone teaches me something new. They have different personalities, motivations, strengths, and challenges, and figuring out what makes each individual dog click is still one of my favorite parts of what I do.
READY TO WORK TOGETHER?
Tell me a little about your dog and what you’d like to accomplish.