Owner, Head Trainer & Behavior Consultant
Paula Nowak, the owner of Canine Country Academy, LLC, began her dog training passion over 12 years ago by taking her own dogs through group classes at Canine Country Academy. While she was enjoying teaching her own dogs she was also training sales professionals in the corporate world. She soon realized that training people with dogs brought her much more joy! She started learning all she could about dog behavior and training through books, seminars, conferences, and apprenticing with CCA’s founder Cathy Bruce. Paula now runs the business side as well as teaches future dog trainers through her apprentice program. She is all about injecting fun into all aspects of dog training to help dogs and their owners live together happily.
Paula has been featured on Atlanta Plugged In helping even more people learn about various dog training and behavior topics. She also contributes to blog posts including Brit & Co, Chewy.com, and CEO Blog Nation.
She shares her life with her husband Buddy, who has been a huge support in her following her passion for dog training and their four amazing Terriers. Paula has earned multiple titles with her own dogs including AKC Rally Novice, AKC Scent Work, NACSW NW2, Barn Hunt Open, and Trick Dog Titles. She enjoys exploring her competitive side with her Toy Fox Terrier, Norby.
During her training at Canine Country Academy, she fell in love with teaching not only her own dogs but the ability to help other dog/human relationships develop the close bond she experienced through training. Her love of animals dates back to early childhood and continues to grow with each new experience. Over the last 12 years, she has also been involved in rehabilitating Rat Terriers through rescue organizations. She has worked with New Rattitude Rat Terrier Rescue & Adoptions. She also works with Rescue Ranch a local dog rescue organization.
Paula is a Certified NACSW Nose Work Instructor, an AKC Star Puppy and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and Certified Trick Dog Instructor through Kyra Sundance’s program. She has been a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) up until 2021. While educating others is her passion she also takes every opportunity to learn from some of the best educators by attending seminars, conferences and reading their books. These include Suzanne Clothier, Clicker Expo speakers, S.A.N.E. Solutions for Challenging Dog Behavior with Kathy Cascade, International TTouch Instructor, and more.
Paula continues to grow Canine Country Academy with her amazing team to help more people and dogs each year. It’s important that the people and dogs receive the education they need to be successful together.