Certifications & Achievements
(some of them,…)

Certifications

Certified Dog Behavior Consultant - IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants)

Member of the Shock-Free Coalition

Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers International (APDTi)

Top 5 Dog Trainer - Best of Clarksville 2022-25

Trauma Informed Pet Professional - Brain & Behavior Academy

Continued Education

Master Course in Aggression in Dogs

Constructional Aggression Treatment 4-Part Webinar Series

Aggression in Dogs Conference

Effort-less Dog Walking: New Innovations in BAT Leash Skills including the Leash Belay (Grisha Stewart Academy)

Evolution of BAT 3.0: How & Why of Behavior Adjustment Training for Dog Reactivity (Grisha Stewart Academy)

Sensory Beings - Behavior Vets

The Neuroscience of Frustration in Dogs - Behavior Vets

The Dog-Dog Reactivity Group Consults - Behavet Group Consultations

The Separation Group Consults - Behavet Group Consultations

What clients have to say,…

  • “Gigi is AMAZING! She is a mastermind haha. She understands dogs and teaches you why they do what they do and how to train them or work with them. She's all about building your relationship and bond with your pup rather than instilling fear in them to obey. AND it is all about having fun with them! She not only cares about your dog, she also gets to know you and cares about you! She is honest, caring, and full of knowledge. She really wants you to succeed. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND her!”

    - Hope Kowall

  • “Very helpful with getting my dog to stop the unwanted behaviors he had. Gina helped me figure out ways to keep him occupied and happy. He really improved and is now a joy in our home.”

    - Jessica Roohparvar

  • “Gina is helping us train our husky mix to walk nicely on a leash, as well as helping with his reactivity. At our first lesson she explained and showed me how to start training him, and with some practice our dog is doing great! Gina understands dogs’ needs and makes sure they are having fun while learning! She is thoroughly educated on dogs and their behavior and her passion for them shows. We are looking forward to more lessons with her!”

    - Elsbeth

  • “We were recommended to Lakotas Legacy by the Vet @ Little Angels Urgent Care when my chow chow pup presented with fear aggression. We were already doing our best to treat the dog like a person, but Ms. Early showed us where the gaps and misunderstandings in our care were! And that was just one day. And we've made huge improvements on getting her to chill out with new people and overwhelming situations. She’s still anxious so we have more work to do. And I need to add that the main thing we learned is that learning is on our end. But she’s a good baby and I know for sure this bit of help we've had so far did A LOT. We hope to invite Lakotas Legacy back for a check-in and see what else we can improve on while she's still young.”

    - Brandi Yanez Riddle

  • “If you need help with your dog's behaviour struggles, then look no further. Gina truly knows her stuff. I have been lucky enough to join several of her classes. She understands dogs. She also knows how to teach you to help your dog. Sessions are great fun and engaging. You will love her and your dog will love you for enlisting her help. I highly recommend.”

    - Kirsty Jenkins

  • “Gina came in in the clinch for me, I was preparing for a big move and I had multiple issues with the pack. She came in with games, patience and perspective to help me and my gang get back on track! Highly recommend!”

    - Dar Dar

  • “5/5! I am very thankful for Gina’s patience, love towards my dog, and guidance. I adopted a young dog that had gone through some trauma and unfortunate situations her first 2 years of life. My dog was scared of people, sounds, movement, cars, etc. With Gina’s help, she has come out of her shell! My dog now wags her tail when meeting new people, enjoys walks, and lots of snuggles with her brother.”

    - Alyssa George

  • “Gina is the best trainer around. She has taught me so much that has not only helped my pup, but completely changed my understanding of dogs in general.”

    - Jennifer Clark

  • “I really wanted an insight to my pup. She was honest and helpful for me to see my pup for who he is. Training was made easier after I learned my animal’s signs. I would recommend highly!”

    - Camille & Randall

  • "She is great with my dog. My dog absolutely loves her."

    - Pamela Lynch

  • “Gina is awesome! On just our first session she shared so much knowledge about dogs and their behaviors I was mind blown! She takes the time to get to know your dog beforehand through questionnaires and having an in-depth conversation with you and then creates a whole plan around your individual dog. She was able to decode many of our dog’s behaviors and teach us simple things to teach our dog to build their confidence.”

    - Lorrin Washington

  • “Gina is truly amazing!! She takes so much time to create a unique plan just for you and your needs! She actually educates us owners on how to understand our fur babies! I never realized how important this was until getting her help with my kiddos! I have seen so much growth in my babies within the short time period I’ve been working with her! I would recommend her to everyone! Thank you for everything Gina!”

    - Alisha Reyes

  • “Gina is an amazing trainer!! We adopted a cattle dog who was reactive and needed help. She taught us so many skills that helped our dog’s reactivity and helped us understand why she is the way she is. Gina truly cares and understands dogs. She’s very patient and goes with your dog’s pace. Our dog lives a happier life!”

    - Jessica Almoguera Huffman

  • “I have learned and continue to learn about how to guide my dog in a respectful way that builds a trusting bond. Gigi at Lakota’s Legacy is as kind as she is knowledgeable. I highly recommend her!!”

    - Kathy Wolff

  • “We sought out help with a spaniel we took over caring. He had some issues, notably occasional aggression towards people. Inspawration was recommended to use by a friend and Gina has helped us with the behavior and we've made a lot of progress in correcting. What was particularly helpful was their thorough review that helped us (A) identify issues that could trigger the behavior; (B) provided ideas on how to disengage to prevent the behavior; and (C) gave us ongoing ideas (e.g. videos) for further training. All of the training is positive. Definitely recommended!”

    - Chris Barron

  • “Gina is flexible and easy to work with, she was open to sessions in the evening to fit my work schedule and all of our sessions were 100% virtual which helped because we didn't have to travel! She gave us great information about how to better communicate with our dogs and understand what they need from us! Gina helped bring our family back together after we thought it may be impossible due to fighting between dog siblings. I recommend her for anyone who needs help with positive reinforcement training, big or small!”

    - Sarah Wyatt

  • “I recommend Gina. She’s very knowledgeable and you can tell right away that she absolutely loves dogs. Love the “deep dives” we go into when it comes to dog behaviors so we can better understand our little guy.”

    - Stephanie Chai

  • “Highly recommend Gina! She is working with me on adding our new puppy to our family. Her new puppy guidebook has already helped us in many ways to successfully introduce our new guy to our pack.”

    - Trisha Johnson

  • “I just read the ebook for new puppy owners! This is a MUST HAVE for anyone getting a new puppy. It is full of practical information that will make bringing your puppy home to become part of your family so much smoother. I raise Australian Shepherds and I intend to include this ebook in my puppy kits!”

    - Amanda Goad

  • “This trainer is extremely knowledgeable about what’s being taught during the training. She’s extremely easy to approach, kind, and friendly. During the training session she opened up my mind on how dogs think and react to the world. Overall I would highly recommend this trainer if you are having obedience training issues, or if your dog is just being crazy 😜.”

    - Chris Early

  • “Lakota's Legacy is for the pet owner that wants to LEARN about the underlying cause of a pet's behavior and then be equipped with the tools to make a change. Gina cares so much about her work and our pets and it shows! She is always interested in what's best for the client (the dog!) and designs every training program with that as the basis. She's very well educated and you can tell how much time and effort she has put into learning about how our pet's brains work! I would certainly recommend Lakota’s Legacy to anyone looking for a force-free training program where the dog's best interest always comes first.”

    - Sarah Phillips

  • “Gina "Gigi" Early has given me the tools to transform my Labrador. Abby has learned boundaries and control that she chooses, not forced on her. We are having a blast learning together. Instead of frustration we are laughing (well I'm laughing) and having fun. Today my dog, who previously pulled my rotator ligament shutting down our walks, loose leash walked with what seemed like little effort. I can’t stop smiling. Thank you Gina.”

    - Kelly Burke

  • “We have used Lakota’s Legacy for almost a year now to help us with our 2 rescue pups. They have gone from scared with no manners to being able to make their own choices when it comes to behavior. They have gotten out of the house and come straight back when called. They have walked away from distractions and have boundaries. All this was done through positive behavior training and learning how our dogs need things. I would encourage anyone that is having issues or just wants a better-behaved dog to reach out and try them. Hands down recommended!!”

    - Meghan Frank Leon

  • “Best decision ever! I am beyond happy working with Gina to help my dog prosper. The knowledge and guidance she shared were priceless. We are achieving our goals and thankful to have her when needed. Call her if you need a well-qualified dog behavior specialist and life skills trainer! Also, her pricing is very fair and worth every cent!”

    - Jolyn A

  • “Gina is amazing. Her holistic, positive approach to behavior modification is above and beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. (Because she’s not a “trainer”, she’s more of a dog therapist—finding the root of the issue, then using games and positive reinforcement to boost their confidence.) I learned a whole different level of thinking during our session.”

    - Michele Smith

  • “Lakota’s Legacy has been a game changer for our pup. He was extremely anxious and shut down whenever anything was out of routine for him. Lakota’s Legacy took the time to teach us the science behind our dog’s behavior and suggest activities we can do with him to help work on his deficits. This has helped him to be less shut down about things he deems “out of place” in his world. He has more to work on, but we have seen so much growth in such a short time! Thanks Lakota’s Legacy!!”

    - Kristen Kuenstler

  • “Gina worked with me and my dog Pax on the Reactive to Rockin’ Dog Transformation Package. After the first few sessions I already noticed a change in the relationship between me and Pax. We were building a closer relationship with each other and I was starting to understand him better. This program focused not just on Pax learning new things, but on me learning as well. Gina was patient with me when I didn’t understand something and always took the time to thoroughly explain it. She was always available for me to contact by phone, and even offered to do video check-ins if needed. I truly felt like she was as invested in the progress we made as I was. She was also there to give me that nudge when I would get wary or hesitant in my own knowledge. She supported me when I would freeze, or just go blank, and help get me back in the right head space so that Pax and I could get back to where we were connecting with each other as opposed to being in completely different worlds. She helped me learn to focus on the good as opposed to the “bad” and to think of those more as learning opportunities. Now keep in mind that perfection isn’t going to come from only doing the training on those 10 sessions. Practice is important. And you will still need to practice once you have completed the training course, but you will notice a HUGE difference if you have really committed to and worked the program. I would HIGHLY recommend this course, and if you knew me, that’s saying a lot.”

    - Jennifer Knox

“My mom and I recently commissioned Gina from Lakota’s Legacy to help with our two German Shepherd puppies, and the experience exceeded all our expectations. Gina’s approach to dog training is truly remarkable as she treats each dog as an individual being, paying close attention to their emotions and needs.

From the go, our eyes were opened to a different way of looking at our puppies. A way that gets right to the point of what our unique animals experience. Throughout six two-hour sessions, as well as the initial two-hour consultation, we gained invaluable insights into dog training. One aspect that stood out was learning about consent, understanding when our puppies wanted to engage in certain activities. This emphasis on respect and understanding their desires created a bond of trust between us and our pups.

Gina also taught us about potential traumas that can affect dogs and the subtle signs to watch for. By being aware of these signs, we are able to provide a safe and secure environment for our furry friends.

Resource guarding was another critical behavior we addressed during the training. Gina guided us on how to prevent this behavior and foster positive interactions with our puppies.

The interactive games she introduced us to were incredibly effective in instilling desirable behaviors. Not only were these games fun for the dogs, but they also reinforced positive habits and improved our communication with them. We played so many games!

One aspect that truly sets Gina apart from other trainers is her unwavering commitment to avoiding cruelty and punishment. Her kind and compassionate approach was evident in every session, ensuring that our puppies learned in a supportive and loving environment. Thanks to Gina’s guidance, our dogs now feel safe and at ease around us. We can’t stress enough how wonderful this training experience has been. If our budget allowed, we would undoubtedly continue with her training services.

In conclusion, we wholeheartedly recommend Gina from Lakota’s Legacy to anyone seeking a dog trainer who truly cares about each dog’s well-being. Her expertise, empathy, and passion for positive reinforcement training make her an exceptional choice for dog owners looking to build a strong bond with their furry companions.”

- Adam L’Herault