Thomas Lee
I was blessed with the best possible training from our United States Air Force. I was one of the first twelve Air Force Canine Handlers to be chosen to help support the First Marine Expeditionary Force in Operation Iraqi Freedom. My dogs seized drugs, explosives, and people. I was blessed with the best training possible from our United States Air Force. Needless to say, I am very patriotic and get nostalgic when I listen to “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood.
After the Air Force, I was a Canine Handler & Supervisor for Kontraband Interdiction and Detection Services (K.I.D.S.Inc), a job that helped me communicate with people how dogs should be trained. I trained at least 12 dogs to detect and alert illegal drugs, alcohol, and gun powder based substances to keep kids safe in their schools. I trained at least 15 associates, police officers, and sheriffs to train and handle their own dogs. I also gave demos at schools, worked with kids, and traveled up and down California. This job really helped me to become more of a people person when communicating how dogs should be trained. It also helped me transition from a military lifestyle to the “civilian world”. My favorite schools to go to were in San Diego; fortunately, my wife has many relatives there so I still have reason to vacation at Dog Beach in SoCal.
My beautiful wife, GiGi, transitioned from being a third grade teacher for 15 years to managing A+ Dog Training in 2016. I helped her pick her first puppy which she named Ammo. She always grew up with dogs, but she never raised one from a pup on her own. It not only taught me how difficult owning a puppy could be for others, but how important it is for a household to be on the same page with commands and communication. We love educating and helping others which is how A+ Dog Training became our business. Aside from managing A+ Dog Training, GiGi also walks dogs, assists with socializing your dog to be around other dogs, and takes pictures during training sessions for social media.
Like humans, not one dog is the same as another and I keep an open mind when training. If you ask me what my favorite breed/age to work with is, I will tell you that it’s the dog that will give me the biggest challenge! Communicating with people to help turn their dog into the healthy, happy, well-balanced dog they fell in love with is the gift God has blessed us with at A+ Dog Training. Feel free to set up a consultation where you can get to know more about us and how we can help your family.
I highly recommend A+ Dog Training to everyone! Our dog Odin is reactive to other dogs and was scared of strangers. Our biggest concerns was him being reactive, building his confidence, but Tom was very helpful and also assisted with obedience. He assured us that some days will be worse than others and that slowly but surely Odin would get better and be able to be around other dogs. I am so grateful for the Community Pack Walks we have every month!! This has definitely made a difference with Odin's behavior and has gotten him used to seeing other dogs and being around them. To anyone that is considering dog training I definitely recommend Tom & GiGi they care about what they do and are great at it.
The bottom line on A+ Dog Training: They help keep dogs together with their owners, and out of animal shelters. A+ Dog Training is excellent all around, from their one-on-one training to their group classes to their monthly public pack walks. They provide a huge benefit to our community---to all types of dog owners, their dogs, and to the public, in general (better trained dogs serve everyone). Tom and GiGi of A+ Dog Training are (not surprisingly) great with dogs of any age and temperament, but they are also great with owners any level of experience (and temperament!).
I highly recommend A+ Dog Training. Every program is specifically tailored to your dog(s) situation. I’ve had dogs my entire life and never needed a trainer - until I rescued this young bonded pair of brothers. When they started fighting, I wasn’t sure they’d ever be able to be in the same room again. Thanks to Tom, they’re back to being loving brothers- most of the time. And with the lifetime training program, I have peace of mind, that we can deal with any situation that arises in the future.
