Live a Happier Life with Your Furry Friend
Certified
balanced trainers you can trust
Since 2005
helping families nationwide
Lifetime Support
to keep training on track
National Network
of local trainers near you
Free Evaluation
to start your dog’s training
How It Works
We offer a wide range of dog training programs designed to fit your goals, whether you need board and train, private lessons, puppy training, or group classes. Each program is led by certified trainers, with flexible scheduling and lifetime support after graduation.
Free Evaluation
We assess your dog’s needs and create a personalized plan that fits your lifestyle.
Customized Training Plan
Certified trainers guide you and your dog through proven, positive methods for behavior improvement.
Hands-On Training
Choose from in-home, mobile, or facility-based programs designed for lasting results.
Ongoing Support
Receive tools, guidance, and follow-ups to maintain progress and reinforce skills at home.
Our Dog Training Programs
and Services
Meet Your Dog Trainers
Every dog trainer on the The Dog Wizard Charlotte team is extensively trained and experienced in balanced training techniques that address a range of behavioral issues to help your dog reach their full potential.
Jamie Brown
Trainer
Growing up around dogs, Jamie developed an early love for teaching them tricks, playing frisbee, and even walking neighborhood pups on weekends. In 2018, Jamie adopted a sweet German Shepherd mix named Eevee, who turned out to be highly leash reactive and fearful of new people. What began as a dream quickly became a daily challenge?but that experience would spark a passion for dog training.
After spending time learning skills while working in the Dog Wizard kennel and applying them to her own dog, Jamie saw an eye-opening transformation in Eevee. Finally able to enjoy their walks, Jamie was inspired to dive deeper into the world of dog training and became a fully certified Dog Wizard Trainer.
For Jamie, dog training isn't just about having a well-behaved pet?it's about enhancing the lives of both dogs and their owners. There's nothing more rewarding than watching a nervous dog begin to trust or hearing a client share how they reached a milestone they once thought impossible. Jamie is a dedicated lifelong learner, constantly seeking new techniques and strategies to bring into training sessions.
Outside of core obedience work, Jamie enjoys extracurricular activities that provide dogs with genetic fulfillment, such as scent training, bite and protection work, and agility. With a passion for helping both people and animals, Jamie has found a true calling in dog training and looks forward to meeting new clients and their pups.
Leah Hyde
Office Manager
Leah is the organizational heartbeat of Charlotte Dog Wizard. As Office Manager, she juggles client communication, scheduling, and the daily flow of operations with a blend of calm competence and cheerful energy. Having worked with the company on and off for over a decade, Leah proudly holds the title of longest-standing team member?and brings a wealth of knowledge (and a healthy sense of humor) to the role.
She thrives on building genuine relationships with clients and loves watching the transformation as they grow closer to their dogs through training. For Leah, it's not just paperwork and phone calls''it's about helping people and pups find their rhythm together.
Leah currently lives in Asheville, NC with her partner, their fiery and fabulous daughter, and Niko?their loyal dog and proud alum of our training program. Outside of work, she channels her creative side into stained glass and other artsy projects, and is always up for a good family adventure.
Brittany Cancelmi
Operations Manager and Lead Trainer
Brittany's lifelong passion for animals began in childhood, growing up with a mix of farm animals and family pets. From a young age, she was drawn to helping animals in need?often rescuing and caring for strays. As she got older, she gained experience working in daycares and a veterinary clinic, and began fostering dogs, including those with behavioral challenges. This sparked a deeper interest in canine behavior and training.
A pivotal part of Brittany's journey has been her heart dog, Remy, who helped her understand what it means to truly bond with an animal. Remy also played a key role in Brittany's training work, serving as a calm, reliable role model for dogs in need of guidance. Remy is now vibrantly memorialized on the company van?a lasting tribute to their special bond.
Brittany joined The Dog Wizard and worked her way up from kennel staff to Lead Trainer and Operations Manager. She especially thrives when working with dogs that are misunderstood or more complex, finding purpose in helping them come out of their shells and build lasting trust with their owners.
Outside of work, Brittany enjoys hiking with her dog Rory or riding her motorcycle?always chasing her next adventure.
Amber Lee Marshburn
Trainer
Amber has had a lifelong passion for animals, which began in childhood through volunteering at shelters, pet sitting for family friends, and working at other dog daycares. These early experiences deepened her interest in animal behavior and care and ultimately led her to The Dog Wizard, where she truly found her home. A veteran of the team, Amber brings a calm, intuitive energy paired with an adventurous and upbeat spirit that dogs and humans alike are drawn to.
Her own dog, Nori, has been one of Amber's greatest teachers. Through patience, consistency, and trust building, Amber helped Nori develop confidence and strong, reliable habits that allow her to explore the world safely and joyfully. Today, Nori happily gets out on the town as Amber's sidekick, coexists with chickens, plays well with other dogs, and is gentle with kids - proof of what's possible with the right guidance and effort.
Amber's mission is to help her clients do the same: to build balanced, resilient dogs who can handle new and challenging situations with ease. She believes every dog and their human deserve a relationship rooted in trust, confidence, reliability and adventure. Whether working hands on with dogs, or supporting families on their training journey, Amber's genuine love for animals and people shines through in everything she does.
Danielle Kharman
Owner
Danielle didn't start out in the dog training world'she started in law school, preparing for a career in the courtroom. But along the way, she realized that her passion wasn't in legal briefs''it was in the everyday joy and purpose she found working with dogs. In 2009, she shifted her path and began training service dogs for children with disabilities and veterans healing from trauma. That experience lit a fire that would eventually lead to her work with The Dog Wizard of Charlotte.
Though Danielle no longer trains dogs herself, her background in research, structure, and communication shapes how she leads The Dog Wizard of Charlotte. She builds clear systems, empowers her team, and ensures every client feels supported and informed from the start.
Influenced by Danielle's focus on clarity, compassion, and accountability, The Dog Wizard of Charlotte is known for delivering exceptional training results and a personalized experience. Whether you're working through behavior challenges or deepening your bond with your dog, her team provides expert guidance and heartfelt support.
Danielle believes that helping dogs live better lives starts with helping people - because when communication and connection improve, everything else follows.
Alissa Rinderer
Trainer
Alissa's journey into dog training began long before she ever held a leash in a professional setting. Raised in an environment full of animals''dogs, farm animals, and especially horses'she was deeply influenced by her stepdad, a horse trainer. This early immersion instilled in her a profound respect for the way animals think, feel, and communicate.
Over time, Alissa noticed how often dogs are misunderstood?not because they?re "bad," but because they simply don't understand what's being asked of them. This realization ignited a lifelong passion: to bridge the communication gap between dogs and their humans.
Believing that every dog is unique and every owner's lifestyle is different, Alissa takes a personalized approach to training. She focuses on helping each dog integrate into their owner's life in a way that honors both the dog's needs and the human's goals. She finds joy in watching dogs learn and grow?but even more so in witnessing the moment an owner feels truly heard and understood by their dog. That connection, she believes, changes everything.
For Alissa, training should never feel stressful. Her mission is to make it fulfilling, rewarding, and fun?built on a foundation of trust, clarity, and joy between dog and human.
Kirsten “Kiki” Silvers
Trainer
Kiki is a dog trainer who’s just as passionate about people as she is about pups.
For Kiki, training isn’t just about teaching commands’, it’s about building connection. She helps dogs and their humans grow together as a team through clear communication, consistency, structure, and, of course, a whole lot of fun.
Her style is warm, friendly, and encouraging, but don’t be fooled: Kiki is also big on boundaries and believes in keeping both ends of the leash accountable. She celebrates her clients’ wins, supports them through the tough moments, and empowers them every step of the way.
Her favorite part of the job “Watching the relationship between a dog and their human transform. She loves seeing confidence grow, trust deepen, and those little “aha!” moments click into place. When communication gets clear, dogs gain more freedom, and their humans gain peace of mind?and that’s what it’s all about.
Whether it’s a wild puppy, a reactive adult, or a team simply looking to level up their training game, Kiki is passionate about helping dogs and their humans thrive together.
See What Other Dog Owners are Saying
They don’t just train the dog… they train the humans too! They taught us how to communicate with her, how to reinforce what she learned, and how not to accidentally undo all the foundational work.
If you’re on the fence, do it. The Dog Wizard gave us the tools and training we needed, and Pippa is truly an amazing dog because of them.
They did an incredible job helping train our dog, Ollie, and worked wonders with his anxiety. The difference in his confidence and behavior has been night and day. He’s calmer, happier, and so much easier to handle at home and out in public.
We were also really impressed with the time he spent at their farm. It gave him space to relax, learn, and build confidence in a comfortable, structured environment. The trainers truly care and treat every dog like their own.
On top of that, my daughter interned there over the summer, and it was an incredibly positive experience for her. She learned so much about dog behavior, training, and responsibility, and came away with a real appreciation for the work they do.
I can’t thank the Charlotte Dog Wizard team enough. They went above and beyond for both Ollie and our family. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for real, lasting results and a team that truly loves what they do!
He now spends early mornings in Central Park during off leash hours walking and jogging with me; his heel and recall skills are impeccable— I know, because people literally go out of their way to tell us. We’ve even taken trips on the Long Island Railroad to explore the beach and the subway to a Mets game for his 3rd birthday.
In addition to all the fun stuff, his training has made the hard times that much more bearable. When I fractured my back last year, Harley patiently waited next to me until my neighbor came to pick him up. In the months I was recovering, I didn’t have to re-home him because he was THAT well trained on-leash; My PT was skeptical, but approved after seeing how we walked together.
And in the months following, Harley learned a few new tricks that helped me recover even faster (e.g. picking things up so I didn't have to bend). So much so, actually, that I decided to self-train him this year as a service dog under professional guidance.
Last month, Harley made the trek to JFK airport along with me and my 50-lb suitcase; many stairs and 3 transfers later, we arrived and went through TSA with zero hiccups. Harley was a literal angel throughout the entirety of the boarding, flight, and deplaning process.
The last year of my life would’ve been significantly more difficult to handle without my Harley. And Harley wouldn’t be half the good boy he is without all of the wonderful training you all gave us years ago. I can't recommend the The Dog Wizard enough—as long as you're committed to ongoing training, it is well worth the investment.
Our Training Facility
Our training facility is located in the southend of Charlotte, NC. It is a 6500 square foot training facility. We have a 3000 square foot training room that provides plenty of space for teaching and demonstrating. We have a kennel room that can house up to 30 dogs and outside space for play and group interactions.
About The Dog Wizard Charlotte
Our dog training goes beyond basic commands like Sit, Come, and Down. Our approach focuses on helping your dog make better choices and respond to you instead of their impulses.
We cover all the essential obedience commands you need to communicate effectively with your dog. But more importantly, we teach your dog to stay engaged and follow through with these commands, even in the most distracting environments.
Our goal is to enhance your dog’s understanding of obedience, making it a natural part of their behavior, not just a few tricks they perform when they feel like it.
Why Choose The Dog Wizard
Magical Methodologies
All of our trainers use balanced training techniques that are proven to be effective in and out of the classroom.
Everywhere Dogs Are
With over 100 locations — the majority of them being mobile — we have the ability to bring balanced dog training right to you.
Trained to Transform
Our knowledgeable trainers complete a rigorous dog training curriculum through The Dog Wizard Academy that teaches them methods that truly work
A Lifetime of Support
Those who complete our obedience programs have access to indefinite group class training support.