Saint Augustine, FL
Savannah Adele Lefors
Savannah has been training pet dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs in various capacities across the state of Florida since 2015. She was the coordinator of Tallahassee Memorial’s Animal Therapy Department and has been screening, training, evaluating, and managing over 180 therapy animal teams that visited the Big Bend region's healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and schools for over 2 years. She also has experience assessing and training service dogs as part of an internship.
Savannah was raised in Saint Augustine, FL, and after moving away to get her degree in Tallahassee at Florida State, she realized her heart lives here! She is excited and passionate to help the residents of the First Coast bond with their dogs and enjoy everything our amazing coast has to offer! As a child of two Deaf parents, she is fluent in American Sign Language, so she is also thrilled to provide accessibility to dog training for all Deaf people as well!
Training Philosophy
Savannah believes that dogs are extremely intelligent and learn better and faster without harsh corrections or force. Science has proven that by utilizing motivators that the dog enjoys and will work for, you can reinforce desired behaviors while redirecting and reducing unwanted behaviors.
Services
Savannah offers a variety of services, including:
- Private Lessons: One-on-one training that fits your schedule. Private lessons are approximately an hour in length and can be done at the location of your choice depending on the training you want to do. Private Lessons are the best fit for most dogs. The most popular issues addressed in private lessons are: barking, lunging, or growling at other dogs or people, fear-based behaviors, excessive barking, pulling on leash, separation anxiety, crate training/potty training, greeting people politely at the door, temperament testing an adoptable dog, inter-dog household issues, other home-based behaviors.
- Group Classes: Working on Obedience in a Distracting Environment! Group Classes are 45 minutes to an hour long and they occur at the same day and time each week! They are hosted at Pet Supermarket at 1020 S Ponce de Leon Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32084.
- Day Training: When Parents are Away, Dog and Trainer will Play! Day training sessions are a good fit for owners who may not have a consistent schedule or enough time to dedicate to training their dog. This program is designed to be an alternative to board and train! Day training sessions can cover almost anything, from basic obedience cues to reactivity.
- Tele-Training: Remote Dog Training via Skype or Facetime. Tele-training sessions are about an hour long and take place remotely via videochat. Since Savannah is not physically there, there are some limitations as to what they can train together, but it is great for: basic obedience cues, potty training/crate training discussions, socialization techniques, jumping or mouthing behaviors, trick training, learning theory, positive reinforcement techniques, redirection for mild behavioral issues, general questions.
- AKC Canine Good Citizen or Tricks Class: Above and Beyond - and Ribbons!
- Wedding Day Dog Attendant: Helping Your Dog Be Involved in Your Special Day.
Certifications
Savannah holds the following certifications:
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Knowledge Assessed
- AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- AKC Certified Temperament Test Evaluator
- Fear Free Certified Professional Dog Trainer
- AKC Certified Trick Dog Evaluator
- AKC Certified STAR Puppy Evaluator
- AKC Certified Community Canine Evaluator
- Pet Professional Guild Canine Training Professional
- Victoria Stillwell Academy Mentor Trainer
- Member of Pet Industry Advocacy International
- Deaf Dogs Rock recommended trainer
- PetWorks Approved Dog Trainer
- SniffSpot's Best Dog Trainer in Florida
- Member of Florida Force-Free Veterinary Behavior and Trainer Network
- Certified member and evaluator of Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy
- Member of Florida Courthouse Therapy Dogs program
- Member of Intermountain Therapy Animals R.E.A.D.® Program
Specializations
Savannah specializes in dog body language and has learned to think outside of the box to work with them, and can apply her knowledge, skills, and research in science-based, positive reinforcement training to help with you and your dog's needs! She also specializes in working with deaf dogs.
Training Methods
Savannah uses positive reinforcement methods and does not use force, intimidation, or harm. She believes in strengthening the animal-human bond through training and education.
Customer Reviews
Lori and Leia
My adopted rescue puppy and I highly recommend Savvy Dog Training for private lessons. Savannah believes in strengthening the animal-human bond through training and education. She uses scientific and positive reinforcement based methods and follows up after every lesson with notes for us to keep for future reference.
Bob and Teddy
From the initial phone call to the training, Savannah made my wife (who had never had a puppy before) and our Airedale behave better! Lol. She is patient, thorough and knowledgeable with easy to learn and practice lessons for all of us. Highly recommend!
Thomas and Gizmo
We were SO very pleased with Savvy Dog Training. Savannah came to our house for private lessons for our rescue dog, Gizmo. It is true that she taught us how to work with him as much as she taught Gizmo. I HIGHLY recommend her, she is professional, reliable and a wonderful investment in the care of the canine member of the family.
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Our trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All our trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
