Meet The Trainer

Meet Krissy, the owner and certified dog trainer behind The Meditating Mutt, LLC, serving dogs and their humans throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Krissy graduated from Eckerd College in 2016 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development. After graduation, she began her professional journey in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)—a field that deepened her understanding of learning, communication, and behavior.

In 2019, Krissy’s life changed when she unexpectedly adopted her dog, Willie. As Willie settled in, the effects of his traumatic past began to surface through reactivity and aggression. Helping Willie heal using positive reinforcement training sparked Krissy’s passion for dog behavior and relationship-based training.

Today, Krissy takes a preventative and holistic approach to dog training, focusing on education, communication, and trust. She helps pet parents understand why their dogs behave the way they do and how to build confidence, clarity, and calm at home.

Krissy emphasizes a humane, ethical, and science-backed approach to behavior work. She knows how isolating it can feel to live with a dog experiencing fear, anxiety, or reactivity—and treats every dog she works with as if they were her own.

Krissy is a KPA Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) and holds a Puppy Start Right certification from the Karen Pryor Academy. She completed a two-year professional dog training apprenticeship and previously served as a lead trainer and adoption counselor at a local rescue organization. There, she facilitated meet-and-greets, ran playgroups, performed behavior assessments, and helped countless dogs find their forever homes.

In addition to her dog training work, Krissy is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor. She combines mindfulness and movement through puppy yoga classes across the Tampa Bay area—events that bring joy to participants while raising support for local rescue organizations.

Krissy is also an active member of Protecting Paws for Life, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping domestic violence shelters create fear-free, pet-friendly environments for survivors and their animals.