About Us
Highland Canine Training Center is located on 17+ acres of training grounds, surrounded by relaxing countryside in the foothills of North Carolina. Highland Canine Training is just minutes away from many NASCAR shops and garages and only a short drive from beautiful Lake Norman and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
Our facility has several large training fields, fenced areas for exercise as well as ponds and nature trails for walks. We also have on-site student housing, a dog safe rubble pile, classrooms, agility areas as well as other areas designed for working dog training. Visitors are always welcome during business hours - appointments are requested to ensure the availability of staff.
Statesville Regional Airport is 21 miles from the Training Center, and is conveniently located minutes from Downtown Statesville.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is less than an hour drive from the Training Center. Airport pick-up and delivery is available.
Highland Canine offers on-site housing for police
dog handlers and working dog clients during their stay at our facility.
We also offer affordable housing for students of our dog
trainer courses.
Jason Purgason, CPDT-KA - Training Director
Jason
is the training director of Highland Canine Training, LLC. A reserve police
officer and former Police Canine Handler, Jason conducts police
canine handler courses as well as trainers courses
and all working dog training. Jason earned his Police Canine
Instructor's Certification and has trained canines in the areas of Narcotics
Detection, Explosives Detection, Police Patrol, Urban Disaster,
Scent Discrimination Tracking and Cadaver Detection. Jason
has instructed seminars for Police Canine Handlers at NASA,
the Pentagon Police and for many other professional, government and law
enforcement teams across the world. Jason is also a Professional Member
of the Association of Pet Dog trainers APDT# 76692 >>READ
MORE
704.728.9494 Email jpurgason@highlandcanine.com
Erin Purgason, BS - Owner
Erin
is the owner of Highland Canine Training, LLC and has been a sworn law enforcement
officer since 2002. She directs our obedience and behavior
modification training programs and also assists with the training
of dogs for police patrol, detection and search and rescue.
Erin also oversees our Assistance Dogs for Autism Program and assists with
training dogs and working with their new families. Erin has worked with
animals in clinical settings since 1995 and has owned and worked with dogs
all her life. Erin also handles a scent discrimination tracking bloodhound
for K-9 Search and Rescue. Erin is a member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 74668 and a certified American Kennel Club Canine
Good Citizen evaluator.
704.539.5604 Email epurgason@highlandcanine.com
Natalee Erquitt, B.S, M. Ed - Office Manager
Natalee
has over 20 years of experience teaching both in North Carolina and Georgia.
She first began working with students and children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders in 1990. Natalee has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M. Ed.
in Special Education with concentration in Behavior Disorders.
Natalee started as a client of Highland Canine Training, LLC two years ago working with her rescue puppy and conducting protection training at our facility in Harmony, NC. Natalee is our Office Manager and handles processing applications for Autism Assistance and Service Dog clients as well as for students of our School for Dog Trainers. Natalee ensures that our clients have a seamless experience in working with the trainers at our facility. Natalee is also a volunteer/foster with local area rescue organization.
704.539.5604 Email training@highlandcanine.com
Samantha Wells, Trainer
Samantha
"Sam" Wells came to us via our Behavior Modification Trainer Course
this past spring. Our staff was so impressed with her natural dog handling
skills that she was offered a position as a trainer. She first began her
dog handling experience working the puppies for a seeing eye dog assistance
program. Sam currently works with our Autism Assistance and Service Dog
Training Program along with assisting pet owners with basic and advanced
obedience.
Sam is originally from the southern part of North Carolina and has recently relocated to the Statesville area. While doing pro bono work through our Second Chance Program, Sam met Dolly, a large mixed breed that has become part of her family. Sam is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. APDT# 79464
704.539.5604 Email samwells@highlandcanine.com
Corey Archer, Instructor -
Trainer
Corey
has over 15 years of law enforcement experience in Alabama. While volunteering
at a local fire department in 1994, he began working with dogs doing search
and rescue work. His law enforcement experience and dog handling skills
combined in 1997 when he became a Police Canine Handler using a detection
dog. In 2006 he expanded his handling skills to patrol, narcotics, and trailing
as well as handling Iso, a German Shepherd he obtained from Highland Canine
Training. Each year he renews his K9 handler certification and has recently
joined our training team as an instructor and trainer. He instructs students
attending our Police Canine Course and other working dog courses.Corey
is a member of the Alabama Narcotics Association
and a former member of the National Police Canine Association. He has years
of experience and expertise in highway interdiction, narcotics investigations
and criminal investigations.
Corey also serves our clients in the Birmingham, Alabama area. He offers Private Lessons, Group Classes, In-Home Training, Search and Rescue and Scent Discrimination Trailing and Behavior Modification for dogs with problem behaviors such as shyness, biting and aggression. Corey has considerable experience in working with dog problems and brings that experience to our clients in Birmingham, Gardendale, Fultondale, Hoover, Jasper, Cullman and the surrounding areas. Corey is currently a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. APDT# 79463 >>READ MORE
205.443.2063 Email carcher@highlandcanine.com
Lisa Scobel, BA - Baton Rouge/
New Orleans, LA Dog Trainer
Lisa
came to us with a passion for working with dogs. She is a graduate of Highland
Canine Training, LLC School for Dog Trainers and is a Certified Dog Trainer.
Lisa has experience working with and rehabilitating a variety of breeds
with all types of behavioral issues. Lisa has worked with rescue groups
and shelters both in North Carolina and Louisiana and has helped to successfully
rehabilitate shelter dogs with severe behavioral issues. Lisa conducts Group
Classes, Private Lessons, In-Home Training, In-Kennel Training, Therapy
Dog Training, Service Dog Training and specializes in Behavior Modification.
Lisa proudly serves clients in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Hammond, Covington,
Mandeville, Metairie, Slidell, Kenner and the surrounding areas. She is
also a Trainer / Evaluator for the Therapy
Dog Club. Lisa is also a member of the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers. APDT# 79959 >>READ
MORE
Lisa also assists in our Assistance Dogs for Autism program and enjoys working with and training dogs for families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Lisa assists in training Austism Service Dogs and also delivering dogs to their families throughout the United States.
504.858.5284 Email lscobel@highlandcanine.com
Alison Pennington - Charlotte, NC / Lake Wylie, SC Dog Trainer
Alison
Pennington assists our clients in Charlotte, NC, Lake Wylie, South Carolina
and the surrounding areas. Alison is a graduate of the Highland Canine Training
School for Dog Trainers and is certified in on and off leash obedience and
canine behavior modification. Alison assists with training therapy dogs
as well as working with dogs in agility and rally-obedience. Alison enjoys
training dogs and working with clients to help resolve problems such as
jumping, pulling, biting, fighting, and aggression. Alison conducts private
lessons, In-home training and group classes to help dog owners learn how
to better understand and communicate with their dogs in order to develop
better relationships between them. She also continues to work with local
shelters and rescue groups to assist in rehabilitating problem dogs. Alison
is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 77479
and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
>>READ MORE
704.770.8205 Email apennington@highlandcanine.com
Kress Walters- Charlotte, NC Dog Trainer
Kress
Walters assists our clients in Greater Charlotte, NC, area. Kress is a graduate
of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog Trainers and is certified
in on and off leash obedience and specializes in canine behavior modification.
Kress' expertise lies in rehabilitating problematic dogs with issues such
as jumping, dominance, fear and phobias, biting, fighting, and aggression.
Kress conducts private lessons, In-Home training, In-Kennel Training and
group classes to work toward building better relationships between dogs
and owners. He also continues to work with local shelters and rescue groups
to assist in rehabilitating problem dogs. While attending our school Kress
met Trooper, a dog from our Second Chance Program, who he adopted into his
family. Kress is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
APDT# 80023 and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator >>READ
MORE
704.430.4983 Email kwalters@highlandcanine.com
Linda Taylor, BA, CPT - Winston-Salem,
NC Dog Trainer
Linda
proudly serves our clients in the Winston-Salem, Lewisville, Clemmons and
Tanglewood areas. Linda has been in the training field since 1998. Her instruction
teaches the importance of the client-dog relationship and the impact this
has on successful training. Linda will discuss your goals and design a training/obedience
program based on the individual needs of both the owner and the
dog. Linda’s focus is on pet obedience, behavior
modification and therapy dogs. Her skills in working with people as a personal
trainer also makes her an excellent resource to pet owners to learn their
important role in the development and training of their dog. Linda also
teaches group classes at our Harmony, NC location. Linda is a Certified
Therapy Dog Trainer / Instructor for the Therapy Dog Club and is also a
member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 71208 and a certified
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. >>READ
MORE
704.500.6810 Email ltaylor@highlandcanine.com
Ken Wright, - Hickory, NC Dog Trainer
Ken
conducts Private Lessons, In-Home Training and Group Dog
training classes for our clients in the Hickory - Denver-West Lake Norman
area of NC. Ken has extensive experience with animals and has worked with
dogs since 2005. Ken has shown dogs in conformation and won a number of
awards.
Ken is a 2009 graduate of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog Trainers and is certified in on and off leash obedience and canine behavior modification. Ken specializes in working with mastiff breeds and also works extensively with aggressive dogs and breeds that are deemed, "hard to train". He is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 80024 and a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for the American Kennel Club. >>READ MORE
704.309.6952 Email kwright@highlandcanine.com
Kim Paciotti - Mooresville, NC Dog Trainer
Kim
Paciotti assists our clients in the Mooresville and Lake Norman areas of
North Carolina. Kim is a graduate of the Highland Canine Training School
for Dog Trainers and is certified in on and off leash obedience and specializes
in canine behavior modification. She is also a graduate of Animal Behavior
College in Shelter and Rescue Dogs. Kim offers training with dogs in Agility,
K-9 Nosework and Rally-Obedience. She is also a Certified Dog Tricks Trainer.
Kim enjoys training dogs and working with clients to help resolve problems
such as jumping, pulling, biting, fighting, and aggression. Kim conducts
private lessons, In-home training and group classes to help dog owners learn
how to better understand and communicate with their dogs in order to develop
better relationships between them. She also continues to work with local
shelters and rescue groups to assist in rehabilitating problem dogs. Kim
is also a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 79484
and a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
>>READ MORE
704.877.7821 Email kpaciotti@highlandcanine.com
Jaime Stuart, MA - Lake Norman Dog Trainer
Jaime
Stuart assists owners and their dogs at our facility conducting private
lessons and group classes. Jaime also conducts In-home
dog training, behavior modification and evaluations for owners
in the Lake Norman, Troutman, Mooresville and Statesville, NC areas and
is a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Jaime
assists with the training of service dogs as well as working dogs in training
for police, detection, protection and search and rescue. Jaime conducts
lectures and training on human decomposition and other topics as part of
our school for dog trainers. Jaime also assists in teaching cadaver dog
and Search and Rescue Dog Seminars throughout the country
and abroad. She has worked for 5 years as an assistant at several local
animal hospitals. Jaime has also coordinated cadaver dog training for more
than 3 years through the Anthropology Department at The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, TN. Jaime is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
APDT# 74752 >>READ
MORE
704.498.6115 Email jstuart@highlandcanine.com
Megan Gerber - Atlanta Dog Trainer
Megan
Gerber assists our clients at our location serving the Metro Atlanta area
of Georgia including, Atlanta, Decatur, Roswell, Dunwoody, Dekalb County,
Fulton County and the surrounding areas. Megan helps clients in the greater
Metro Atlanta Area with their dog training needs. She was certified in Dog
Obedience and Behavior Modification by Highland Canine. Megan has lived
with dogs all of her life but didn’t realize how difficult it could
be to manage a dog until she adopted her first dog as an adult. She went
through several trainers before she found one that could finally help her
manage her dog. It was during this time that she discovered her passion
for dog training.
She conducts in home, private lessons and group classes for on and off leash
obedience and behavior modification lessons. In addition, she offers in-kennel
training in her own home on a limited basis. Megan enjoys working with all
breeds and sizes of dogs. Her goal is to help you create and maintain the
best possible relationship between you and your dog(s). She is also a current
member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 79594 and a certified
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
>>READ MORE
678.491.4555 Email mgerber@highlandcanine.com
Brittany Horbert - Tampa /
Clearwater, FL Dog Trainer
Brittany
Horbert assists our clients in the Tampa - Clearwater areas of Florida including
Tampa, Clearwater, Odessa, Holiday, Land O' Lakes, Temple Terrace, Lutz,
New Tampa, South Tampa and the Palm Harbor, FL areas. Brittany is a graduate
of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog Trainers and is certified
in on and off leash obedience and canine behavior modification. Brittany
assists dog owners by teaching private lessons, in-home training in-kennel
training and group classes. She offers on and off leash obedience training
as well as behavior modification to assist owners in resolving unwanted
behaviors such as jumping, biting, countersurfing, shyness and aggressive
behaviors. Brittany specializes in dogs with disabilities and currently
owns a deaf collie mix. She is also a current member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 76928 and a certified American Kennel Club Canine
Good Citizen evaluator. >>READ
MORE
813.300.4160 Email bhorbert@highlandcanine.com
Jon Lugo - San Juan, Puerto Rico Dog Trainer
John
Lugo offers training and education for our clients on the island of Puerto
Rico. John is a graduate of the Highland Canine Training School for Dog
Trainers and is certified basic and advanced, off-leash obedience and behavior
modification. John provides private lessons, in-home training and group
classes to teach dog owners how to better communicate with their dogs. In
addition to obedience training and behavior modification, John trains service
dogs for those with disabilities as well as training Protection and Search
and Rescue dogs. John is passionate about dogs and this clearly shows in
his work with clients and their dogs. One of his main objectives in Puerto
Rico is to not only educate the public but to also assist in rehabilitating
and rehoming some of the many stray dogs of the island. He is also a current
member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT# 80059 and a certified
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
>>READ MORE
(en espanol)
787.486.5672 Email jlugo@highlandcanine.com
Experience Matters
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Police Officer since 1995
Police Canine Handler since 1996
SWAT team member since 1996
K-9 and Swat Instructor
K-9 Supervisor/Trainer - Reidsville
Police Department, NC
Vice Narcotics Supervisor
Attended over 1,000 hours of criminal/narcotics interdiction training
Attended over 3,000 hours of Police Canine Training
Has Instructed various Seminars for Departments and Agencies, Worldwide
Former North Carolina Certified Law
Enforcement Instructor
K-9 Expert Witness, NC
Certified Police Canines through
United States Police Canine
Association, International Police Working Dog Association and Eastern States
Working Dog Association
Vice President and Trainer/Handler - FAS-TRAX K-9 Search and Rescue
Member, National Association for Search and Rescue
National Association for Search and Rescue SARTECH III
Certified American Red Cross, Pet First Aid Instructor
Member United States Police Canine Association
Member NC Narcotics Enforcement Association
Member Dogs Against Drugs / Dogs Against Crime
Member International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals
Certified Protection Sports Association Decoy
Founder American Police Dog Tactics Association
American Kennel Club - Canine Good Citizen Instructor/Evaluator
Member - Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Member - National Criminal Enforcement Association
Member - Carolina German Shepherd Working Dog Club
Member - Humane Society of Catawba County
Member - Humane Society of Iredell County
Certified Therapy Dog Instructor / Evaluator
Member - North Carolina Sheriff's Association
Trainer for the Great Dane Rescue of the Carolinas
Vice-President - Lake Norman Animal Shelter