The Full Story
ABOUT
Cassidy's journey into the world of animal training began at a young age, learning from one of the best, Joan Embery. As a youth animal trainer and handler, Cassidy worked with warthogs, lemurs, mules, horses, and more. She conducted live ambassador shows focused on education and conservation, not performance, and even appeared on television alongside Joan, handling animals like pythons with calm professionalism and poise. These early experiences gave her not just skill, but a deep respect for interspecies communication.
She went on to earn a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, then worked as a veterinary technician in Salt Lake City and at the University of Auburn. Her career took a major leap forward when she was selected to train dolphins and sea lions for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. Cassidy served on both the MK 6 (combat diver interdiction) and MK 5 (object recovery) teams, where precision, teamwork, and advanced conditioning techniques were critical. She later carried those skills into the dog world, earning both her NEPOPO® Silver and Gold certifications from Belgium's Finest K9, and has since dedicated herself to helping people better understand and bond with their dogs.
Cassidy now lives with her husband and two dogs, Koda the black Lab and Uzi the Belgian Tervuren, on the Georgia-Alabama line. As the founder and lead trainer of Better Buds K9, she brings her full expertise to each dog she works with, blending elite animal behavior knowledge with a deep passion for helping families. Whether she's working with puppies, rescues, or complex behavioral cases, Cassidy's mission remains the same: to help people build lasting, meaningful bonds with their dogs through clarity, consistency, and compassion.
REHAB & RECOVERY
Cassidy has hands-on experience as a veterinary technician in two animal hospitals and provides compassionate, knowledgeable care for dogs recovering from surgery or medical treatment. We work directly with your veterinarian to ensure proper medication management, mobility support, and healing. We also offer light physical therapy, stretching, and wellness-focused programs for weight loss and overall recovery. A calm, safe place for dogs to heal and regain strength.
DOG TRAINING
At Better Buds K9, we offer personalized training programs designed to build lasting communication and trust between you and your dog. Whether you're looking for a full board-and-train experience, private in-home sessions, or group workshops at our training compound, Cassidy tailors every program to meet the needs of both pet and owner. From basic manners to reactivity and advanced obedience, we use balanced, behavior-based methods that actually work, for dogs of all ages, temperaments, and backgrounds.
KENNEL SERVICES
We offer limited, high-quality boarding for dogs who need a safe, enriching home-away-from-home. Whether you're heading out of town for a weekend or a long trip, your dog will stay in a peaceful, structured environment with daily enrichment, social time (if appropriate), and expert supervision. Because we’re a small-scale, trainer-led program, we can accommodate special needs, elderly dogs, and dogs who may not do well in a traditional kennel setting.
BOARD & TRAIN
Foundational Obedience at Home
Training starts in a home-like environment, where dogs learn the essentials, including sit, down, place, leash walking, and impulse control. We focus on building clarity and consistency in a calm, distraction-free space. This gives your dog the tools to make good choices before we ever step out into the real world.
Public Proofing & Real-Life Skills
Once your dog has a solid foundation, we take training into real-world environments like parks, stores, and busy streets. Here, we reinforce recall, off-leash obedience, neutral greetings, and calm behavior under pressure. Our goal is to make obedience reliable anywhere, not just in the training room.
Training That Fits Your Dog
Every dog is different, and so is our approach. We primarily use the NEPOPO® system for clear, balanced training, but also offer fully force-free programs using the same positive reinforcement techniques Cassidy used with sea lions. Whether your dog needs structure, sensitivity, or both, we’ll meet them where they are and build from there.
