Tampa, Florida
Welfare-Driven Certified Professional Dog Trainer, specializing in behavior modification. Dedicated to helping you develop the partnership with your dog you have always dreamed of!
Welcome
At Wild Spirit Canine Training, we know the best results come from teamwork. Training isn’t just about teaching cues; it’s about building a strong, lasting relationship based on trust and understanding.
We specialize in working with dogs who have unique sensitivities, histories, and behavioral challenges. Our passion lies in helping humans learn to “speak dog,” so you can better understand your companion and guide them with confidence and compassion.
Our mission is simple: to help you and your dog grow as a team, celebrate progress, and discover the joy of working together.
Because when you and your dog understand each other, everything becomes possible.
Meet Christy – Founder & Lead Trainer at Wild Spirit Canine Training
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Christy’s journey to dog training started on the ice—literally. She spent years traveling the world as a professional figure skater before accepting a contract at Busch Gardens in Florida. It was there that Christy’s lifelong passion for animals met opportunity. Working full-time while studying animal behavior, she began preparing for her professional dog training certification—and never looked back.
In between skating contracts, Christy dedicated her time to animal rescue and worked hands-on in a Florida animal shelter. There, she gained experience with dogs facing fear, anxiety, aggression, and other behavior sensitivities. It confirmed what she always knew: she was put on this earth to help dogs and their people build lives of trust, understanding, and unbreakable bonds.
Now with over 10 years of experience training dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, Christy holds multiple certifications and is committed to ongoing education in the field of behavior and training. Her philosophy is rooted in empathy, strengthening bonds, and the belief that every dog-human team deserves to have the information needed to thrive together.
Christy is especially passionate about keeping dogs in their homes—knowing that most shelter surrenders happen due to behavior issues that can be addressed with the right support. That belief led her to found Jolly Tails Animal Sanctuary, a registered nonprofit rescue dedicated to helping neglected and abandoned dogs (specializing in northern breeds and wolf dogs) and giving back to the community.
At home, Christy is surrounded by her rescue dogs:
Lumen (16, Husky) 2009-2025
Keela (15, Lab mix) 2011-2025
Zayn (10, Husky mix)
Teegan (8, malamute mix)
Jax (4, Husky mix)
Bindi (1, Husky)
Silas (1, Husky/Shepherd mix)
Each one has taught her something unique—and continues to inspire her work every day.