What We Believe in Our Dog Training

We help you reach your goals... 

Congrats to Rylee and Rayven - Trick Training Title!

We can help you reach your biggest goals! 

We train our own dogs too! 

My dog Pongo is a trained search and rescue dog.

About the President of K-9 Capers:  

Donna Rogers is a lifelong animal lover. She started her life in animal rescue and therapy dog work over 30 years ago when she moved to the Charlotte, NC area to attend Queens College and to begin her accounting career in the NBA and Nascar television production. 

Donna has shown horses and dogs as well as starting many groups such as a dog training clubs for youth and community service teen court at-risk youth. She was the President of a local Humane Society for nearly 5 years. She is also the founder of the non-profit Katie’s Kids d/b/a/ K-9 Capers which now offers family pet dog training as well as service dog training for mobility, diabetic and epileptic alert, and PTSD assistance dogs.

Donna was a regular contributor to a pet column in a local newspaper on pet behavior and served on an appointed County Commissioners to request $15,000 humane education and bite prevention materials for all the libraries and schools, which was granted. The committee also created a successful no-cost spay-neuter program for families on welfare and created a proclamation of May as the Humane Education month in her county. She also contributed to the magazine The Sheltie Pacesetter and has written a children's book Spot’s, The Therapy Dog. 

Donna and her husband Mark have adopted children and currently have two dogs and a rescued wild mustang from Wyoming. Pongo is a certified cadaver dog with the North Carolina Police Dog Association and Elle is a certified Therapy Dog with Therapy Dog International.

Donna enjoys backpacking and day trips with her family and dogs, cooking, gardening painting, and writing. She enjoys volunteering at her church whenever possible. 

Credentials and professional affiliation: 

Graduate of Queens University of Charlotte with a BA in Business Administration Professional Dog Trainer in September 2009 through the Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA). Therapy Dog Evaluator for Therapy Dog International since 2009 American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator #39503. Certified Presenter for the Dogs and Storks national program since 2008. TAG Teach Certified level 1 ( 2005). Animal Protection and Preservation Advisory Committee (2006-present). Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) since 2005 Member of the Carolina’s Dog Training Forum since 2005 Member, American Humane Society (for children and animals) Member ASPCA A member EAGALA nonprofit organization in which horses are used in the treatment of mental health Certified in American Red Cross First-Aid and CPR Former Certified Pet First-Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross Member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators - since 2009 Instructor for the Action Dog Association since 2019 (fun search and scent work) Treasurer, Central Piedmont Search and Rescue Member of the IAADP International Association of Assistance Dog Partners 

Andrea Horton - Dog Trainer and AKC Evaluator 

Andrea started her career as a Kindergarten teacher and EMT-Paramedic after graduating from East Carolina University with her Bachelors's and Master's degrees. 

Her passion for dog training and therapy dog work began when she visited her mom in the nursing home with her own dog. The positive impact her dog made that day on her mother and other residents sparked her passion to become a certified dog trainer. 

Andrea graduated from the Animal Behavior College in 2018 and interned at K-9 Capers where she completed her 1 ½ years of classwork and fieldwork, plus 100 volunteer hours in shelters. 

Andrea has also become a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club and has also completed another certification with the Animal Behavior College as a certified Groomer. Other certifications include fear-free grooming and massage from the American Kennel Club. 

Andrea is married to a wonderful guy and has two great kids. Andrea has always had dogs. Currently, she has two dogs that she has brought to the Therapy dog level with Therapy Dog International and American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen. 

Andrea is a trainer at K-9 Capers and offers many group classes and works with service dogs, DaySchool, private lessons, and offers some grooming for our own clients. 

Andrea pursues the fear-free methodologies and continues to add certifications. 

Leann Lambert -Day School Instructor

Leann Lambert is a Day School Instructor at K-9 Capers. Leann has a great background of knowledge from working at a doggie daycare and as a volunteer at a local humane society and animal shelter where she specialized in socializing puppies, walking older dogs, and working with cats. She enjoys photography and was the photographer at the shelter for several years. 

Leann’s “can-do” experience not only comes from her stellar record as a top graduate in her high school, but with her military background in the Air Force and Air National Guard, and Desert Combat Communications. 

In 2009 Leann had a stroke, leaving her in a wheelchair. With the help of her husband and son, she is now free from the wheelchair and cane and works at K-9 Capers as an instructor helping reinforce good manners and positive play-groups 

Leann has trained with the Central Piedmont Search and Rescue with her dog, Blue as a live-find SAR dog and a Certified Therapy Dog with Therapy Dog International. She trained her current dog, Lily to become a Certified Service Dog with both the Federal and State level credentials. Lily has been awarded the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen, American Kennel Club Advanced, and the highest honor of AKC-Urban. Lily also has her novice in Trick training through the American Kennel Club. 

Leann continues to volunteer with our service dog group as well as with the Therapy Dog International testing. She also is involved with fundraising and marathons to help the cause to cure cancer. 

Leann is also a board member of Katies Kids/ d/b/a K-9 Capers since 2015.