Owner
Stephanie Bennett, CPDT-KSA, is one of Houston’s most respected dog trainers and behavior experts, and one of the city’s most innovative entrepreneurs in dog education and enrichment. Her work centers on creating balance between a dog’s mind, body, and spirit.
Known as Houston’s original puppy expert, Stephanie created the city’s first complete puppy training program in 2008, developed under the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Ian Dunbar. She also created Houston’s first group class for leash-reactive dogs. She has made it her mission to educate new puppy owners and local veterinarians about the importance of early training and socialization.
Stephanie is passionate about learning and has had the privilege of working and studying with some of the world’s best dog trainers. She believes in paying it forward and frequently mentors new trainers. She has taught her positive puppy training methods and fun and games group class curriculum to dozens of trainers, and has guided many of them toward certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Earlier in her career, Stephanie served as Director of Training at LA Dogworks in Los Angeles and co-founded Peace Love and Dogs in Houston. She established and trained dogs for a nonprofit therapy group, and spent many years sharing the love of dogs with schools, special needs organizations, rehab programs, and more.
In 2017, Stephanie set out to build something fresh: a canine training and enrichment center that she considers the next stage in the evolution of dog education. That vision became Believe in Dog. Two years later, she created the Believe in Dog Scholarship Fund to help rescue dogs in need, and she continues to volunteer with and donate training services to rescue organizations across Houston.
With over 20 years of experience, Stephanie has expertise not only in dog and puppy training but in solving a wide range of behavior problems, especially fear and leash reactivity. She has helped thousands of owners build beautiful relationships with their dogs. Her goal is to help every client reach the Holy Grail of dog training: becoming the center of their dog’s universe.
Stephanie regularly shares her expertise on television and in print. She became the resident “Puppy Whisperer” on Houston Life after training KPRC’s station dog, Tex, and she writes frequently for Houston Pet Talk Magazine. She has also trained dogs for The Alley Theater, the Astros, the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, and Texas Children’s Hospital.
“Stephanie carefully observes and gives positive reinforcement to both pooch and pet parent. She’s patient and, most important, realistic. Her guidance is designed for what is best for the animal, understanding that all dogs are different. From group classes to one-on-one training, Bennett is as good as it gets, no matter what the breed or temperment.”
