ABOUT OUR TRAINERS

Meet the Off Leash K9 Team

bryan & joanne swihart - owner

Bryan & JoAnne Swihart are the owners and head trainers for the Off Leash K9 Training program in Georgia - offering locations in Columbus, Peachtree City, Augusta, Smyrna, Duluth, Athens, and Macon. We moved to the Atlanta area to settle near family after opening successful locations in Charlottesville, Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bryan is an Army veteran with multiple deployments; while deployed he was impressed with military working dog’s impeccable obedience training and high level of confidence enabling them to be the most well trained canines in the world. Bryan has a lifelong love of dogs starting with his first dog “Squeak,” who used to sleep under his crib every night. He has owned and trained a wide assortment of dogs ranging from Chihuahuas to Pitbulls; including his current comrades, a Rejected Labradoodle, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix, and the newest addition a German Shepherd Hound Mix. Bryan has a special love for “Bully Breeds” and wants to empower people to showcase what wonderfully loyal and loving dogs they really are. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he can now focus where his passion is. With a degree in business and finance giving him a solid small business foundation, with the precision and passion needed to transform your dog from unruly to obedient, frightened to confident, timid to content.

JoAnne’s passion is transforming fearful and anxious pups into stable confident members of the family! This passion began 5 years ago while fostering an extremely fearful young pup, who soon became a beloved member of the family. Obedience training helped transform the dog from a dog who was terrified of people to a super snuggle bug and constant companion for their 4 year old son. JoAnne has background in business and biological research and left her corporate career to join her husband in running Off Leash K9 Training, Georgia full time 3 years ago.

Bryan and JoAnne are thrilled to bring Off Leash K9 Training to Georgia, specializing in the same obedience training techniques used by the military and law enforcement. This style of training encompasses his core beliefs and philosophy of consistency, fairness, and crystal clear communication that will turn your dog into a well behaved member of society in any situation.

Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)

Columbus Dog Trainers
Columbus Dog Trainers

Our amazing Trainers


Ally Gray is from Smiths Station AL and developed a passion for animals from the start. Her family had German Shepherds and when she was 10 years old she got her own dog, a Red Heeler. She is also no stranger to horses and barrel raced through high school. Ally earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Animal Sciences from Auburn University. During college she worked for a dog/cat rescue, a veterinary clinic, and volunteered for Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences program to aid in puppy training for drug/bomb dogs. Through her volunteer experience she gained a passion for training dogs and knew that would be her career focus. She has three dogs of her own, a Lab, a Red Heeler, and a Prynese mix, and they are the center of her world. She loves that she gets to go to work every day to positively impact the lives of pets and their owners.


Claire was born in Dothan, Alabama and raised in Colquitt, Georgia. From an early age, she had a love for dogs and other animals. After high school, Claire moved to Columbus and attended Columbus State University. She graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. While in college, Claire started a career in retail. After over 14 years, she decided to pursue her passion for dogs and became a trainer with Off Leash. At home, Claire has four personal dogs: Tilley, Charlie, Georgie and Jack. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing and yard work.

Matt Gilbert isn't just a dog trainer – he's an animal enthusiast with a heart for furry friends and feathered marvels. Certified as a Biology teacher in the State of Georgia, his passion for animal communication stems from years immersed in the intricacies of biology and evolution! This scientific foundation flows into his dog training philosophy, where he believes each dog holds a unique pawprint of potential. Whether navigating playful pups through basic commands or helping anxious furballs overcome challenges, Matt offers patient guidance and effective tools, empowering both dog and owner. When he's not out sniffing adventures with his loyal Doberman companion, Dax, you'll likely find him surrounded by his feathered family – a mischievous green-cheeked conure named Kiwi and a lively flock of seven chickens.


do you have questions for us?


Or Call us for a free consultation today!

About Off Leash K9 Training

Dog trainers who are recognized around the world!

Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training.  Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States. 

Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world.  He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!

You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work!  Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!

5% Discount
No Prize:-(
15% Discount!
Almost!
10% Discount
SORRY!
20% Discount!!!
No Luck Today
Spin for a chance to win a discount
Enter your email address and spin the wheel. This is your chance to have an amazingly trained pup at a discount!
Our Rules:
  • Only One Spin Per Dog Parent!
  • Contact Us & Get Training! 
  • That is it!