Meet our Dog Behavior Experts

Our Mission

At Beyond the Dog, we apply science-based training methods, including reward-based training and behavior modification, to support your dog’s behavioral wellness.

Our training plans are developed by Dr. Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a PhD in Behavioral Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. With over 20 years of experience, she has treated complex behavioral issues while teaching high-level obedience skills and good manners, and supporting your dog’s overall behavioral wellness.

Our Story

Discover Beyond the Dog's Story

Sean and I are incredibly proud of Beyond the Dog’s expansion since we began in 2005. After 20 years of operation and establishing offices in Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Sarasota, it was time to expand our reach nationwide with our Behavior Wellness Retreats. From the very beginning, our focus has been to provide science-based training that supports long-term behavioral wellness. It guides our training methodology, where we provide personalized training plans that teach high-level obedience and good manners, and use behavior modification to address the underlying causes of problem behaviors to ensure long term success from our training.

Our training methods are founded from our expertise and over 20 years of hands on experience. I earned a PhD as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist in 2017 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, specializing in Animal behavior. Our co-founder Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, who extensive experience has helped in developing the methods we use today. By combining our extensive knowledge, practical experience, and credentials, we have fulfilled our dream of becoming trusted leaders in our field. We hold our partners, managers, and trainers to the same high standards, and together we’ve built a business and brand we take great pride in.

Over time, our training programs have evolved, and Sean and I personally support our Wellness Retreats, and our expert team through our Board and Train Wellness Retreat and our Virtual Training Programs. These services allow us to bring our full expertise directly to you, whether we are welcoming your dog into our home for an immersive, wellness-driven board and train program or designing a personalized virtual training plan. We provide return and follow-up lessons for all the amazing dogs we meet, and we are deeply grateful for the trust and support we have received from families across the United States. We love to bring positive, lasting change to each dog we train and their families.

Who We Are

Introducing Our Dog Training Team.

Our team is driven by a love of animals and dedicate their careers to improving their lives by supporting their behavioral wellness. After joining our team, our staff receive ongoing training and mentoring under Dr. Echterling-Savage, to provide the best training experience that utilizes the latest proven scientific research.

Our trainers have extensive knowledge of science-based training methods, including behavior modification, which they apply to each personalized program. Every training session is adapted to your dog’s unique needs, keeping it engaging, practical, and centered on their overall well-being.

Meet our Dog Behavior Experts

At Beyond the Dog, we apply science-based training methods, including reward-based training and behavior modification, to support your dog’s behavioral wellness.

Discover Beyond the Dog's Story

Introducing Our Dog Training Team.

Alexis Mitchell

Chief Operating Officer

Kristyn Savage

CEO, Founder, Owner

Sean Savage

CFO, Founder, Owner

Allison Conrad

Scheduling Manager