Our Trainers

The Protecting Paws trainers work hard to ensure that any dog affected by any type of trauma is treated with love, patience and understanding.

We work one-on-one with domestic violence survivors and their pets to teach them how trauma can affect behavior, how to manage their environment and work with them to help them heal alongside their human.

Our trainers also work alongside animal shelters and rescues through our Project Pup Program. This program is designed to work with dogs that are potential behavioral euthanasia cases, or have behavior challenges that are preventing them from being adopted. We work with these cases to get them to the adoption floor and help them find their happily ever after family. We also work with volunteers and staff on consistency in handling, setting up mental enrichment spaces and basic positive training methods as well as provide an online resource center to the team and foster homes.

Andria Gibbon, CCTBS, CACTP

Andria, the Founder of Protecting Paws For Life, is also a Certified Advanced Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist. Andria has been working in the rescue and shelter world since 1998 and has been the owner of her own dog training business, With a Heart Canine Care, since 2022 specializing in rescue dogs and trauma-informed behavior.

Working with positive reinforcement only and a holistic approach, Andria truly enjoys watching a dog transform through a training program that stems from love, patience and understanding.

Krissy Kay, KPA-CTP

Krissy is a behavior-focused dog trainer, KPA Certified Training Partner, and founder of The Meditating Mutt, LLC. With a background in psychology, ABA, and shelter behavior work, she specializes in helping dogs with reactivity, fear, anxiety, and aggression tendencies. Her holistic approach blends science-based training, mindfulness, and compassion, teaching pet parents, shelter staff, and volunteers how to understand and communicate with dogs in meaningful ways.

Based in Tampa Bay, Krissy focuses on creating calmer, more connected relationships with dogs through ethical, humane training.

Rachel Traubert

Rachel Traubert is a certified professional dog trainer whose work is rooted in science-based, humane training and informed by experience in shelters, rescues, behavioral research, and shelter education. She specializes in supporting reactive and emotionally sensitive dogs while helping their people develop clearer communication and stronger, more sustainable relationships.

Rachel is currently a trainer at St. Pete Dog Works and leads community education and enrichment initiatives through The Imperfect Paw LLC. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, she is committed to education, community support, and improving wellbeing on both ends of the leash.

Your Name Here

Are you a certified dog trainer practicing positive reinforcement methods only? Do you have experience in trauma-informed behavior, domestic violence cases or in the rescue/shelter world? If yes, we would love to have you join our team!

Our trainers are volunteers and we are looking for experienced trainers to join us to support all 8 counties we currently work in. If you live in Citrus, Hillsborough, Marion, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, or Sarasota County, and are interested in volunteering your time with us, please email andria@protectingpawsforlife.org to find out more.

Rescues or Shelters Interested in the Project Pup Program

Do you work for a rescue or shelter and would like training assistance?

Reach out to us if you are looking for any of these services:

In person team training
Kennel set up to minimize reactivity and kennel stress
In person or virtual dog training sessions (depending on location)
Access to our online resource center