Highwater Dog Training: Trusted Dog Trainer in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda & North Port
Hi there, I'm MJ, owner of Highwater Dog Training. I know firsthand what it's like to struggle with a dog's behavior, which is exactly why I've built my career around helping other people through that same struggle. Whether you've just brought home a new puppy, want a dog with better manners, or you're working through something heavier like reactivity or resource guarding, I've got you. Stick around, because I want to walk you through how I approach dog training here in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, and North Port.
Get To Know Your Dog Trainer
I don't have one of those "I always knew I wanted to work with dogs" stories. If you'd asked me as a kid what I wanted to be, dog trainer wouldn't have been anywhere on the list.
My path into this career started completely by accident, right after high school, when I moved to coastal Georgia. That's where I met Max: an adorable, thoroughly filthy rescue who already knew a handful of impressive tricks despite having been returned to the shelter by three separate families. I brought him home on a total whim.
It didn't take long to understand exactly what I'd signed up for. Max was highly reactive around other dogs, barked for hours at a time, had regular accidents indoors, and pulled hard enough on leash that every walk felt like a workout. I loved him completely, but hiring a trainer wasn't in my budget, so I taught myself everything I could and worked through it piece by piece.
Somewhere in that process, I fell in love with dog training itself.
Watching Max go from a dog I couldn't comfortably walk around the block to one I could confidently take downtown changed something in me. I saw firsthand how much freedom real training gives both a dog and their owner, and I wanted to help other people find that same freedom.
About a year later, I made another impulsive trip back to that same shelter and came home with Gunner. His challenges looked nothing like Max's. He'd spent months in the shelter due to severe fear and anxiety, and helping him meant learning an entirely different approach.
By then I was in a better position financially, so I enrolled at Animal Behavior College to build real, structured knowledge. My goal was never just to teach obedience commands. I wanted to genuinely understand behavior, so I could help dogs become calm, confident members of their families, not just well-mannered on cue.
After earning my certification as an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer, I volunteered with shelters, apprenticed under experienced trainers, and eventually worked professionally for established training companies. Every family I helped along the way confirmed I'd found exactly what I was meant to do.
I kept building on that education for years through seminars, workshops, and hands-on experience, always chasing better ways to help dogs and the people who love them. Eventually, it was time to build something of my own.
While living in Denver, Colorado, I launched my first business. Over the next several years, I had the privilege of helping hundreds of families build genuinely better relationships with their dogs through practical, real-life training. As much as we loved Colorado, it never quite felt like home. My husband and I eventually packed up our dogs and moved back east, where I founded what families across Cape Cod knew for years as Cape Canine Academy.
Our next chapter brought us to Southwest Florida, and with that move came a new name: Highwater Dog Training. I'm excited to bring everything I've learned over the years to dog owners throughout Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, and the surrounding communities. My goal has stayed exactly the same since day one: help you genuinely enjoy life with your dog.
Whether you're dealing with leash pulling, reactivity, jumping, barking, puppy training, or you simply want a dog you can confidently bring out in public, I'm here for it. Every plan gets built around your specific dog, your goals, and your actual lifestyle, so what you learn holds up outside of a training session, not just during one.
If you're looking for a dog trainer in Port Charlotte who believes training should make everyday life easier, not more complicated, I'd love to help you and your dog get there.
What Training Services Do I Offer?
Every dog is different, which means every training plan should be too. Highwater Dog Training offers several program options for families throughout Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, and the surrounding Southwest Florida area. Whether you're raising a puppy, working through a specific behavior issue, or just want a dog who's genuinely pleasant to take out in public, we'll build something around your actual goals.
Private Dog Training Lessons. In-home, private lessons let you and your dog learn together in the exact environment where daily life actually happens. Because training starts at home, your dog gets to build new skills without the extra distraction of an unfamiliar location, which makes good habits stick faster from the start. This format works well for puppy training, leash pulling, jumping, barking, reactivity, basic obedience, and everyday manners. You'll walk away knowing exactly how to communicate with your dog so you can keep the progress going confidently between sessions.
Homeschool Training Program. Want consistent results without carving out hours of your own week? My Homeschool Program gives your dog a genuine head start. Three times a week, I come to your home and work one-on-one with your dog while you're handling work, kids, errands, or whatever else your week looks like. At the end of the week, we meet for a private lesson where I show you everything your dog has learned and how to keep building on it. Unlike a traditional board-and-train, your dog stays in their own home, keeps their normal routine, and still makes real, personalized progress.
Customized Training Programs. No two dogs, or families, are exactly alike. While I offer a few structured programs that cover the most common goals, every single one can be shaped around your dog's personality, your household's lifestyle, and your budget. New puppy, leash manners, reactivity, basic or advanced obedience, or something more complex: we'll build a plan around what you're actually working toward, so the results last well beyond our final session.
What Can I Help With?
Whatever brought you here, my goal stays the same: help you genuinely enjoy life with your dog.
Over the years, I've worked with everything from brand-new puppies to dogs facing serious behavior challenges. I have deep experience helping reactive dogs learn to stay calm and focused around people and other dogs, but honestly, I love working across the full range of training goals.
Some of what I regularly work on:
- Puppy training
- Anxiety and fearfulness
- Dog reactivity
- People reactivity
- Barking
- Leash pulling and loose-leash walking
- Potty training
- Basic and advanced obedience
- Off-leash reliability and recall
- Chasing cats or other animals
- Crate training
- Jumping on people
- Resource guarding
- Counter surfing
- Polite greetings
- Impulse control
- Confidence building
Not sure whether what you're dealing with falls into my wheelhouse? Just ask. If I'm not the right fit for your situation, I'll tell you honestly and point you somewhere that is.
Qualifications and Experience
This is probably the least exciting part of this page to most readers, since most people just want to know: can you actually help my dog? The answer's yes, but I also take continuing education seriously, so here's the honest rundown of how I stay sharp.
I'm an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer and a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. For several years, I also served as an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator and worked as a therapy dog instructor through K9 Caring Angels. I've attended seminars from respected trainers like Joel Silverman, Larry Krohn, and Jay Jack, and I make it a habit to keep learning, whether that's an online course or the latest book on dog behavior. I'm not exaggerating when I say this work is a genuine, ongoing part of my life, not just a job I clock into.
Southwest Florida Service Area
Highwater Dog Training provides in-home dog training throughout the following Southwest Florida communities:
- Port Charlotte
- North Port
- Punta Gorda
- Rotonda
- Englewood
- Fort Myers
Let's Get Started
Working together starts simply. Fill out the form below and tell me about your dog and what you're hoping to work on. I'll reach out as soon as I can, and from there, we'll set up a consultation to build a training plan around your specific goals and lifestyle.
