At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we provide real-world dog training designed to create reliable obedience and better communication between dogs and owners. From puppy training and obedience to aggression rehabilitation and advanced behavior modification, our programs are customized to help dogs succeed in everyday life.
Offering Dog Training in St. Augustine, FL and surrounding areas.
MEET ALISON & MICHAEL NEZBETH
FOUNDERS AND HEAD TRAINERS
Alison and Michael Nezbeth are the visionary co-founders of Grassroots K9, a company built on a deep passion for dogs, a commitment to education, and a shared dream that began in St. Augustine, Florida.
Their journey started at Flagler College, where they met, fell in love, and built the foundation of what would become both their family and their future in the dog training world. They got married and welcomed their first child in St. Augustine—marking the beginning of a life rooted in partnership, purpose, and vision.
Since those early days, Alison and Michael have grown Grassroots K9 into a nationally recognized training company with multiple locations across North America. Known for its results-driven programs and relationship-based approach, Grassroots K9 has helped thousands of owners and dogs build trust, structure, and lasting success.
Alison is an accomplished trainer with deep expertise in obedience, behavior modification, and protection work. She’s driven by a desire to empower dog owners and elevate the standards of training through clarity and consistency. Her leadership in both pet and working dog communities has earned her a reputation for excellence.
Michael brings a wealth of knowledge in working dog development and detection training. His hands-on, strategic approach is rooted in real-world application, helping dogs reach their highest potential while fostering communication between dog and handler.
Now, after years of expansion and impact, Alison and Michael are bringing Grassroots K9 back to the city where it all began—St. Augustine. This new location is more than just a business move; it's a homecoming—an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped their story. Their mission remains the same: to train with purpose, transform dogs, and enrich lives.
SERVICES
At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we offer customized dog training programs designed to meet the unique goals of both you and your dog. We understand that no two dogs are the same, which is why our training approach is tailored to each dog’s temperament, behavior, drive levels, and lifestyle. Whether you are looking for puppy training, obedience, behavior modification, aggression rehabilitation, or advanced working dog development, our programs are built to create real-world reliability and long-term success.
Our training begins with a comprehensive evaluation to better understand your dog’s current behaviors, personality, environmental triggers, and training history, while also learning about your personal goals and daily lifestyle. This allows our trainers to create a program specifically designed for your dog rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
At our St. Augustine location, we utilize a balanced and practical training philosophy that focuses on clear communication, engagement, accountability, and relationship building. Depending on your dog’s needs, training methods may include reward-based learning, structured obedience, leash communication, confidence building, impulse control exercises, and real-world exposure throughout St. Augustine and surrounding areas.
We proudly train dogs in a variety of environments to help them succeed beyond the training facility. From busy downtown St. Augustine distractions and outdoor public settings to structured obedience work around everyday life, our goal is to help dogs become calm, reliable, and responsive in real-world situations.
Our customized training programs also include ongoing support throughout your journey. We provide progress updates, follow-up guidance, owner education, and continued coaching to ensure both dogs and owners maintain success long after the initial training process is complete.
At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we are committed to helping owners build better communication, stronger relationships, and lasting results with their dogs through realistic, individualized training programs.
PRIVATE TRAINING
Our private lessons offer personalized, one-on-one training tailored to the specific needs of your dog and your goals as an owner. Whether you're addressing behavioral challenges, reinforcing obedience, or focusing on advanced skills, our trainers will work with you to develop a customized plan. These sessions are designed to provide you with hands-on guidance, ensuring that both you and your dog build a strong foundation for long-term success. We adapt to your dog’s pace and learning style, creating a positive and focused environment that drives real progress.
GROUP CLASSES
Our group classes provide a structured and social environment for dogs to learn essential skills while building confidence around distractions. Tailored for various skill levels, these sessions focus on obedience, behavior management, and real-world scenarios. Led by expert trainers, group classes encourage your dog to engage, stay focused, and perform reliably in diverse situations. You’ll also benefit from professional guidance and shared experiences with fellow dog owners, fostering both learning and community.
BOARD & TRAINS
Our Board & Train program offers a focused, immersive experience where your dog stays with us for customized, daily training. Whether addressing specific behavioral issues or reinforcing essential commands, this program accelerates your dog's progress in a structured, distraction-free environment. With personalized attention from our expert trainers, your dog will build skills and confidence. Once their stay is complete, we’ll guide you through maintaining their training, ensuring a smooth transition back home and continued success.
DAYCARE & TRAINS
Our Daycare & Train program offers a perfect balance of care and training throughout the day. While your dog enjoys socialization and playtime, they’ll also receive personalized, one-on-one training sessions with our expert trainers. This program is ideal for busy owners who want their dogs to develop obedience, improve behavior, or reinforce important commands while being cared for in a safe, structured environment. At the end of each day, your dog returns home having learned new skills and with plenty of mental and physical exercise.
At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we specialize in professional dog training programs designed to meet the unique needs of both dogs and their owners throughout St. Augustine and St. Johns County. From puppy training and foundational obedience to behavior modification, aggression rehabilitation, reactive dog training, and advanced working dog development, our customized programs are built to create reliable, real-world results.
Our experienced trainers work closely with each client to develop a training plan tailored to their dog’s personality, behavior, lifestyle, and goals. Whether you are looking for private lessons, board and train programs, group classes, or advanced obedience training, we focus on building better communication, engagement, and long-term success between dogs and their owners.
At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we believe training should go beyond the classroom. Our programs incorporate practical, real-world environments throughout St. Augustine, helping dogs learn how to remain calm, responsive, and reliable around everyday distractions such as busy streets, public parks, outdoor restaurants, and social settings.
With a balanced training approach, personalized attention, and a strong commitment to helping dogs succeed in everyday life, Grassroots K9 St. Augustine provides structured dog training programs for puppies, family dogs, behavior cases, and working dogs alike.
PUPPY FOUNDATIONS
Our Puppy Foundations program lays the groundwork for a well-behaved, confident dog. Focusing on essential skills like socialization, basic obedience, and impulse control, we create a positive learning environment tailored to each puppy’s needs. This comprehensive training approach ensures that as your puppy grows, they develop good habits and a strong bond with you, setting the stage for a lifetime of success and happiness.
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
Behavior modification in dog training refers to the process of changing unwanted behaviors through structured techniques, such as positive reinforcement, desensitization, and counterconditioning. The goal is to replace problematic behaviors, like aggression, fear, or anxiety, with more desirable ones by addressing the root cause of the behavior. This often involves identifying triggers, creating a controlled environment for the dog to learn in, and consistently rewarding positive behaviors. Behavior modification is a gradual process that requires patience and consistency, helping dogs develop better coping mechanisms and build confidence.
OBEDIENCE
Our Obedience program covers all levels, from basic commands to advanced skills, ensuring your dog is well-mannered and responsive in any situation. Whether you’re just starting with foundational training or refining higher-level obedience, our expert trainers tailor each session to your dog’s individual needs. We focus on building reliability, focus, and trust, creating a strong connection between you and your dog while ensuring they perform with confidence in real-world environments.
WORKING DOGS
Our Working Dog program is designed for dogs with high drive and specialized tasks, such as protection, detection, and sport work. We offer comprehensive training to help these dogs excel in their roles, focusing on harnessing their natural abilities and drive. Our expert trainers work one-on-one to develop the necessary skills for working dogs, from foundational training to advanced tasks. For those looking to deepen their experience, our Working Dog Club provides a supportive community, hands-on practice, and regular trials to ensure both dogs and handlers are always progressing
TRAINING PACKAGES
At Grassroots K9 St. Augustine, we offer flexible dog training packages designed to fit the unique goals of both you and your dog. Clients can customize their program using services such as board and train, day and train, private lessons, group classes, puppy training, obedience training, and behavior modification.
Our personalized approach allows each dog to receive training tailored to their behavior, learning style, and lifestyle needs while helping owners build reliable, real-world results throughout St. Augustine and St. Johns County.
5 DAY PACKAGE
Our 5-day package includes five personalized sessions that can be applied to any of our programs—whether it’s private training, Board & Train, group classes, Daycare & Train, or specialty training. This flexible option is ideal for a quick start or addressing specific challenges while giving you a taste of different training approaches.
10 DAY PACKAGE
The 10-day package offers ten sessions that can be used across all our programs, including private lessons, Board & Train, Daycare & Train, group classes, or working dog training. This package is great for more comprehensive training, providing a balanced approach to obedience, behavior modification, or specialized tasks.
15 DAY PACKAGE
With the 15-day package, you’ll receive fifteen sessions to use in any of our offerings—private lessons, Board & Train, group training, Daycare & Train, working dog club, or any specialty training. This option ensures steady progress, whether you're focusing on obedience, behavior, or advanced working dog skills.
20 DAY PACKAGE
Our 20-day package gives you twenty sessions, which can be applied to any program, from private training and group classes to Board & Train or working dog club. Ideal for long-term growth, this package ensures your dog gets the focused attention needed to achieve your goals, whether they’re behavioral or skill-based.
30 DAY PACKAGE
The 30-day package includes thirty sessions to be used across all our training programs—private lessons, Board & Train, Daycare & Train, group training, or specialty options. This is perfect for owners looking for consistent, in-depth training to achieve advanced obedience, behavior modification, or working dog development.
60 DAY PACKAGE
Our most comprehensive option, the 60-day package, includes sixty sessions, applicable to any of our programs, including private training, Board & Train, working dog club, group classes, or specialty training. This package offers a complete, all-encompassing training experience, ensuring long-term success for dogs at any stage.
Board and Train
Grassroots K9 St. Augustine’s Board and Train program provides an immersive, structured training experience designed to create reliable real-world results. During their stay, dogs receive focused daily training tailored to their individual needs, whether working on obedience, behavior modification, reactivity, aggression, confidence building, or impulse control.
Our board and train programs combine structure, clear communication, and real-world exposure throughout St. Augustine to help dogs build better engagement, reliability, and responsiveness in everyday environments. Once the program is complete, owners receive hands-on guidance and follow-up support to help maintain long-term success at home.
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Immersive Learning
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Tailored Programs
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Faster Results
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Structured Environment
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Convenience for Owners
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Comprehensive Handover