Shaping dogs.

Empowering people.

Creating a legacy of trust in every leash.

New Location Coming September 2025

ABOUT

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.

MEET THE TEAM

SERVICES

At Grassroots K9, we offer customized dog training programs tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of both you and your canine companion. Recognizing that each dog and owner duo is unique, our personalized approach ensures effective and lasting results.

Key Features of Our Customized Programs:

Individualized Assessment: We begin by evaluating your dog's behavior, temperament, and current training level, as well as understanding your objectives and lifestyle. This comprehensive assessment allows us to design a program that aligns with your specific requirements.
Tailored Training Techniques: Based on the assessment, we employ a variety of training methods best suited to your dog's learning style and your goals. This may include positive reinforcement, clicker training, or other specialized techniques.
Flexible Scheduling: We offer various scheduling options to accommodate your availability, ensuring consistency and convenience throughout the training process.
Ongoing Support and Evaluation: Our commitment to your success extends beyond the initial training sessions. We provide continuous support, including follow-up sessions and progress evaluations, to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved and maintained.

By customizing our programs, we address the unique challenges and aspirations of each client, fostering a harmonious and rewarding relationship between you and your dog.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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At Grassroots K9, we specialize in every aspect of dog training, offering customized programs designed to meet the unique needs of each dog and their owner. Whether you're looking for foundational skills, behavioral adjustments, or advanced training, our expert trainers are equipped to guide you on the right path. With personalized attention and a deep commitment to results, we ensure that you and your dog receive the specialized training you need to succeed."

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

We offer our training services in flexible packages designed to suit your goals and your dog's needs. Each package allows you to customize the training by choosing any program from our offerings, such as board and train, day and train, private lessons, or group classes. You have full flexibility to select how you use each session.

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.

FREE EVALUATION

Start your Customized Training with a FREE EVALUATION

Our free 30-minute evaluations give you the opportunity to meet with one of our expert trainers and discuss your dog’s unique needs. During this session, we’ll assess your dog’s behavior, current training level, and any specific challenges you’re facing. This allows us to recommend the most suitable training plan tailored to both your dog’s temperament and your goals as an owner. Whether you're seeking basic obedience or behavior modification, our no-obligation evaluation helps you understand how we can support your dog's progress.

BOOK EVALUATION

BOARDING

Board and Train

Our Board & Train program provides an immersive training experience where your dog stays with us for focused, daily sessions tailored to their specific needs. Whether addressing behavioral issues or refining obedience, your dog will benefit from expert guidance in a structured environment. During their stay, they'll learn essential skills in a distraction-free setting, gaining confidence and discipline. When the program is complete, we ensure you're equipped with the tools to maintain and reinforce their progress at home, creating long-lasting results.

Immersive Learning

Tailored Programs

Faster Results

Structured Environment

Convenience for Owners

Comprehensive Handover

1-888-991-GRK9

Shaping dogs.

Empowering people.

Creating a legacy of trust in every leash.

New Location Coming September 2025

MEET ALISON & MICHAEL NEZBETH

SERVICES

PRIVATE TRAINING

GROUP CLASSES

BOARD & TRAINS

DAYCARE & TRAINS

PUPPY FOUNDATIONS

BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION

OBEDIENCE

WORKING DOGS

TRAINING PACKAGES

5 DAY PACKAGE

10 DAY PACKAGE

15 DAY PACKAGE

20 DAY PACKAGE

30 DAY PACKAGE

60 DAY PACKAGE

Board and Train

JOIN OUR GRK9 COMMUNITY