About
With almost two decades of training using science-based, positive methods, our trainers at DOGS & KAT have the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your dog training goals!
Our Philosophy
At DOGS & KAT we train using the theory that dogs (and people, too!) repeat behaviors that are rewarding to them.
Additionally, dogs will cease to engage in behaviors that don’t pay off in some way. Therefore, we use research-based, positive training methods to reward your dog for appropriate behaviors as well as teaching them alternative behaviors to the inappropriate ones. It is through this type of training that you and your dog will be able to form a bond of trust. Your relationship with your dog will last a lifetime so why not make training fun? Our force free methods allow you and your dog to learn in a safe, happy manner. Pups respond to positive reinforcement just like people do!
Why Train With DOGS & KAT?
Dogs thrive on having structure and rules in their lives. If you don’t give them rules, they tend to make their own. Our training provides this much needed structure.
It can help overly exuberant dogs learn to be calmer and give shy or anxious dogs greater confidence.
While there are many ways to train a dog, using positive methods not only makes the most sense but is proven to be scientifically effective as well as fun.
Our Team
Kat Martin Ray, CPDT-KA, BA Psychology (hons)
The first and most important thing you should know about Kat is that she loves dogs! This love of dogs naturally led to her career working with them. Kat has been training dogs for over 20 years. She is a certified professional dog trainer and has a degree in psychology with a focus on behavior modification and animal learning. She also completed an internship in canine behavior and training after college. Kat has over 900 hours of education in animal behavior and she continually strives to increase her knowledge through workshops, seminars, and professional continuing education programs. Kat is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed - through the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild, a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Doggone Safe member, and an AKC certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Kat has also served in a volunteer leadership capacity with Animal Rescue Corps.
Kat specializes in helping clients who have dogs with behavioral issues of all kinds – especially aggression, (over)reactivity, and anxiety. Dogs and Kat is currently the only training facility in Nashville offering group classes for (over)reactive/excitable dogs. Kat uses only force free, science-based, dog friendly methods to help dogs and their people better understand one another and to help improve and change their dogs' behavior – and lives – for the better. One of her greatest joys is helping her human clients to learn what their dogs are communicating to them. Knowing what our dogs are “saying” via their body language creates more of a conversation between us and our dogs which serves to strengthen our connection and builds greater trust.
Kat shares her life with her husband, Dave; her two young sons, Gabriel and Conor; and her two dogs - Radnor, an Australian Shepherd, and Shumai, a long-haired Chihuahua/Papillon Mix who was rescued by Animal Rescue Corps in their very first rescue.
Tripp Ethridge, CPDT-KA
Although born and raised in Mississippi, Tripp has considered Nashville his home since 1998. After spending many years involved in the music scene, he realized a passion and curiosity about dog behavior that has always intrigued him.
Tripp started studying dog behavior in 2010 while working in a dog daycare/boarding facility. He then came to intern with Kat and has been teaching a variety of classes and private sessions since 2015. Tripp and his wife Amy have two silly pups at home, “Wynn” is a 7-1/2 year old white collie mix and “Arlo” is a 3 year old short-haired miniature dachshund mix.