We’re passionate about helping you and your dog grow and learn together .
Meet Eric
Eric is a dedicated and experienced dog trainer who has been in the industry for nearly six years. His primary focus is helping owners cultivate strong, meaningful relationships with their dogs while creating clear communication, trust, and confidence on both ends of the leash.
Having grown up surrounded by dogs, Eric developed a deep understanding of canine behavior and a natural ability to build strong bonds with them. His journey into dog training began through fostering and rehoming abandoned puppies, which ultimately paved the way for his transition into professional dog training.
To further his expertise, Eric attended Highland Canine Training, LLC in North Carolina, where he graduated from the Master Dog Trainer Program in December 2021, gaining extensive hands-on experience and advanced training knowledge.
Throughout his career, Eric has worked with dogs of all breeds, ages, temperaments, and behavioral challenges. From puppies needing foundational obedience to dogs struggling with fear, reactivity, aggression, anxiety, and confidence issues, he is passionate about helping both dogs and owners better understand one another and work through challenges as a team.
With an unwavering passion for dogs and a heartfelt desire to help others, Eric has found his calling in the dog training industry. His ultimate goal is to help owners and their dogs build unbreakable, lifelong bonds.
Meet Maranda
Rizzy is a passionate and dedicated dog trainer whose journey into the industry began through her deep love for dogs and her desire to better understand behavior and communication. Originally from Arkansas, she discovered her passion for training after working with her first dog, Maverick (photographed), which ultimately led her to pursue a professional career in the field.
In 2021, Rizzy traveled to North Carolina to attend Highland Canine Training, LLC, where she completed the Master Dog Trainer Program. During her time there, she expanded her knowledge of obedience, behavior modification, and relationship-based training while building lifelong friendships and connections within the industry.
Before becoming a professional trainer, Rizzy earned bachelor’s degrees in Rehabilitation Science and Psychology. Her educational background provided a strong understanding of behavior, learning, and motivation, which continues to influence her training approach today. She has since worked with dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and behavioral challenges, with a special passion for behavior modification and helping owners better understand their dogs.
Rizzy believes that successful training goes beyond obedience and focuses on creating a healthy, lasting relationship between dogs and their owners. She is especially passionate about helping dogs channel their energy into productive outlets through engagement and play-based training while also empowering owners through education and transparency throughout the process.
With a genuine love for both dogs and people, Rizzy is committed to helping owners build confident, enjoyable, and lifelong bonds with their companions.
Meet Emily
If you’ve had a lesson with us over the past few years, there’s a good chance you’ve met Emily—or spotted her behind the camera capturing our dogs and clients in action!
Emily has been part of the Coastal Elite K9 Training team for several years, originally joining as our social media manager. Over time, her passion for dogs and deep understanding of our programs led her to take on a larger role behind the scenes, helping ensure everything runs smoothly for both our team and clients.
A Winston-Salem native who grew up surrounded by family dogs, Emily brings both heart and organization to Coastal Elite. She manages our social media presence, client communication, and program setup—assisting with scheduling lessons, board & train programs, and helping clients feel prepared and supported from the very beginning.
In addition to her backend role, Emily also steps in to assist with puppy training and foundational work when needed, helping owners start their dogs off on the right path with structure, engagement, and confidence.
While much of her work now happens behind the scenes, Emily’s dedication to our dogs, clients, and overall experience continues to be an invaluable part of Coastal Elite K9 Training.