ABOUT OUR TRAINERS
Meet The Off Leash K9 Team
Tom McGovern - Owner
Tom McGovern is a 12 year Marine Corps combat veteran. After years of working friends and families dogs while active duty he decided to leave the Marine Corps to pursue his passion and begin a career in dog training. Tom opened his first Off Leash K9 Training franchise in Riverside County in 2014. In just 6 years he has gone from being the sole trainer, training a few dogs a month, to having over 10 trainers training 25-30 dogs a month and covering majority of Southern California!
Tom has worked with Pro athletes such as UFCs Mike Bisping, NHLs Ryan Kessler & Matt Nieto, NFLs Donnie Edwards. Hollywood stars from Miles Teller, Sophia Bush, Nina Dobrev, Sara Hyland and more! Tom prides himself in offering amazing customer service which he now calls the, “Off Leash K9 experience”, along with training your dog to be one of best trained dogs in your neighborhood!
NATHALIE – Head Trainer (Menifee)
Nathalie is the Head Trainer and is responsible for overseeing training quality, standards, and consistency across all programs, with over 15 years of professional dog training experience. She holds many professional dog training certifications. She specializes in behavior modification, obedience, and real-world reliability, working extensively with reactive, fearful, high-drive, and working breeds. Nathalie holds multiple advanced certifications and continues her education through ongoing formal coursework and seminars to ensure training methods remain ethical, effective, and behavior-focused.
In addition to training and mentoring new trainers, she personally handles client concerns and complex cases to ensure every dog and owner receives the highest level of support. Nathalie also runs her own rescue efforts and was recognized by the Mayor for her contributions to the community through her work with dogs.
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MANNY – Senior Trainer (Hemet)
Manny serves as a Client Program Advisor and active dog trainer, helping clients understand training programs, availability, and next steps while also working hands-on with dogs and their owners. Born and raised in San Diego, his journey into dog training began in 2015 while serving in the military with his own reactive Husky, Nala, which led him to deeply educate himself in dog behavior and communication.
That firsthand experience shaped his career, and Manny has now been professionally training dogs for over six years, helping owners build clearer communication, stronger bonds, and confidence in real-world settings. Manny is known for his approachable style and real-world understanding of behavior challenges, guiding clients with clarity, honesty, and practical support from the first call through training.
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DANIELLE – Trainer (San Jacinto)
Danielle has been part of the team for over four years, bringing a patient, compassionate, and family-focused approach to training. As a mother of three and a dog owner, she understands the challenges busy families face and the importance of structure, safety, and consistency—especially in homes with young children. Danielle is passionate about helping scared or misunderstood dogs gain confidence and trust while guiding owners toward clarity and balance.
Her goal is to strengthen the bond between dogs and their families so everyone can enjoy a calmer, more connected life together.
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BLAIR – Trainer (San Diego)
Blair has been with the team for over a year and brings more than two years of professional dog training experience, with a strong focus on canine psychology and behavior. He approaches training through understanding how dogs think, communicate, and respond to their environment. Blair shares his life with an American Staffordshire Terrier named Chance, whom he rescued four years ago, and working through real behavioral challenges with his own dog has shaped both his empathy and training style.
He values working with a wide range of dogs as an opportunity to continually learn, adapt, and help dogs and owners achieve calm, lasting results.
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CHANTEL – Trainer (Calimesa)
Chantel has been part of the team for over four years, with a background rooted in years of hands-on work in both training and rescue environments. She has dedicated her life to understanding how dogs learn, communicate, and adapt within the human world, and she continually invests in furthering her education to sharpen her skills. Chantel works with dogs at all stages, from building strong foundations to helping dogs develop confidence, clarity, and balance in everyday life.
Rescue work holds a meaningful place in her journey, and she is especially passionate about helping dogs of all backgrounds succeed.
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KLAUDIA - Trainer (Bonsall)
Klaudia’s background spans both dog and horse training, bringing a well-rounded and highly technical approach to her work with animals. She has spent over eight years developing her skills, learning from respected, high-level trainers and earning certification through the Tarheel Canine Training School. Klaudia has lifelong experience with dogs of many breeds and is deeply committed to rescue work, helping shelter dogs rehabilitate and transition into permanent homes.
She currently trains and competes with two Belgian Malinois in PSA (Protection Sports Association), giving her firsthand experience with high-drive, precision-based training.
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ELAINE - Trainer (Murrieta)
Elaine brings a people-first background to dog training, having spent years in hospitality leadership and community-focused roles before committing fully to working with dogs. Her journey with dogs began over 15 years ago through pack walking, boarding, and fostering, where she gained hands-on experience managing multiple dogs and helping over 25 rescues transition into their forever homes. Elaine’s turning point came as a client herself, when working through real behavioral challenges with her own dog deepened her understanding of structure, clarity, and leadership.
Today, she is passionate about helping dogs and their owners thrive together through real-world experience, empathy, and clear communication.
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ALEX - Trainer (Chula Vista)
Alex brings a unique background to dog training, with over 10 years of experience working in education and as a behavioral technician supporting children with autism. As a single mother to an autistic son, she understands the importance of patience, consistency, and clear communication—skills that strongly shape her approach to training dogs. Alex transitioned into professional dog training three years ago and has completed hands-on training in Virginia and Tennessee, along with ongoing online education to continue refining her skills.
Her goal is to help dogs and their owners build structure, confidence, and understanding in a way that supports calm, successful everyday life.
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TANYA - Trainer (Murrieta)
Tanya has been a professional dog trainer for four years and has been part of the team for over a year, bringing a focused and thoughtful approach to her work. As a mother of two with a young child and a Border Collie of her own, she understands the importance of structure, consistency, and balance while maintaining a happy, fulfilled dog. Tanya is deeply passionate about canine behavior and continually invests time in learning how to create clarity and stability while preserving joy in training.
She works with one dog at a time, allowing her to give her full attention to each dog and owner, and regularly volunteers her time to support rescue, boarding, and training efforts whenever possible.
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