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Caeb Colravy
From Lawyer to Dog Trainer
After 20 years of practice as a criminal defense attorney, I had become burned out and was no longer enjoying waking up each day. I was diagnosed with major depression snd knew I had to make a big change.
So I traded in my suits, ties, and briefcase for a leash, treat bag, and cargo pants and set out to pursue a formal dog trainer education. I could not be happier that I did because I now love what I do and look forward to working with dogs and their guardians on a daily basiis.
I grew up in a small central Illinois farm town surrounded by corn fields, soy bean fields and many animals. When I was a teenager my family moved to Florida, where I remained until leaving for the nation’s capital to attend law school. After I completed dog trainer school, a subsequent intership, and a period as a service dog program director, I returned to Florida to start Libratum Dog Training LLC.
I have owned or cared for dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles, donkeys, goats, fish, a raccoon, and a pig over the years. Animals are central to my happiness, with dogs holding a special place in my heart due to their unique social relationship with humans. Experience has taught me that every dog is truly unique in it’s personality, temperament, and needs, and therefore benefits most from a personalized training plan. I work with each owner to develop a plan that addresses their goals and fits their dog's specific needs.
Dog Dad and Animal Lover
Of course, I am also a dog Dad to my own two large working breed dogs, Nova (a Belgian Malinois) and Zugo (a German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix). They are amazing dogs who not only bring me great joy, but also often assist me during training session with clients and their dogs to overcome a variety of challenges.
I have also raised and cared for many other dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, Norwegian rats, turtles, goats, donkeys, ponies, pigs and more throughout my life. I really just love all species of animals. But I have always had a particular interest in dog training, and especially service dog training.
Formal Dog Trainer Education
I attended the Master Dog Trainer program at Highland Canine Training in North Carolina. It was a full-time residential program that is accredited by the North Carolina Community College system as well as the Department of Veteran Affairs for vocational rehabilitation. Over six months I spent 960 hours participating in both classroom lectures and hands-on training to learn my craft. I worked with pet dogs, service dogs, search & rescue dogs, police canines, and more. I gained invaluable experience working with a wide array of breeds, from Chichuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers to Belgian Malinois and Poodles. I elected to participate in the additional “student excellence program,” which involved a supplemental curriculum of 10 additional training practical challenges. I am just one of three students from my class of 27 students to successfully complete the student excellence program. After receiving my Master Dog Trainer Certificate, I participated in an additional six month internship and apprenticeship. I was eventually hired to be the Service Dog Division Director and now am operating my own dog training business.
Master Dog Trainer Certification
I received my Master Dog Trainer Certification from the School for Dog Trainers at Highland Canine Training, LLC in Harmony, North Carolina—one of the top dog trainer programs in the world. The program is accredited by the North Carolina Community College system and the Veterans Administration. I graduated from the program with Student Excellence Honors, the President’s Award, and perfect attendance. The Master Dog Trainer program is a full-time six month residential school that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience with many different breeds of all sizes, ages, and temperaments. The program emphasizes canine obedience training, behavior modification, service dog training, police canine training, search and rescue dog training, and canine scent detection. I am proud to bring my education and experience to the greater Tampa Bay region, including Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Clearwater, and surrounding areas.
