Shelby Waxer
Shelby Waxer, Certified Canine Behavior Specialist & Owner of Atlanta Dog Trainer
Shelby Waxer is a Certified Canine Behavior Specialist and the proud Owner and Operator of Atlanta Dog Trainer, one of Georgia’s leading facilities for canine behavior rehabilitation and training. Her lifelong passion for understanding canine psychology began in childhood, growing up in a household that was always home to at least six dogs. From a young age, Shelby demonstrated an innate ability to read and respond to canine behavior — a skill further deepened by one particularly challenging dog that sparked her lifelong mission to understand and rehabilitate even the most complex behavioral cases.
Professional Development
At just fifteen years old, Shelby began her professional career in dog training, laying the foundation for what would become a life devoted to behavioral science and the human–canine bond. She earned her certification through the Atlanta Dog Trainer Academy for Professionals, where she was personally selected for a competitive internship under renowned trainer and academy founder Susie Aga. Through this mentorship, Shelby gained advanced expertise in behavioral modification, obedience training, and canine psychology — disciplines she continues to expand upon through ongoing study and fieldwork.
Her pursuit of knowledge also led her to study wolf behavior and body language firsthand. Shelby has spent time observing and interacting with wolves to better understand their pack dynamics, social communication, and instinctual drives — insights she now integrates into her training approach. By bridging the parallels between wolf and domestic dog behavior, Shelby brings a rare depth of understanding to her work with dogs of all temperaments and backgrounds.
Current Role & Expertise
As Owner and Behavioral Director of Atlanta Dog Trainer, Shelby leads the company’s behavior and assessment team while overseeing day-to-day operations across its training, daycare, and boarding programs. She personally conducts group obedience classes, private in-home sessions, board-and-train programs, and specialized training in areas such as scent detection, therapy dog preparation, and aquatic enrichment.
Known for her calm leadership and methodical approach, Shelby excels at working with high-drive and working breeds — helping them channel their instincts through structured outlets while balancing mental and emotional decompression. Her unique ability to create the ideal “learning window” allows dogs to make meaningful and lasting behavioral progress.
Specializations
Shelby’s greatest passion lies in rehabilitating rescue dogs, trauma cases, and misunderstood mutts — particularly those struggling with severe fear, anxiety, or a history of neglect. She is widely respected for her ability to meet dogs where they are, build trust through consistency and empathy, and craft individualized training plans that honor each dog’s emotional state and learning pace. Her philosophy emphasizes flexibility over force, and she believes that every dog can thrive when training is guided by patience, structure, and compassion.
Personal Experience
At home, Shelby shares her life with two rescue dogs: Blaze, a hound mix, and Bobby Boucher, a Jack Russell mix. Both came from difficult beginnings and faced significant behavioral hurdles, but through structured rehabilitation, they’ve grown into confident, balanced companions. Today, they occasionally assist Shelby in her training programs — modeling social skills for puppies and newly rescued dogs learning to trust.
Mission
With over four years of leadership and hands-on behavioral experience at Atlanta Dog Trainer, Shelby is recognized for her empathy, expertise, and unwavering dedication to canine welfare. Her mission is clear: to help every dog reach its highest potential and every owner become a more confident, compassionate leader.