The person caring for your puppy should feel like family.
Meet Sarah
Hello! I’m Sarah, the trainer and heart behind Early Paws Puppy Academy.
My love for animals started early and has grown into a lifelong passion for understanding how dogs (and horses) learn, adapt, and thrive.
I grew up with my mom breeding long haired German Shepherds and living on a farm with dogs, goats, horses, donkeys, and every other animal you can think of. Over the years, I’ve combined hands-on experience with formal training to create a calm, home-based approach to puppy training. I began working with professional dog trainers at the age of ten and continued to learn from them throughout the years and through college. This has given me the knowledge to create a program that focuses on building confidence, structure, and trust from the very beginning.
As an avid equestrian, I was part of the University of South Carolina Equestrian team where we won two SEC Championships, A runner up National Championship, and won the 2015 NCAA National Championship. After moving to Knoxville, I married my husband Mike, and we welcomed our daughter in August 2025. As a family we love to travel to our family farm in Virginia, hike, visit new places in Knoxville, and cheer on the Vols. We love to include our training puppies in allthese activities as well. Early Paws Puppy Academy is truly a family effort. Puppies learn how to coexist in a real household: with routines, children, visitors, and daily life, which helps them transition seamlessly into their own families when they return home.
By working with only one or two puppies at a time, I’m able to give each dog the individualized attention, consistency, and care they need. Every puppy is different, and I tailor my training to match their personality and the lifestyle they’re preparing to join.
My “Why”
Early Paws Puppy Academy was created out of a simple belief: puppies deserve to be raised, not rushed through a system.
I’ve always struggled with training models that rely heavily on kennels and limited interaction. Puppies don’t live in training facilities, they live in homes: surrounded by families, routines, and everyday moments that shape their behavior.
By raising puppies in my home alongside my family, I’m able to teach them how to navigate real life with confidence. From potty training and crate training to obedience, socialization, and household manners, my focus is always on strong foundations that last.
My goal isn’t just to send home a well-trained puppy; it’s to help families feel confident, supported, and excited as they begin life with their dog, knowing their puppy has been loved, understood, and set up for success.
A True Home-Based Experience
Your puppy doesn’t rotate through a facility or spend their day in a kennel. They live in our home, experience real daily routines, and learn how family life works: because that’s the life they’re preparing to join.
What Sets Us Apart
One–to–Two Puppies at a Time
We intentionally limit the number of puppies we train so each one receives consistent attention, care, and structure throughout the day.
This low-volume approach allows us to truly understand each puppy’s personality and adjust training accordingly.
Raised Alongside a Family
Puppies train in a real household with adults, children, and other dogs. This helps them learn calm behavior, boundaries, and confidence in everyday situations: something that simply can’t be replicated in a kennel environment
