About Dog On It Training & Grooming

Lia is one of the owners and the head trainer of Dog On It. She has been training dogs for over 16 years and has experience working with a variety of breeds. Continuing her education on a regular basis is a priority to her, as is making sure that training is fun for both dog and owner. Dedicated to the humane treatment of animals, she focuses on strengthening the human-animal bond through training. Lia is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator as well as a Therapy Dog Evaluator and handler. She lives in Grovetown, GA with her child, Arlo, and their dog Opie.

Sonja grew up having close relationships with dogs and has never been without a canine companion. In 2015, she became interested in what it was about the human-canine relationship that helped her rescue dog, Lucy, recognize what she was asking without having formal training. She started researching training methods, specifically positive reinforcement. When she got her first German Shepherd, Elsa, she began working with Lia after becoming convinced that positive reinforcement was the best way to maintain and grow her relationships with her dogs. Two more dogs later, training is Sonja’s favorite part of the day! Currently, Sonja lives with cats Squeaky and Junebug, a German Shepherds (Arthur), and a Belgian Malinois (Rocco), both rescues. While she trains with all the dogs, Rocco keeps her especially busy, training in bite sports and dock diving. Sonja is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

Becky has lived in the Augusta area since 1975. There has never been a time in her life when she did not have pets! Becky’s first experience with positive reinforcement training occurred in 2013 when she adopted a Lab puppy, and she has never looked back! later, she still enjoys training with both of her dogs, along with her grand dog, Baylor. She is currently working toward her first training certificate through the CATCH program. Becky’s most recent accomplishment is becoming certified in pet CPR and First Aid. She lives in Martinez with her husband, Sean, and their two dogs, Daisy and Cooper. They have two grown children and one grandson.

Growing up, Sam’s nickname was Dr. Doolittle because of her love for animals of all shapes and sizes. Her first job was pet sitting before graduating to dog bathing and reception work for Dog On It in 2020. Sam currently lives in Beaufort, SC where she teaches music at Lowcountry Montessori School to kids aged pre-k to middle school. She lives with her partner, two cats (Donald and Rigby), Leopard Gecko (Bernie), and Turtle (Largo). She handles our social media and contact forms.

Phillip Russum is a certificate professional dog trainer with 12 years of experience serving the CSRA. Holding certifications from multiple training organizations, Phillip specializes in canine behavior and ethology. His training approach is rooted in force-free methods, utilizing scientifically backed canine learning theory to foster positive and lasting behavioral outcomes. With a commitment to humane, effective training techniques, he works to strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners while promoting a deeper understanding of canine behavior.