Meet the trainer
Ariana Purtee
CEO & International dog Trainer
Dogs have always been at the heart of my life, but my journey as an animal trainer didn’t start with them, it began with horses. At just 9 years old, I started horseback riding lessons, immersing myself in the art of working with animals that require patience, precision, and trust. Over the years, I gained experience with over 25 different breeds of horses, learning how to communicate through subtle body language, energy, and leadership. By 13, I rescued my first horse, Missy, a project that taught me the power of rehabilitation, consistency, and building mutual respect with an animal.
That foundation in horse training deeply influenced my approach to dogs. The principles of pressure-and-release, timing, and trust-building that I learned in the equestrian world translated seamlessly into dog training, shaping the balanced, clear, and relationship-focused methods I use today.
My Journey in Dog Training
My passion for training dogs was sparked by my first personal dog at age 10, Cooper, a little rescue terrier mix with a big personality. Cooper was more than just a pet, he was my first real teacher in dog training. Together, we mastered off-leash obedience and an impressive range of tricks, from skateboarding to surfing, all built on clear communication, structure, and fun.
By high school, I had already started my own dog rescue, rehabilitating and finding forever homes for unwanted dogs, which deepened my understanding of behavior modification and the unique needs of different breeds.
At just 17 years old, I officially stepped into the professional dog training world, working under Russian professional trainer Maxim Basyro at Master Dog Training. For two years, I immersed myself in his specialized training methods, gaining a strong foundation in military style obedience, behavior modification, and working dog training. By 2013, I had earned my professional dog training certification and continued to expand my expertise at Canyon View Ranch, where I worked with a wide variety of breeds, including dogs belonging to many high-profile clients.
Despite these incredible experiences, I knew I wanted to build something of my own, a training approach that was not only effective but truly transformative for both dogs and their owners. In 2015, A Purtee Pack was born. What started as a small venture quickly grew into a trusted name in the dog training industry, helping countless dogs and their owners develop clear communication, trust, and freedom through training.
What Makes A Purtee Pack Different?
With over 12 years of professional experience and 14+ years of fostering, rehabbing, and finding forever homes for dogs, I’ve worked with many behavioral challenges across the spectrum. But what truly sets me apart is my ability to train creatively and tailor training to each individual dog and owner, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here and thinking outside the box is my specialty.
My philosophy is rooted in real-world training, teaching dogs to thrive in everyday life, whether that’s mastering off-leash recall, overcoming reactivity, or learning how to confidently navigate new environments.
I specialize in:
On-Leash & Off-Leash Obedience – Giving you the confidence to trust your dog in any situation.
Behavior Modification – Addressing reactivity, anxiety, fear, aggression, and other challenges.
Puppy Development – Setting a strong foundation for a lifetime of success.
Sport & Advanced Training – From trick training to competition-level obedience and protection work.
Service Dog Training – Helping working dogs and their handlers reach their full potential to give their handler more independence.
At A Purtee Pack, my goal is to bridge the gap between structure and freedom, so you and your dog can enjoy a life of trust, reliability, and adventure together.
Beyond Basic Training
My passion for dogs extends far beyond pet obedience. I have trained and competed in multiple dog sports, including Rally Obedience, Heelwork to Music, Disc Dog, Dock Diving, Lure Coursing, Herding, and Agility. My late Belgian Malinois, Fury, was an extraordinary partner, trained in protection sports (Mondio Ring/French Ring) and service work, and my current pack continues to push the limits of what’s possible in dog training.
I also believe in continuous learning and innovation, staying up to date with the latest advancements in dog behavior and training methods to ensure my clients receive the best possible guidance. I am always listening to the newest podcasts, watching youtube videos from my favorite trainers, going to seminars & training workshops, reading every dog training book I can get my hands on and pursuing any dog training certification that I can.
Why Work With Me?
When you work with A Purtee Pack, you’re not just getting a regular dog trainer, you’re gaining a highly qualified mentor, a dog training partner, and someone who genuinely cares about you and your dog’s success. I don’t just teach obedience; I build relationships, create lasting behavior change, and help people experience the joy of a well-trained, trustworthy dog.
If you’re ready to transform your relationship with your dog, build confidence, and gain real-world results, I’d love to be a part of your journey.
Let’s train together and unlock your dog’s full potential.
Meet The Pack!
Legacy
Legacy was born March 25th 2017. She is a purebred blue merle Border Collie from Roughstock Border Collies in Oklahoma. She is Ariana’s 1st working dog with a very intelligent, friendly, loving personality! Ariana & Legacy are competing in Rally Obedience, Barn Hunt & Lure Coursing. Their work together also includes Heelwork to Music, Disc Dog, Dock Diving, Herding and Agility. They love to perform stunts and tricks for others to enjoy and have even earned up to their Performer Trick title as well as Legacy has passed all three Canine Good Citizen tests!
Legacy's current achievements:
AKC Novice (TKN), Intermediate (TKI), Advanced (TKA) & Performer (TKP) Trick Titles!
AKC Canine Good Citizen Title (CGC), Canine Good Citizen- Advance (CGC-A), Canine Good Citizen - Urban (CGC-U)
Rally Novice Title (RN), Rally Advanced Title (RA), Rally Excellent (RE)
Ranked 9th Place out of 63 Excellent level exhibitors at Rally Nationals in December 2020
Beginner Novice Obedience Title (BN)
1 out of 3 qualifiers towards AKC Coursing Ability Title (CA)
Earned 1st Place in both Disc Dog competitions at her 1st event
Wasabi
Wasabi was born on February 24th 2020. She is a mix of full size racing Greyhound (dam) & Rat Terrier/Schnauzer/American Pitbull Terrier (sire) from an accidental litter on a farm in Little Rock, AR. She is Ariana’s 3rd working dog with an athletic build & bubbly personality! She is built for speed & has the intelligence to boot, making her one amazing little sport dog!
Wasabi has training/is competing in:
-Disc Dog
-Dock Diving
-Barn Hunt
-FastCAT
-Agility
Tamashii
Tamashii was born March 26th 2023. She is a purebred AKC Field + Bench line Labrador Retriever from Phokus Kennels in Florida. She is in training to become a Service Dog and Sport Dog.
Tsuki
Tsuki was born November 20th 2023. She is a mix of English Bullterrier (dam) & Australian Shepherd (sire) from an accidental litter local to Colorado. She is in training to become a Trick and Sport Dog.
Luna
Luna was born November 6th 2013. She is a mix of Bullterrier, Dalmatian and American Staffordshire Terrier. Luna is the dog that started Ariana’s career with her! She opened the doors to dog sports and service dog work and Ariana owes alot to her. Luna and Ariana have traveled all over the map together, trained in agility and scentwork, and enjoyed many fun adventures together. Now, at 11 years old, Luna is a retired old gal who enjoys lounging in the sunlight, sleeping on the couch and going for short leisure walks.
fury (RIP)
Fury was born September 22nd 2018. She is a purebred Belgian Malinois from Loucyn Malinois in Fillmore, CA. She is Ariana’s 2nd working dog with a very intelligent, brave, fiery personality! Fury is training towards competing in PSA (Protection Sport), Field Trials (AKC Hunt Sport) and is currently competing in Dock Diving and Lure Coursing! She loves to perform stunts and tricks, earning up to their Performer Trick Title as well as Fury has passed all three Canine Good Citizen tests!
Fury’s current achievements:
AKC Novice (TKN), Intermediate (TKI), Advanced (TKA) & Performer (TKP) Trick Titles!
AKC Canine Good Citizen Title (CGC), Canine Good Citizen- Advance (CGC-A), Canine Good Citizen - Urban (CGC-U)
Earned 2nd Place at her first Disc Dog Competition
Dock Master Title (with her best jump at 26 ft)
Fury passed away in July 2022 due to a rare auto immune disease costing her a low quality of life.
She passed away peacefully in Ariana’s arms, loved & cared for.
She will forever be missed dearly.
