Her Story
About Kathie
Kathie Ball Phillips is a professional dog trainer and the owner of Loving Dog Training, based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She began her career in dog training in 2008 after initially helping a friend with dog grooming. What started as an unexpected career transition developed into a long-term passion for canine training and service. Kathie gained valuable hands-on experience through the Paws in Prison program, working with experienced trainers to prepare service dogs for veterans living with PTSD. Her career has since expanded to include training dogs for meaningful roles in schools and educational environments.
Today, Kathie specializes in training educational assistance dogs for schools, along with service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Her work involves developing dogs from an early age through foundational obedience, Canine Good Citizen preparation, and, when appropriate, more advanced service training. Training dogs for schools requires careful attention to their behavior around children, teachers, distractions, and changing environments. Kathie places particular emphasis on being able to read both dogs and people, understand body language and behavior, and address potential problems before they become larger issues. Her approach is intuitive, proactive, and adaptable to the individual needs of each dog and the people they serve.
Kathie has built her expertise primarily through practical experience, mentorship, and years of working directly with dogs rather than through a traditional academic path. She believes successful training requires patience, focus, consistency, and a strong understanding of both canine and human behavior. Although she has attempted retirement twice, her passion for helping dogs and people has continued to bring her back to the profession. Through Loving Dog Training, she remains committed to expanding the role of properly trained dogs in schools and communities. She also encourages aspiring dog trainers to gain hands-on experience, particularly by volunteering with organizations that serve veterans, before pursuing a professional career in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to letting go, trusting God, and allowing Him to guide the process. I focus on doing my part while having faith that everything will work out as it should.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to let go and let God. I’ve learned to trust the process, focus on what I can control, and have faith that everything will work out in the right time.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the industry to be patient, seek proper training, and gain hands-on experience. Volunteering with a veterans’ organization can be a great way to get started. Most importantly, learn to read people and understand dogs so you can build the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is to get these schools to accept dogs. They're all afraid. Having dogs in elementary, preschool, middle school and junior high is very good. It keeps the kids calm. For autistic children, the dog can lay down with the child and calm them down so they don't get overstimulated.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are focus, awareness, intuition, and responsiveness. I believe in staying attentive to both the dog and handler, recognizing issues early, and addressing concerns as they arise. Being able to understand people and dogs, while responding thoughtfully to their needs and frustrations, is essential to my work.
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