KATIE MIZE (Owner/Trainer)

Katie worked in the assistance dog field for over 12 years, beginning her extensive education in canine care and behavior at the bottom, as an Instructor’s Assistant carrying a shovel and hose at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Working in a kennel environment gave Katie experience in cleaning, feeding, grooming and medicating hundreds of dogs during that time.

After 2 years she entered the Apprentice Trainer Program, an intensive 3 year course of study in guide dog training. Katie’s apprenticeship continued at Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), an organization that trains dogs for people with disabilities other than blindness, and resulted in her becoming a Certified Assistance Dog trainer through Assistance Dogs International (ADI). As a professional trainer Katie specializes in the evaluation, training and placement of multiple types of Assistance Dogs. She was promoted to the Graduate Program Manager at CCI where she assisted 300+ client/dog teams to ensure their continued success.

As rewarding as her career was, the longing to be back in the mountains and her home of North Lake Tahoe was greater. In 2008 Katie moved back to Tahoe where she’s continued training privately, sharing her keen observation of canine behavior to help nurture the bond between Man and Best Friend. In 2019 Katie purchased a home in Kings Beach in the Commercial/Industrial zoned area and is legally licensed and insured to train, board and daycare dogs in her home.