Diana Smith has over 25 years of training experience and is aCertified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT).She has over 2000 hours of study with some of the world's leading dog behaviorist including Dr. Ian Dunbar and John Rogerson. These course studies focused on treatment programs for separation anxiety, phobias, aggression issues (over ten types), obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as genetic and medical influences on these problems.

In addition, Diana has worked with local animal shelters and rescue groups training volunteers on temperament testing and behavior management. Diana is a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator and holds classes for this program several times a year. Also, Diana has shown competitively in obedience, agility, rally, conformation, field trials, and working trials with several titles. Ten years ago Diana developed the first Austin area summer program for children and teenagers with their dogs (Club Pup). During the school year, host and advisor to the Travis County 4-H Dog Starz.

Trevor Smith has 15 years of training experience and recently became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT). He is also in continuing education through Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and apprentices with Diana Smith. He competes with his border collie Daisy at various competitions throughout the year. Daisy and his whipet Blitzen also play a key role as Trevor's assistant in basic obedience, agility, private lessons, Paw Trek, and Club Pup.

Chip Smith has been the GM of Hearts and Paws since it opened it doors for business.His main focus has been on the boarding and doggie daycare and loves hearing the stories of people's companions getting all excited when they get within a mile of the place.He has had canine companions of his own all his life and feels like each companion that comes to us is just like one of his.He also loves to cook all kinds of culinary delights and plays harmonica around town from time to time.Currently, his personal companion is a fun-loving Papillon named, Scout.

Cindy started training dogs in 1996 as an assistant working with Dr. Mary Lee Nitschke Ph.D., one of the founding members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and owner of Animal School, Inc., in Portland, Oregon. After graduating from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology in 2001, she moved to Texas to continue her graduate education at Texas A&M. There she received a Master’s degree in 2003 in animal behavior through the department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at TAMU. Cindy has authored or co-authored articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, breed magazines, and encyclopedias. Her essays on the role of Animals in Sport appear in Dr. Marc Bekoff’s Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships as well as the Encyclopedia of Animal Welfare and Animal Rights, 2nd ed. (Greenwood Publishers). She has been a licensed radiologic technologist since 1987. Cindy has been involved with Rhodesian ridgebacks since 1992 and has titled dogs in conformation, lure coursing, and agility. She is a member of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States and serves as the DNAah liaison for the Health and Genetics committee. Canine social behavior and its development are special interests.

Nancy Naizer began volunteering (and subsequently fostering dogs) with animal shelters and rescue groups in 1996, working primarily with the Austin Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive!, German Shepherd Rescue-Central Texas, and Austin Dog Alliance. She adopted her first dog, Stella--a Shepherd mix--in 2003 and, after taking classes with several excellent area trainers, Stella achieved her AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.

In 2007, Nancy became a part-time class assistant at Hearts & Paws Dog Training Center. She adopted Smitty--an Australian Shepherd--in 2011 and is enjoying learning Agility with him. She and Smitty will train for the CGC test soon as well as pet therapy certification down the road. Recent training seminars include Canine Body Language with Sarah Kalnajs and Ethology of Dogs with Dr. Ray Coppinger and Ken McCort.

Nancy has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an Associate degree in Graphic Arts Technology from Austin Community College. When not working with dogs, Nancy does graphic design for various clients. Nancy and husband Greg live with two dogs and attend Riverbend Church.