Meet Our Dog Trainers

Joey Morris is a world-renowned dog trainer, who has been in the animal training industry for three decades. He started his career by obtaining degrees in Biology and Animal Behavior. Coming out of college Joey became an exotic animal trainer, working with Orcas, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Wolves, and Birds of Prey, among other animals. Joey went on to become a vendor, importing and supplying K9s for Lakeland, Border Patrol, FEMA, and Police Departments. He trained Malinois, German Shepherds, Labs, Pointers, Beagles and Bloodhounds for various jobs including bomb detection, narcotic detection, apprehension, search and rescue, and executive level protection dogs. He has trained, trialed and titled dogs in the show ring, WDA, PPD, and APA. Joey and his Malinois Youkel won the APA Championship in 2016. Joey puts on seminars throughout the country, teaching the theory of dog behavior, obedience training, tracking, detection, and protection.

Paige Morris grew up with German Shepherds and began training them at the age of eight. At the age of twelve she was charging money to train the dogs and humans in her city. Growing up in a small town in Louisiana and unsure how to enter the dog training world, she joined Petco at the age of eighteen as their dog trainer. Within six months she had achieved #2 in sales for dog training out of their 1500 stores. She was moved to their New Orleans location and became the Lead Trainer in Louisiana and Mississippi, training the new dog trainer hires. Paige was then recruited by a nationally known dog training company, which she ran the New Orleans location for.

Joey and Paige met by chance, Paige wanted to continue her education as a dog trainer and had a passion for protection dogs. She drove to Tennessee to attend a seminar on decoying, where Joey was the instructor, and the rest is history. Paige moved to Georgia to be with Joey, when they came together they wanted to bring the powerful obedience that is achieved with working dogs to the pet dog training industry and OverWatch K9 Academy was born.

Joey and Paige founded OverWatch K9 Academy in Atlanta, and have started branching into different states. Along with their trainers they are honored to be impacting the daily lives of people through their dogs. As they love to say – we can’t help you love your dog anymore than you already do, but we can absolutely help you enjoy them more. And that’s what we look forward to doing.

Maegan brings over 15 years of experience in the dog industry, combining a deep love for animals with a lifelong commitment to their care and well-being. Her passion for working with animals was sparked as a child while caring for the animals on her grandfather’s farm, inspiring her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Maegan spent eight years as a veterinary technician, including four years as a clinic manager, where she gained invaluable expertise in animal health and behavior. She has attended numerous veterinary conferences focused on the mental and physical well-being of animals, furthering her knowledge and dedication to their care.

In addition to her veterinary background, Maegan has been actively involved with rescue groups and shelters for over 15 years, showcasing her unwavering commitment to helping animals in need. At home, she shares her life with a loving family of rescue animals, including five senior dogs, two hermit crabs, and a rabbit. Maegan’s extensive experience, compassion, and dedication make her an integral part of the OverWatch K9 Academy team, where she channels her knowledge and passion into helping dogs and their owners build lasting, positive relationships.

Amanda has been passionate about animals for as long as she can remember, a love that began with Misty, a poodle mix her father rescued from the side of the highway. This early experience ignited a lifelong commitment to rescuing and caring for animals, including a bonded pair of ferrets, a bearded dragon named Peaches, and her beloved heart-dog, Sugar. Amanda’s journey with OverWatch K9 Academy began as a client, when Sugar completed the Advanced Board and Train program. This transformative experience deepened her bond with Sugar and inspired Amanda to pursue a career in dog training.

With 16 years of experience in customer service, Amanda has a natural talent for connecting with people and building lasting relationships. When the opportunity arose to combine her love for dogs and her passion for working with people, Amanda made the leap to join the OverWatch K9 Academy team. Now, she is dedicated to helping clients strengthen their relationships with their dogs by fostering clear communication and mutual understanding. Amanda currently shares her life with Daphne, an Olde English Bulldog, and is thrilled to help others experience the joy and harmony that comes from a well-trained and deeply connected canine companion.

Josh brings over 30 years of experience and a lifelong dedication to dog training to OverWatch K9 Academy. His passion for dogs began at the age of 16, and since then, he has worked with a wide variety of breeds in numerous specialized fields. Josh’s extensive background includes training and handling hunting dogs, protection dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue (SAR) dogs, and cadaver dogs. With expertise in everything from basic to advanced obedience, he has honed his skills in creating well-trained, reliable, and confident dogs across a range of disciplines.

At OverWatch K9 Academy, Josh focuses on fostering harmony between dogs and their owners, bringing his depth of knowledge and a commitment to excellence to every training session. He is motivated by the joy of helping families create balanced and fulfilling relationships with their canine companions. Josh’s own dogs, a Labrador Retriever named Buck and a Dutch Shepherd named Das, reflect his love for working breeds and his hands-on experience with their unique needs. His passion, expertise, and dedication make him an invaluable member of the OverWatch K9 Academy team.

JC  brings a wealth of passion to our team. Growing up with a Pekingese and a German Shepherd, he developed a deep understanding of the unique needs and behaviors of both small and large breeds. Before joining us, JC excelled working on commercial HVAC systems. However, his true calling has always been working with dogs. He is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective training, especially for small breeds that often require a gentler touch.

Currently, JC shares his home with two wonderful dogs: Remy, a sweet Shipoo, and Dutch, a Dutch Shepherd. Together, JC and Dutch are training for a prestigious PPD (Personal Protection Dog) title, showcasing JC’s commitment to excellence and his ability to train dogs to the highest standards.

Lily is a dedicated and passionate dog trainer, bringing a unique perspective to the team with her lifelong love for animals of all kinds. Growing up in a family immersed in dogs, Lily’s journey began with her father’s breeding of Rat Terriers, where she gained an early appreciation for the nuances of canine behavior and genetics. Over the years, she expanded her animal care experience by owning and caring for a wide variety of animals, including a donkey, pigs, goats, and chickens. This diverse background has given Lily a well-rounded understanding of animal behavior and an innate ability to connect with creatures of all sizes and temperaments.

Currently, Lily is the proud owner of a Labradoodle and a Dachshund, highlighting her deep love for all dog breeds, from large to small. Her enthusiasm is matched by her professionalism and commitment to excellence in dog training. Lily is driven to help every dog and their owner achieve a harmonious relationship. Her passion, paired with her growing expertise, makes her a valued member of the OverWatch K9 Academy team and an advocate for creating lasting bonds between people and their pets.