The Doghouse, LLC is a family owned professional dog training business and training facility operated by Jordan and Carrie Silva Wooddell.
It is centrally located in Pinellas Park, FL and has been serving the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area since 2005.
We specialize in aggression issues, socialization issues, basic and advanced obedience, sport training and overall behavior modification.
At The Doghouse, LLC, we understand your dog is a member of your family and we strive to provide a personal relationship with you and your dog.
We enjoy getting to meet so many great clients and the personalities of all different breeds of dogs. Your dog’s welfare and safety is always our top concern.
Trust and confidence with our clients is crucial when you hire us to train/board your dog. We enjoy explaining dog theory and behavior and making you think and understand dog.
One of our many goals is training your dog to better fit into your lifestyle, and sometimes that means for you to better understand your dog’s breed and genetic makeup.
There are many dog friendly places a well-mannered dog can visit with you.
The St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area is one of the best locations for the active dog owner because of the numerous dog parks, dog beaches, dog friendly restaurants, and even “yappy” hours all over town.
One of our many goals is to help every dog and owner take advantage of all this beautiful area has to offer.
We are one of few dog training companies that can say their niche is training dogs with aggression and/or socialization issues. It is so gratifying for us to rehabilitate dogs with these issues to help prevent someone or another dog from getting hurt.
Carrie Silva Wooddell, Head Trainer/Owner
Carrie is a highly respected and renowned dog trainer with extensive experience and notable credentials including:
Contracted Obedience Training the Alcohol, To***co and Fi****ms (ATF) Special Response Team’s canines
Certified Hearing Service Dog Instructor
Owner of her own Animal Agency which has trained several dogs appearing in commercials and movies
Creator and Owner of the highly acclaimed documentary Dogs to Diapers
Active Competitor and trainer in such dog sports as: French Ring, Mondio Ring* and IPO (formally known as Schutzund)…Earning Tiles with her dog Ajax in: French Ring2, Mondio Ring 2, and IPO3
High Obedience Title 2009 with her dog Ajax in the American Working Dog Federation Trials
Currently competing with Genghis (Ajax’s son) and he is a 3 time Mondio Ring 3. In October 2016 Carrie and Genghis qualified for a spot on the world team and competed in Battice, Belgium representing the USA.
Successful rehabilitation of many aggressive dogs, returning them as great companions and family members.
View Carrie’s Certificates and Awards and competition videos
What drives Carrie?
I’ve been around dogs all my life! My father, Bill Silva, was an officer at the St. Petersburg Police Department for 25 years. During his career he spent 13 years in the elite K-9 unit.
This is when I first discovered a passion for dogs and the art of dog training.
While enrolled in college I volunteered as an interpreter at Florida Dog Guides for the Deaf. While volunteering with this organization I was afforded the opportunity to actively participate in the dog’s training process.
These dogs would go on to help improve the quality of life for hearing impaired individuals. I learned the inner workings of different dog training techniques and methods during the time I spent with this agency. Ultimately my skill level increased so rapidly I was hired as a full time employee and trainer.
Following my time training hearing dogs, twelve years ago, and fueled by my passion for dogs and helping people, I opened my own dog training business. I attended (and throughout my career) numerous dog training seminars and worked with various trainers all over the world to improve my craft.
Next, I tested my abilities and took to the competition ring with my dog Ajax, where we excelled in French Ring, Mondio Ring* and IPO (formally known as Schutzund.)
During our career as a team, Ajax and I earned the titles of French Ring 2, Mondio Ring 2 and IPO3.
In 2009 Ajax and I earned the High obedience title at the 2009 American Working Dog Federation Trial.
I am currently training and competing with Ajax’s son Genghis Khan Bonds in the sport of Mondio Ring. Genghis and I qualified for the 2016 USA World Team and competed in Battice, Belgium.
Being classified as an expert dog trainer and handler isn’t something that is gained from having a certain amount of clients or even winning dog competitions.
It is about the accumulation of experience and connecting with each individual dog as well as taking the time to understand the dog’s needs. It also means, being able to communicate with the dog’s owner and understand what they are expecting from their canine companion.
For almost two decades now it has been my passion to understand dog behavior and to use that knowledge to better the lives of my clients with their canine companions. I am committed to create a training method that gives a complete balance of human to dog connection and communication through obedience and understanding of your dog’s genetic needs.
With the help of my husband and business partner we have turned my passion into the business we own today.
Every dog deserves the chance to be a well-mannered and happy dog.
Every human deserves the chance to have that special connection, communication and relationship with their dog that leads to a happy home.
Samantha Adams, Assistant Trainer/Kennel Manager
My passion for dog training began 7 years ago when I started working with a young rescue dog, Zoe, to overcome fear and socialization issues. Ever since then I have been absolutely hooked!
Since 2009, I have been growing my knowledge as a professional Dog Trainer.
I received extensive experience with rescue dogs early in my career, and I find true enjoyment to this day helping fearful and nervous dogs become more confident.
I have been a live-in employee at multiple boarding and training facilities caring for dogs and teaching obedience classes. I even had the incredible opportunity of being an apprentice with Todd Dunlap, a leading working dog trainer in the United States, for several months.
Outside of dog training, I have a diverse background in animal care and husbandry. I have worked extensively with horses and dairy cattle and spent 2 years working as a veterinary technician. I am Red Cross certified in pet first aid and CPR, and have a formal education in Animal Science and Health.
I was able to achieve several Agility and Obedience titles with Zoe, and competed with dogs in Flyball. I now have two dogs, who are my absolute passion, Modoc and D’Wildcat, which I train in the sports of Agility and Mondio Ring.
I am very excited to be at The Doghouse, and eager to pursue my passion of helping people achieve better communication relationships with their dogs.
Jordan Wooddell, Operations Manager
I fell into the wonderful world of dogs through meeting my beautiful wife, Carrie.
I met Carrie, and this fantastic business of hers, in 2011, shortly after graduating from the United States Coast Guard Academy, at my first operational unit onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, home ported in St. Petersburg, FL.
During my time in the Coast Guard I had the privilege of learning about dogs by conducting several operations and training with canines. I conducted Counter Drug Operations onboard vessels in the Caribbean as the Lead Boarding Officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency Canine Units and during my second tour at the Maritime Security Response Team where I was the Explosive Detection Canine Officer, responsible for the readiness of 3 teams in Maritime Counter Terrorism Operations.
Upon the end of my obligated service time, I joined The Doghouse team full time along with the newest member of our family, Penelope.
