Tropical K9 Consultants – Winter Garden

Training begins with a free in-home evaluation to understand the dog’s behavior and the owner’s goals. Programs are then customized and delivered in the client’s home, with ongoing sessions focused on teaching the owner how to reinforce desired behaviors. Puppy training is offered with discounts when bundled with basic obedience. Service and ESA dog training is available with specialized protocols. All training emphasizes positive reinforcement, redirection, and consistency without physical corrections.

Pricing Summary

Programs are customized based on the dog and family’s needs, with no fixed pricing. A free evaluation is offered first to assess requirements and develop a tailored plan that fits the client’s budget. No high-pressure sales are used.

Tropical K9 Consultants is a professional in-home dog training service based in Winter Garden, serving the Orlando area and the Treasure Coast. Founded by Joanna Hart, a native Floridian with over 45 years of hands-on experience, the business specializes in personalized, compassionate training that focuses on teaching rather than correcting. Joanna uses positive, gentle methods to address obedience, leash pulling, reactivity, barking, jumping, separation anxiety, and more — for puppies, adult dogs, and even service or emotional support animals. Training occurs in the client’s home to reduce distractions and build confidence, with all programs customized to fit the dog’s needs and the family’s lifestyle. No high-pressure sales are used, and every client receives a free evaluation before committing. Joanna’s background includes apprenticeships with renowned professionals and involvement in Schutzhund, a high-level dog sport requiring precision in obedience, agility, and tracking.

The business emphasizes that no two dogs or families are the same, so training plans are never one-size-fits-all. They offer discounted puppy training packages when bundled with basic obedience, and they support families with service and ESA dog training needs. Their approach prioritizes understanding, patience, and clear communication between owner and dog.

Joanna’s methods avoid physical corrections and instead rely on redirection, tone, and positive reinforcement to build lasting behavior change. Clients are taught how to continue training at home, making the process collaborative and sustainable.

Accomplishments

Joanna Hart has over 45 years of experience training dogs, beginning as a teenager in Miami. She apprenticed with Gary Fondren and worked in veterinary hospitals, gaining extensive public and family interaction experience. She trained extensively in Schutzhund alongside renowned handlers including Phil Holsher, Rick Trezona, Annitta Chandler, and Adonis Fleitas, with whom she worked as a husband-and-wife team. Her approach evolved from traditional methods to a compassionate, behavior-focused philosophy centered on understanding the dog’s needs.

How to Get Started!

Client engagement begins with a free in-home evaluation. Prospective clients can request this evaluation via an online form or by calling the office. During the evaluation, Joanna meets the dog and family at home to discuss behavior issues, goals, and create a customized training plan with no pressure to commit.