About Us

Our Training Center Philosophy

We can teach you how to communicate with your dog and better understand canine behavior while being sensitive to your pet's unique personality!

We center our training approach on Matthew's unique set of five handling manners. These are casual, command-free responsibilities for your dog that do not require the rigidity of formal commands.

The result is legitimate, hands-free, relaxed control over your canine companion while he/she is in the center of activity.

Shaping Behavior 

Once handling manners (which act as the core of your new relationship with your pet) have been well-learned, we can launch you and your canine companion into any direction of formal training you desire.

Utilizing motivational techniques such as positive reinforcement and non-verbal deterrents, in conjunction with consistent handling, we can help you teach your dog a broad range of commands and hand signals.

Our focus during training will be on reward (lots of it), not harmful negativity. In fact, at our training center, we do not use any physical reprimands or negative emotions during your dog's learning exercises!

Meet Matthew’s Team

Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Matthew Duffy

Owner


    Matthew Duffy lives in the same small county of Southern Indiana where he was born in 1957. His natural rapport with animals became apparent at the young age of thirteen, when he worked as a mounted trail guide for a local riding stable. After years of working with horses, Matthew turned his full attention to dogs. He completed a comprehensive, professional dog trainer’s course in 1980 and soon became the head instructor at a prominent kennel in Louisville, KY.

         In 1983 Matthew entered into a partnership with an active canine training facility in Indiana. Several years later he established his own company Advanced Training Kennels Inc. which evolved into his present-day company, Duffy’s Dog Training Center LLC.

         During his formal study of behavior at Indiana University Southeast, Matthew was inducted into the National Honor Society of Psychology in 1993. Through his study and hands-on experience with training thousands of canine personalities, as well as, his time as an auxiliary K-9 handler for the Floyd County Police Dept., a competitor in the United Schutzhund Clubs of America, and an exhibitor in American Kennel Club dog shows; Matthew developed his unique approach to dog-training that is founded on the concept of canine self-control.

         Currently Matthew operates Duffy’s Dog Training Center where he oversees the instruction of several hundred canines and their owners annually. Over the past four decades Matthew has been steadily busy training dogs for every conceivable task: family-pet obedience, service-dog assistance, AKC competitions, IPO sport, Police K-9 duty, and scent-detection that ranges from bedbugs to bombs.

         Since 2008, Matthew has been conducting quarterly Pet-Safety Seminars for the Norton Hospital systems in Louisville, KY. In 2017 Norton’s contracted Matthew to select and train special canine-candidates to become permanent Therapy Dogs for several of their facilities. A first of its kind program for the Midwestern medical community.

         From 2009 to 2015, Matthew instructed at the Annual K-9 Street Survival Seminar in the Smokies, which is one of the largest and longest-running police K-9 seminars in the United States. Also during that time period, Matthew worked with dog-teams within the Naval Special Warfare program, helping them to prepare for combat deployments.

         Matthew has authored three books on the canine subject: “Ten Natural Steps to Training the Family Dog,” “Dog Training and Eight Faces of Aggressive Behavior,” and “Franklin” (The Man behind the United States Commando Dogs).

Shayna Ireland

Date of Hire: 10-14-2022


      Shayna has had a love of dogs and helping dogs her whole life! She has accumulated a lot of handling and dog experience working with other day care facilities for dogs and can also be found doing dog sitting services with Rover.   Her family has always had dogs since she was little and has been raised in the "dog" way of life.   She comes to us with a great compassion in helping dogs and a desire to help shape their behavior for the better so that our clients have better relationships with their companions. 

   

      When she is not spending time with her family or at the center spending time with the dogs, she can be found doing pictures or posting on social media.  Many of the pictures you get from our dogs boarding are usually between her and Jana!  She loves doing agility with the dogs to bring out their confidence and working with our service dogs while they are in training. 



     Fun fact: Shayna's birthday and the dog in her mom's care are the same day so they celebrate accordingly!

Cathy Cantu — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Jana Davis

(Service Dog Specialist)

Date of hire: 12-01-2019

      In 2005, Jana Davis not only graduated salutatorian from Southern Indiana’s Charlestown High School, she also earned a full basketball scholarship to Oakland City University. Graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s of Science in 2009, Jana launched into a 10 year teaching career where she instructed young people in mathematics at Meade County High School and Community Montessori. 

      Jana joined the Duffy’s Team in 2019, after completing extensive obedience training with her personal dog, “Chewy.” For the past two years, Jana has directed her exceptional study and instruction skills toward the realm of canine-training. She’s a naturally compassionate animal-person and a patient empathetic teacher. There’s no better combination of personality traits to ensure success as a Professional Dog Trainer. Duffy’s is fortunate to have such a high-caliber instructor on their staff.

   Jana and Finley is one of our therapy dog teams with Duffy's Dog Training Center.   As they grow and refine their skills it makes for a blossoming long lasting relationship between the two. 

      When Jana is off campus, she’s busy capturing first-class images of human beings and their animals with high-tech camera gear. Natural-Light Photography is a serious pursuit for Jana that brings together the things she loves most in this world like people, dogs and the outdoors.   

Heidi O'Bryant — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Heidi O'Bryant

(General Manager)

Date of hire: 07-05-2009


        Heidi has grown up with Duffy’s Training philosophy her entire life. Being Matthew Duffy’s daughter Heidi has been in and around Duffy’s Dog Training center since she was old enough to walk. Heidi trained her first two dogs for Duffy’s over summer break when she was just 12 years old. At 13 years old Heidi started showing her own dog in AKC conformation competitions. By 15 years old Heidi began volunteering at Hillside Animal Clinic. During her Junior and Senior year of highschool, Heidi worked as a veterinary technician at Hillside Animal Clinic.

       Through the years she has continued to step in and out helping with training at Duffy’s Dog Training Center, while growing her family. In July of 2009 Heidi was officially hired by Duffy’s Dog Training center as office manager and professional trainer. By late 2009 Heidi was the lead trainer under Matthew Duffy for the Bedbug Detection Dog Training. 


Fun Fact:
Heidi rode for Purdue University’s Equestrian Team, while majoring in Psychology and minoring in Organizational Leadership & Supervision.


Specialities: Scent Detection, Confirmation Showing, Family Dog Behavior Management.

Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Grant Foster

(Operations Manager)

Date of hire: 04-04-2018


GRANT FOSTER 

        Born and raised in Southern Indiana, Grant has no memory of life outside the company of trained working-dogs. German Shepherds accomplished in obedience skills, formidable in their security ability, and proficient in scent detection were his everyday companions.

        After graduating from Floyd Central High School (ranked within the “Top Ten” schools of the Louisville Metro area), Grant went to work planting trees for a local landscaping business. Inherently drawn to the outdoors and given his canine oriented childhood, a career in professional dog-training seemed a natural fit for Grant. His formal education in canine behavior-shaping began in April of 2018, and he’s never considered any other trade as his lifelong pursuit. 

       To this day, Grant hones his dog-training skills with true passion, and he can be found on any given morning collecting eggs from seven free-ranging chickens with his faithful Malinois and Dutch Shepherd sidekicks.    


Fun Fact: Grant does enjoy the outdoors playing softball, volleyball and golf when he is not with his dogs.


Specialties: Scent Detection, Family Dog Development, Watchdog Enhancement.


               

     


Greg Handy

(Retail Manager)

Date of hire: 04-19-2021


     Graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School with a 3.62 GPA, Greg moved right into the University of Louisville for undergraduate studies looking for his occupational calling. After 25 years of working his way through many facets of the international retail and distribution industry, Greg rose to a position of a key supervisor for Wolverine Worldwide. 

     In February of 2021, Greg officially launched into professional dog training. Instantly realizing that shaping canine behavior and instructing their owners was a perfect fit for his high energy and probing intellect, Greg was finally able to put his exceptional leadership skills and problem-solving abilities to satisfying use. 

     A passionate outdoorsman, Greg has spent a lifetime hiking/backpacking the rugged wooded country of the U.S. He is currently a certified First Responder and routinely works with the Red River Gorge Trail Crew to maintain trails and build footbridges within the Daniel Boone National Forest.

     More weekends than not, you’ll find Greg on the trail with his partner Brooke, daughter Kenzie and his faithful companion Jasper. The canine-world and the natural world are the perfect blend for Greg Handy the Professional Dog Trainer.                                                                 

Fun Fact:  Greg has logged 137 natural arches on his family hiking excursions.


Specialties: Family Dog Behavior Shaping, Retail, Recreational Tracking


Annie Davenport

Date of hire: 10-04-2022

      Annie is a breath of fresh air to our team.  She can always be found with a smile and willing to help whenever she can.   Prior to coming on to Duffy's and being a part of the clan, she worked on a farm handling a lot of the animals and working especially with the farm dogs.   She has worked with positive reinforcement training with dogs prior to coming onto Duffy's and expanding her training style to be more of the balanced training with the Heuristic learning theory that we utilize everyday. 


    Annie loves finding the good in things and with every dog she works with, even our not so happy ones, she is always interested in what causes the behaviors and how we can shape them for better relationships with their owners. 


      She loves languages and currently learning Korean.  Photography is also her hobby. 

Cathy Cantu — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Heaven Stotts

Date of hire: 09-20-2021

      Heaven came on with Duffy's with a fresh look at dog training.  She is one of our spitfire personalities. Loves dogs and is always up for the challenge in whatever she takes on. No prior experience before her time here and has built all her dog handling professionally while with us.  This is not to say she has not been around dogs her whole life.  She trained her own dogs prior to her career start with the clan.  You will possibly see her from your beginning visit with Duffy's anytime through your graduation from the obedience programs. She also has a menagerie of animals that she takes care of daily at home along with her two dogs Chevy and Bandit.   


     Fun fact:  Heaven can fit in a crate. :)   And yes.... we have the picture to prove it. 

Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Scotty Poole

(Service Dog Coordinator)

Date of hire: 04-05-2021


        Scotty Poole graduated from North Harrison High School of Southern Indiana in 2017. All through his Elementary and High School years, Scotty was a devoted Scout. He began as a Wolf Cub in 2007 and worked his way to the highest honor of Eagle Scout in 2017. Scotty earned 43 merit badges on his Journey to Eagle Scout and also served as Assistant Scoutmaster. 

     Scotty joined the Duffy’s Dog Training Team in April of 2021 after completing a full Obedience Course with his faithful Siberian Husky. Service-Dog training has become Scotty’s focus and passion which allow him to best follow his dream of giving back to the community. 

      Scotty and Scout are one of our therapy teams with Duffy's Dog Training. 

      Hiking in the backcountry and kayaking are Scotty’s recreations of choice. Of course, he wouldn’t dream of doing either one without his four-legged partner that’s aptly named “Scout!”


Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Christian Hartlage

Date of hire: 11-03-2021


       Christian began his dog training journey in 2021 when he adopted a "bait" dog out of a Kentucky shelter.  He has a passion working with the more abused, aggressive dogs to helped rehabilitate for more lasting relationships with their owners.  Since being part of the Duffy's Clan he has added to his "pack" taking in other dogs in need.   Christian's ability to read dogs and their behaviors has really evolved since being with Duffy's and now he is one of our senior trainers working with anything from our basic family obedience client to our more aggressive dog clientele. 

      Christian also enjoys dressing in the wide variety of outfits for our decoys with the advanced watchdog lessons.   

       

      When he is not at the center he can be found in the music world playing at different venues and spending time with his family.

Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Amanda Taylor

(Administrative Manager)

Date of hire: 08-04-2020


     Amanda grew-up in the lush countryside of the Cumberland Kentucky area, surrounded by the constant companionship of family dogs. A caretaker from the start, Amanda graduated from McCreary Central High school in 2000 and set her sights on Nursing School at Bellarmine University. 

     After graduating from Bellarmine in 2005 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing, Amanda immediately went to work in the medical community while simultaneously pursuing her Masters of Science Degree, which she completed in 2010. 

     Amanda made a career shift in August 2020 when she joined the Duffy’s Dog Training Team. Redirecting her attending skills toward our canine friends and their owners was a natural transition for Amanda. Her compassion for dogs is apparent in every aspect of interaction with our vast and varied clientele base. 

     Partnered with her Therapy Dog, “Jensen” (a specimen of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), Amanda not only manages the administrative needs for Duffy’s Dog Training Center (while also handling dogs), she continues her involvement in the health industry as a Nursing Educator (specializing in ICU and ER care).


 Fun facts: Amanda served as a Volunteer Firefighter before she launched into a canine training career. Refining Jensen’s Therapy Skills is far more entertaining for the two than laborious.


Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Jordan Fields

(Social Media Coordinator)

Date of hire: July 10, 2023


         Jordan is one of our newest additions to the Duffy Team.   His dog training history began around the age of 19.  He got his first dog, realizing it was a big responsibility to own a pup.   After getting his own dog, he grew a passion for working with the dog and has been training canines for his family and friends ever since.   

        Training history began with his own research and teaching himself and then began working at Petco and training there.   He also did some studies at "Dog Training College" in Sellersburg.  He now has about 6 years of experience and exposure to different dogs and breeds.   His own sidekick, Harley, is at his side pretty much everyday.   He has also documented teaching his toddler son to dog train and follow his footsteps!  He has a special interest in Watchdog/Protection work. 


        Fun fact: Jordan loves Marvel and says that Spiderman is his favorite.  Jordan is a 3 year state champ in track.  He began running in high school and went to Bellarmine on a scholarship.   

Grant Foster — Jefferson, IN — Duffy's Dog Training Center

Maranda Jenkins

(Kennel Coordinator)

Date of hire: 3-15-2022


       Since Maranda came on she has been a strong foundation of helping organize and coordinate business functions with Duffy's Dog Training.   She has always grown up in the area and had dogs her entire life.   She has had experience withing at a show kennel taking care of show dogs and assisting with grooming.   She can be found with her mini sidekick Millie May when she is at work.   

      When not at Duffy's, Maranda is always doing things with her children and family. 


      Fun Fact:  She loves doing home decorating and coordinating functions.  Definitely the organized and multi tasking mind! 

Miki Towles

(Office Coordinator)

Date of hire: 08-15-2022


     Miki grew up in the bluegrass state of Kentucky.   Long standing history with owning and working with German Shepherds.   She is our female resident German Shepherd whisperer.   She has owned "Live Find" search K9 named "Siren" about 17 years ago.   

     In Spring of 2022, she became a member of Dogs Helping Heroes (DHH) which brought her to Duffy's so that she could train her current dog at that time to be her service dog.   Since then she has also added to her "pack" and now has a mini entourage of shepherds wherever she goes.   Miki has also worked with police K9 officers with tracking, article search and drug work training.   

     Miki has had a long career as 911 Dispatcher, EMT, CPR/First Aid K9 Certifications and working with other service dogs.  These skills have helped her transition to taking on the role of office coordinator.  She can be seen at the center training dogs, instructing lessons but also answering phones, scheduling and helping clients with any issues they maybe having.   


      Fun Fact: When Miki isn't at the center, she is usually spending time with her kids and grandkids, her dogs or making custom cakes. 

Breanna Brock

Date of hire: 04-01-2023


     Bri is another one of our girls that is a breath of fresh air.  Always coming in willing to help, smiling and assisting our client any way possible.   Her work history focus was more of a lot of young children, which she finds very similar.  Bri's ability when she works with dogs allows them to be very trusting in their handlers.  She always has a warm and positive note to her handling which comes in great when she is the distraction. 

     

     Fun Fact

Devan Davis

Date of hire: 05-15-2023


       Devan is one of newest members to the Duffy's team.   He graduated from Brownstown Central High School in 2018 with a Core 40 and academic honors.   While in high school he was very involved with band playing multiple types of saxophone and a drum major his senior year.   His current studies have led him to attending Indiana University Southeast pursuing his bachelors of science in Biology with minors in chemistry and microbiology and will be graduating fall of 2023 with plans to pursue a PhD in ecology, evolution and animal behavior.   

       Devan also serves our country as a medic with the Indiana Army National Guard.  His hobbies include hiking, camping, spending time outdoors with his dogs and listening to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Share by: