MEET YOUR MIAMI DOG TRAINERS

Katie Casell

Dances With Dogs Founder and Dog Trainer

Katie Casell is a multi-certified dog trainer with over two decades of experience helping dogs and their families build lasting bonds through positive reinforcement. She founded Dances With Dogs in 2002, and has since grown her team of trainers, dog walkers, adventure specialists, and cat sitters into a trusted force-free practice known for consistently reliable, detail-oriented care.

Her credentials reflect a deep and ongoing commitment to animal behavior science. She holds certifications from some of the most respected institutions in the field:

Her work spans everything from puppy foundations to complex behavior cases, and her reputation has taken her well beyond the everyday.

Katie believes training should be engaging, motivating, and genuinely fun for both dogs and the people who love them. The methods and equipment used at Dances With Dogs will never hurt or frighten your dog. That’s not just a preference; it’s a standard she holds for her entire team.

Renee

Dog Trainer

Renee’s journey in the animal world began in 2014 when she started volunteering for a local foster based rescue, where she met her “soul dog,” Angel the chiweenie. From those early days as a dog washer and kennel attendant to her time as a dog walker, pet sitter, and livestock sanctuary volunteer, she has spent a lot of time hands-on with animals.

These experiences fueled a deep-seated desire to understand the why behind animal behavior, leading her to Oregon State University, where she earned a dual B.S. in Animal Science and Psychology with a focus in animal behavior and cognition.

In 2021, Renee officially bridged the gap between hands-on care and behavioral science as a researcher in Dr. Monique Udell’s Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Lab. This academic background allows her to bring an evidence-based, research-backed perspective to her work, while her years of informally training foster dogs and volunteering for animal-assisted coaching programs keep her grounded in the practical, day-to-day realities of animal care.

While Renee is happy to work with any animal, she has a soft spot for the “misfits.” She specializes in working with anxious, fearful, and reactive rescues, helping them find their confidence in a loud world. She also loves working with puppies to build solid, proactive foundations that prevent future behavior issues before they start.

When Renee isn’t working with clients or keeping up with the latest behavioral research, you can usually find her advocating for small rescues or spending time with the dogs who started it all.

Drew

Dog Trainer

Andrew “Drew” Scullion has over 30 years of experience in animal behavior, conditioning, and training. He has been one of the world’s top behaviorists in marine mammal training and has worked for some of the most renowned marine mammal facilities and companies throughout the globe.

He started his animal training career in 1991 at Walt Disney World. Since that time, he has worked for, consulted with, and/or managed animal training departments for SeaWorld, Dolphin Quest, Sea Life Park Hawaii, Marineland France, the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, the FBI, the Miami Seaquarium, and others.

His training experience has included a large variety of animals, from killer whales, dolphins, and sea lions to birds, sloths, and monkeys. He has always owned and been fond of dogs from a young age and finds a passion in helping people with their dogs’ behavior to positively enhance the quality of their lives and the relationships they share.

He moved to Miami from Hawaii in 2023 to assist the Miami Seaquarium with their animal behavior and care departments.