About Heart & Soul Dog Training
Professional Experience. Individualized Training. Real-World Results.
At Heart & Soul Dog Training, we believe effective training starts with understanding the individual dog and the people who live and work with them.
For more than 20 years, we've helped dogs and their people build better communication, reliable skills, and the confidence to succeed in everyday life. Our experience includes companion dogs, puppies, challenging behaviors, Board & Train, service dog training, and professional education.
We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every dog has different genetics, temperament, history, environment, and goals. Our job is to understand the dog in front of us and create a training plan that makes sense for that dog and their people.
Victoria Warfel
Founder & Head Trainer
Victoria Warfel has more than 20 years of experience as a professional dog trainer and service dog trainer. She is also the Executive Director of Hope Service Dogs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to breeding, raising, and training Golden Retrievers for service work.
Her experience includes training companion dogs, addressing challenging behaviors, developing service dog teams, educating handlers, and training dogs from puppyhood through working partnership.
Victoria shares her experience and knowledge through professional training, speaking engagements, the Service Dog Success podcast, and online education.
She is also available as a Service Dog Consultant for workshops and speaking engagements.
Professional Credentials & Experience
NePoPo® Certified Gold Premium Trainer
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification & License
NePoPo® Gold Premium Graduate (one of 10 graduates)
NePoPo® Silver School Graduate (attended 4 times)
NePoPo® Gold School Graduate (attended 5 times)
Certified Dog Trainer (IACP-CDT)
Certified Dog Trainer-Advanced (IACP-CDTA)
Professional Dog Training Instructor (IACP-PDTI)
Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Speaker on Service Dogs at the 2026 United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation’s (UMDF) Mitochondrial Medicine Conference in Orlando, Florida
Speaker on Puppy Development at the 2025 Working Dog Conference annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee
Speaker on Puppy Development at the 2023 International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Speaker on Holistic Training at the 2017 International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri
Perception Modification 1 Certified in the Syn Alia Training System
The first Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) in the southeastern United States
Earned the Trainer of the Year award
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Community Canine Evaluator, Urban Canine Good Citizen, S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor & Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
AKC-Approved Farm Dog Certified Judge
AKC-Approved Temperament Test (ATT) Evaluator
Founder & Owner of the Professional Women Dog Trainers Facebook group
Founder & Owner of the Aspiring Professional Women Dog Trainers Facebook group
Certified Canine Kinesiology Tape Practitioner
Certified Canine Essential Oils Practitioner, Levels 1 & 2
Certified in Aromatherapy
Certified Animal Reiki Practitioner
Usui Reiki Master
Best Selling Author
Canine First Aid/CPR certified thru American Red Cross
Richard Warfel
Trainer
Richard brings a calm, patient approach to dog training and has extensive experience working with both companion dogs and service dogs. He is particularly skilled at helping dogs and their owners work through challenging behaviors while building clear communication and reliable skills.
His professional credentials include:
Certified NePoPo® Gold Instructor
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification & License
NePoPo® Silver and Gold School Graduate
IACP Certified Dog Trainer (IACP-CDT)
Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals
Perception Modification 1 Certified in the Syn Alia Training System
Certified Trick Dog Instructor
AKC-approved Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, Urban CGC, and S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator
Best-selling author
Canine First Aid/CPR certified through the American Red Cross
Tera Becker
Trainer
Tera has been a valued member of Team Hope for four years. She is known for her dedication to the dogs and her ability to clearly explain training concepts to clients.
Tera is an AKC-approved evaluator for Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, Urban Canine Good Citizen, and S.T.A.R. Puppy programs.
Experience You Can Trust
Decades of Experience
We've worked with thousands of dogs and their people, giving us experience across a wide range of breeds, temperaments, training goals, and real-world situations.
Professional Training
Our approach is based on education, experience, observation, and individualized training—not a one-size-fits-all formula.
Real-World Experience
Training needs to work outside the training room. We emphasize skills that translate into everyday life and environments.
Education
Through personal coaching, online courses, and the Service Dog Success podcast, we share what we've learned with dog owners and handlers around the world.
Heart & Soul + Hope Service Dogs
Two Organizations. Two Missions. One History.
Heart & Soul Dog Training and Hope Service Dogs, Inc. are separate organizations.
Heart & Soul Dog Training provides professional dog training and education, including pet dog training, behavior modification, Board & Train, personal coaching, online education, and service dog training.
Hope Service Dogs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on breeding, raising, and training Golden Retrievers for service work.
Heart & Soul's experience in service dog training helped inspire the creation of Hope Service Dogs, allowing that work to grow into a dedicated nonprofit organization.
Our Philosophy
Train the Dog in Front of You
Every dog is an individual.
Temperament, environment, history, genetics, motivation, and the goals of the handler all influence how a dog learns.
That's why we don't believe in cookie-cutter training.
We evaluate the individual dog, identify what needs to change, and create a training plan designed around the dog and the people who live with them.
Ready to Work With Us?
Whether you need help with a puppy, behavior challenge, obedience, Board & Train, or service dog training, we're here to help.
NePoPo® is a registered Service Mark of Bart Bellon and Michael Bellon and is used here with permission.