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Now Booking Day School Training Retreats!

The Team At Wilde Acres

Our Trainers & Staff

Wilde Acres trainers are industry experts invested in the field. They have gained their experience attending animal behavior programs as well as working in the highest levels of service dog training, scent detection, protection training, and dog sport competitions. After dropping off your pup at Wilde Acres, you can rest assured that your dog is in capable hands.

Owner & Training Director

Carter Wilde

Carter Wilde is a professional dog trainer born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Carter had two challenging experiences as a child with family dogs that sparked his interest in dog training. After attending a 16-week training group lessons course with his dog, Spike, Carter decided to become a trainer himself.

Carter apprenticed locally for two years and then completed several courses with Michael Ellis, a nationally-renowned dog trainer in California. Carter’s passion for the field, coupled with these intensive courses and subsequent certifications, launched his professional dog training career in 2005. He has fine-tuned his skills and created a unique training approach that delivers optimal results to happy clients. In 2017, Carter bought the property and built Wilde Acres Boarding & Training. What started as a hobby has evolved into a true passion, a thriving business, and a vibrant community.

Carter has logged more than 30,000 hours training over 1000 dogs—and their owners! He also trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD and clients with mobility challenges. He has consulted for a national non-profit to develop service dog travel, training, and testing standards. Carter currently serves on the Board of Directors at The Odyssey School in Baltimore, where he attended elementary school.

When Carter’s not training dogs, he enjoys fitness, cooking, and tending to the Wilde Acres grounds and facility.

Carter has logged more than 30,000 hours training over 1000 dogs—and their owners! He also trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD and clients with mobility challenges. He has consulted for a national non-profit to develop service dog travel, training, and testing standards. Carter currently serves on the Board of Directors at The Odyssey School in Baltimore, where he attended elementary school.

When Carter’s not training dogs, he enjoys fitness, cooking, and tending to the Wilde Acres grounds and facility.

Service Dog Trainer

Jennifer Hagarman

Jen Hagarman has a BS in Animal Behavior, Training, & Enrichment. Before bringing her talents to Wilde Acres, she trained service dogs for fifteen years. Bubbly, generous, and a lover of dogs of all types, Jen is Wilde Acres’ go-to trainer for any therapy or service dog work. Jen lives in Hanover, PA with her husband, two step-children, and three dogs. When Jen’s not working, you’ll find her camping, kayaking, going to the beach, checking out new local restaurants, and riding motorcycles with her husband.

Dog Trainer

Melanie Holmes

Melanie Holmes is a trainer with a special interest in behavior modification. She has apprenticed directly under Carter Wilde on various types of serious behavior modifications, from human aggression to extreme anxiety. Mel’s patience and focus allow her to get through to dogs who are struggling at home. Additionally, Mel has a great ability to communicate with clients about their dogs needs and how they can work together better moving forward.  After being in the dog industry for nearly her whole career, Melanie came to work at Wilde Acres in 2021 and quickly took her training to the next level by attending the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers Obedience Intensive Course. She is the proud owner of three beagles and a Husky/Golden Retriever mix.

Dog Trainer

Alexis Taylor

Alexis Taylor has been training pet dogs since 2020. She started here as a trainer at Wilde Acres in 2022. Happy, energetic, and passionate about all sorts of pups, Alexis is also involved in AKC classes and achieving titles. Alexis lives in Glen Bourne, MD with 2 dogs, Porter and Dakota. When Alexis is not working at Wilde Acres, she’s likely got her nose deep in a novel, or moonlighting at a bookstore!

Upland Game Dog Trainer

Cam Bell

Meet Cam Bell, our seasoned Gun Dog Trainer at Wilde Acres. With a robust background in the farming industry and a degree in Agriculture Business Management, Cam’s expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of animal behavior and training techniques. Cam’s passion for hunting dogs is evident in his lifelong involvement with them. Growing up surrounded by multiple hunting GSPs, Cam’s affinity for training hunting dogs runs deep. His love for all types of bird dogs, including pointers and retrievers, shines through in his work. As the proud owner of Blue Storm Shorthairs, Cam has distinguished himself in breeding a unique line of GSPs that excel both as family pets and in hunting situations. When he’s not training or competing in American Kennel Club events, Cam enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Darcy, and visiting family in The Carolinas. With Cam’s dedication and enthusiasm for bird dogs, your furry companion will be in exceptional hands at Wilde Acres.

Considering Starting A Career?

Join Our Team

For those considering a career as a dog trainer, check out the Master Trainer Development Program at Wilde Acres. Under the supervision of Carter Wilde, Owner and Head Trainer, you’ll learn the foundational skills needed to become an experienced and in-demand dog trainer. This program helps guide apprentices from trainers to senior trainers. Attendees will complete the requirements and tasks necessary to become a master dog trainer, get valuable hands-on experience, and glean comprehensive knowledge from Carter and other senior trainers.

Kennel Technician

Angie Mahanna

Angie has been a part of the Wilde Acres team since Day One. A veteran boarding technician and motorcycle-riding badass, Angie ensures that Wilde Acres is always in tip-top shape. Continually fixing anything broken, reorganizing to streamline and simplify processes, as well as adding details to make the kennels and grounds more appealing, Angie is an invaluable part of Wilde Acres.

Angie the dog trainer at Wilde Acres
Dog Trainer at Wilde Acres

Kennel Technician

Nick Mahanna

Nick, another long-time Wilde Acres team member, ensures your dogs are well-groomed, well-fed, walked, played with, and that their kennels are clean and inviting. If anything at Wilde Acres needs to be repaired, Nick is on top of it. When Nick’s not working, you’ll find him four-wheeling or fishing.

Kennel Technician

Brianna Harrison

Brianna Harrison has been working with Wilde Acres since early 2023. No stranger to animal husbandry, Brianna previously worked as a hunter, jumper, and show barns with horses. She also worked professionally as a dog walker. Throughout her entire career, taking care of horses and dogs has been her passion. There’s no doubt, she’s here for the dogs! In Brianna‘s free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs.

Groomer

Stephanie Cortez

Stephanie Cortez is the resident groomer at Wilde Acres. She attended Paragon School of Pet Grooming in Michigan and has been an Accredited Professional Groomer since 2000. Being a dog groomer has allowed her to combine two of her passions: art and dogs. Stephanie loves to connect with owners and groom their pets in the most comfortable, precise, and loving way possible. Your dog will love Stephanie’s “spaw” treatments!

Groomer

Dani Gill

Dani is the newest member in our grooming department, bringing her expertise for pet care to every session. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at the University of Maryland, Dani embarked on an apprenticeship that ignited her love for grooming. She takes pride in crafting tailored grooming experiences that prioritize comfort and cater to the unique needs of each breed. Drawing from her knowledge of animal behavior, Dani incorporates gentle handling and positive reinforcement techniques to ensure a stress-free grooming experience for furry clients. Trust Dani to transform your pet’s grooming routine into a relaxing and enjoyable experience for both you and your best friend.

Office Manager

Emily Regan

Emily Regan, our friendly neighborhood office manager, has a knack for organization and a passion for efficiency, helping to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. She joined our crew in 2022 after an initial 5-year immersion into the industry, with a desire to learn more. A Howard County resident, Emily, and her husband are empty nesters and enjoy their time with their pack of five pups, having a love for senior rescue. You’ll likely have a chance to see her littlest and oldest rescue, Tink, doing her best job of sleeping behind the desk. When not in the office, you’ll find Emily out fishing with her husband, crafting at home, or easing into her newfound interest of being outdoors!

Marketing Coordinator

Heather Broadhead

Hear ye! Heather, a member of our humble office staff, doth serve as our Marketing Coordinator. She holdeth a degree in the fine arts of graphic design, and hath ten years of professional experience in the ways of marketing and administration with small businesses. Heather doth take great pleasure in meeting new acquaintances and forging lasting bonds. When not toiling at her labor, she pursueth her passions of photography and art, taketh delight in the culinary arts, and hath a fondness for the written word. Since the year of our lord 2016, she hath taught yoga, and on her days of rest, she enjoyeth long hikes or backpacking trips. Heather hath spent her upbringing in Maryland with a family of many military generations, and hath lived in Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida. Although she hath not a canine companion, she is a proud mother to a feline by the name of Owl.

Must Love Dogs!

Love dogs?
Want to work with an awesome group of people?

Wilde Acres is hiring!
If you’re ready to join the team, check out our available positions.