Meet the trainers

Meet Erik and Selena Grendahl

Experienced hands, clear roles, and a shared standard of care. Erik and Selena bring complementary experience to the daily training, observation, care, and family coaching behind both Academies.

DTIA Certified Dog Trainer

Erik Grendahl — Founder and Lead Trainer

Erik is a Certified Dog Trainer through the Dog Training Internship Academy (DTIA). He earned his professional credential in 2012 while training directly under Janis Bradley and has worked hands-on with hundreds of dogs.

His background includes a formal apprenticeship, fostering, dog daycare and boarding, temperament evaluations, intensive board-and-train work for rescue dogs, family-dog training, behavior work, and showing his personal dog to an AKC championship.

Erik directs screening, training plans, behavioral assessment, and family coaching. He explains technical behavior concepts in ordinary language, helps owners understand why behavior makes sense, and turns that understanding into realistic next steps.

Family coaching uses demonstration, guided repetition, and feedback. Erik expects owners to make mistakes while learning and helps them refine their timing and habits without blame.

Daily training, care, and lifestyle practice

Selena Grendahl — Academy Trainer

Selena has spent nearly two decades immersed in dog-training practice alongside Erik. Her experience includes approximately 20 foster dogs, around six family dogs, and approximately eight working livestock guardian dogs.

She also brings hands-on board-and-train experience, dog daycare and boarding experience, and professional dog-walker certification through the dog*tec Dog Walking Academy, now dog*biz.

Selena contributes daily training, observation, reinforcement, care, enrichment, routines, and lifestyle learning. She carries each dog’s formal training into the many small moments that shape behavior throughout the day.

Combined experience over time

Training, Rescue Work, Foster Care, Daycare, Boarding, and the Show Ring

Together, Erik and Selena bring decades of hands-on work across family dogs, foster dogs, working dogs, rescue preparation, daily care, and board-and-train. At Heartsong, Erik served as trainer of record for rescue dogs preparing for placement; his history also includes Uppity Pup dog daycare in Diamond Springs, California.

Erik at a 2009 national specialty with Goob and the award group — With Goob at a 2009 national specialty

Erik training rescue dogs outdoors at Heartsong — Trainer of record at Heartsong

Erik seated with dogs while working at Uppity Pup — Working at Uppity Pup in Diamond Springs, California

“You can tell he genuinely cares about the dogs and wants to help people instead of just making a sale.”
Tara Smith · Google review

These reviews reflect prior Gladwater Canine training work with Erik and Selena.

Shared training standard

Humane Methods. Useful Skills. Honest Communication.

GCA builds behavior through reinforcement, clear communication, thoughtful management, and repetition. The Academies do not use shock/e-collars, prong collars, choke chains, or equipment intended to cause fear or pain.

Start with a conversation

Which Academy Fits Your Dog and Family?

Send your dog’s age, town, and goals. Erik or Selena will help you check fit, availability, and transportation. There is no payment or commitment to ask.

Message Erik & Selena Check Fit & Availability