ABOUT DOG GROVE
Built on Respect.
Run by People Who Get It.
Dog Grove was founded by two people who've spent decades doing the work, not selling treats, not running through scripts. Just real training, in a place built for it.
30 Years in the Making. One Vision.
Where Calm Meets Obedience
Welcome to Dog Grove, South Florida's premier board and train facility. We turn everyday chaos into calm, reliable obedience through structured, no-treat training built on respect, not bribery.
Our Story
Dog Grove was founded by Edgar Hernandez, an NK-9 certified trainer and certified kennel management professional who has been transforming South Florida dogs since 1994. From small dogs with big attitudes to large breeds that never learned their manners, he has seen and corrected it all. The mission is simple: create lasting harmony in homes across South Florida, one dog at a time.
We are passionate about helping owners achieve real, lasting change in their dogs' behavior through customized, results-driven programs shaped around each dog's specific needs. At Dog Grove we are committed to you and your dog, and we believe every dog deserves the chance to be a calm, confident, well-behaved member of the family. Our certified trainers work with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages, addressing everything from basic obedience to serious behavior issues, with programs personalized for the range of owners we serve here in South Florida.
Three Things We Refuse to Compromise.
No Treats. Ever.
Treats teach a dog to perform for food. They don't change behavior. We use touch-based positive reinforcement and structured communication; methods built to hold up when the cookie isn't there.
"If your dog only listens when there's a treat in your hand, you don't have a trained dog. You have a contractor." — Edgar Hernandez
Real Environments, Real Results
Your living room doesn't prepare your dog for the park, the vet, or the front door when guests arrive. Our facility is engineered for the distractions that actually trip dogs up, so the training holds up in the real world.
"Train where it's hard, and easy takes care of itself." — Aimee Fernandez
Train and Respect
Respect isn't built on bribery. It's built on consistency, clarity, and follow-through. We teach dogs the rules, and we teach owners how to keep them. That's where lasting behavior change comes from.
"You don't train a dog. You build a relationship. The training is just what's left over when the relationship works." — Edgar Hernandez
The People Behind The Grove.
Dog Grove isn't run by a corporate chain or franchise model. It's two people, decades of experience, and a small team of certified trainers; all under one roof.
Edgar Hernandez
NK-9 Certified · IACP Member · 30+ Years Experience
Edgar has spent more than three decades doing one thing, turning difficult dogs into well-mannered companions. After graduating from the National K-9 School of Dog Trainers in 1995, he built One Clever Canine into South Florida's most trusted in-home training brand, then co-founded Dog Grove to bring the same standard into a facility setting. He's worked with every breed, every behavior issue, and every owner you can imagine, and he still treats every dog like it's the first one.
Aimee Fernandez, M.S., CCC-SLP
Facility · Operations
Aimee co-founded Dog Grove to make sure every dog that walks through the doors gets the same structure, consistency, and care from day one. A certified speech-language pathologist by training, she spent her career running structured therapy programs and managing clinical operations, billing, and patient care across hospitals and clinics. That clinical, analytical mind is exactly what a training facility needs behind the scenes. She turns methods into systems and keeps the whole operation running on rhythm. A lifelong dog lover with real hands-on experience in obedience and handling, Aimee is also the force behind Dog Grove's calm, centered environment, built for the well-being of the animals and the people who love them. If Edgar is the philosophy, Aimee is the system that makes it work.
Want to meet them in person?
A Space Designed for Real Training.
Most training facilities are warehouses with kennels. Dog Grove is different. We built it from the ground up to feel calm for dogs, professional for owners, and intentional for trainers.
Zen-Inspired Design
Bamboo, bonsai, natural wood. A calming environment from the moment your dog arrives.
20 Private Kennels
Each 4 ft × 6 ft. Same generous size regardless of dog size.
Controlled-Distraction Zones
Engineered spaces that replicate the real-world environments your dog will face.
On-Site Dog Wash & Spa
Members-only grooming and post-play wash facilities.
Want to See It in Person?
Schedule a free evaluation - we'll show you around.
What Makes Us Different.
Most dog training programs look the same on the surface. Here's where we don't.
| Dog Grove | Typical Training Facility | |
|---|---|---|
| Training method | Touch-based positive reinforcement, no treats | Treat-based bribery |
| Environment | Engineered for real-world distractions | Quiet rooms, low-stimulus |
| Follow-up | At our facility, where the work was done | In your home, where it wasn't |
| Group class size | Max 6 dogs, semi-private | 10–15+ dogs, chaotic |
| Owner involvement | ~10% — we do the work | Full training homework |
| Trainer experience | 30+ years, NK-9 + IACP certified | Varies widely |
| Capacity | 20 dogs max, always | Unlimited, often overcrowded |
Trained by Standards You Can Trust.
What Our Clients Say About Us.
"We were ready to rehome our dog. Two trainers had told us he was 'too far gone.' Edgar took one look at him, told us exactly what was wrong with how we'd been handling him, and laid out a plan. Three weeks later we had a different dog. Not a fixed dog, a different dog. I tell everyone with a difficult dog: go to Dog Grove first, last, and only."
— Andrew M., Coral Gables
Rescue Labrador, severe reactivity
"Dog Grove completely changed our dog's behavior. The no-treat approach makes so much sense and the results speak for themselves."
Jessica R.
Boca Raton, FL
"The trainers are amazing and the facility is beautiful. We saw a difference in just a few days of the Board & Train program!"
Michael T.
Miami, FL
"Our puppy learned so much in group classes. Small class sizes and expert guidance make all the difference."
Samantha L.
Coral Gables, FL
See the Work, Every Day.
Training breakthroughs, behind-the-scenes facility footage, before-and-after transformations, we share it all on social. Follow along and see what real training looks like.
Come See What We've Built.Your Dog Will Thank You.
The fastest way to know if Dog Grove is the right fit is to come meet us. Free evaluation, no pressure, no obligation.