About Us
Our Training Philosophy
We believe training should be a positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your dog! Research has proven, time and time again, that dogs learn best through positive training techniques. This is why we base our training methods on scientifically-proven, positive reinforcement techniques, and reward-based methods.
CATCH Canine Trainers Academy (CCDT)
“You can feel confident that your dog will be trained with love and positive reinforcement when you have Sweetwater Bark work with your dog.”
– Louise
Meet our Dog Trainers
We love dogs and we want you to absolutely love yours, too. As dog owners ourselves, with 32 years of combined training experience, we know first hand not only the joys of pet ownership, but the struggles and stress a misbehaving pup can bring a family. We’re here to help teach your dog to fit into your life—not the other way around.
We’re your guides for everything from basic sit and stay to more advanced commands and behaviors. Because owning a dog should be about fun, love, and companionship—not torn up routines…or shoes.
Abby McKay, KPA-CTP
Owner
Abby graduated from Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2012 and is a Karen Pryor Academy – Certified Training Partner. She received her B.A. in Business Management from the University of Houston, Victoria.
She found her passion for training dogs when she began working with her first Australian Shepherd in high school. She has professionally trained dogs since 2009 and has worked in the pet industry since 2006. With the support of friends and family, she opened up Sweetwater Bark LLC in April 2013. Being able to help owners and their dogs over the years has been one of the biggest blessings in her life.
Her ultimate goal through training is to show clients how intelligent and awesome their dogs truly are! She is married to her wonderful husband, Matt, and they have a 3 year old son. They share their home with a 10 year old Australian Shepherd named Dazzle. In her 20s, Abby was involved in agility training but now she keeps Dazz busy with fun tricks and mental games at home!
Nicole Sanguinetti, KPA-CTP
Training Manager
Nicole has been training dogs for as long as she can remember. Granted, in the beginning, it was make-believe with stuffed dogs! She carried her passion for animals as she went on to get her B.S. in Animal Behavior at the University of Texas in Austin and worked at a vet clinic before joining the Sweetwater Bark team. She earned the Karen Pryor Academy – Certified Training Partner certification in 2018. Nicole is now the Training Manager! She manages the scheduling, e-mails and phone calls, along with teaching group classes. She especially enjoys teaching Trick Class and Canine Nose Work classes.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys working with her Australian Cattle Dog, Emmy Lou, teaching her new tricks and competing in Nose Work.
Katie Gaffney, CCDT
DOG Trainer
Katie is a lifelong dog lover who has always been interested in animal behavior and training. She graduated in 2015 with a degree in animal science from Texas State University and worked at a dog boarding facility. During this time, she took a lot of classes with her dog. After graduation, Katie started her career working in veterinary and human diagnostic laboratories. She moved to Sugar Land in September 2020, and that is when she started considering a career shift to dog training. After some research and spending time shadowing the Sweetwater Bark team, she decided this was the career path she wanted to pursue. She completed the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy Master program to become a CATCH Certified Dog Trainer (CCDT).
Katie and her husband, Chris, have a black Labrador named Piper, whom Chris uses for duck hunting, and Katie competes with in Dock Diving trials. They also have a Golden Retriever named Roux. Katie and Roux enjoy volunteering their time as a therapy dog team and Roux is always happy to help us socialize puppies.
Follow Katie on Instagram @dogtrainerkatieswb
Susan Weihe, CCDT
Dog Trainer
When Susan adopted Prince, a rescue German Shepherd, she wanted to train him well, especially because he would be joining a family with three children. Her veterinarian recommended Sweetwater Bark, and after working with the team, Susan fell in love with dog training.
She earned her CCDT (CATCH Certified Dog Trainer) credential through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and now works part-time for Sweetwater Bark. Before becoming a mom, Susan studied biochemistry at Rice University and worked as an intellectual property lawyer.
In 2025, Susan’s family adopted a young Miniature American Shepherd, Reckon, who she is training to compete in agility. Susan loves helping dogs and their families acquire the skills they need to integrate their lives and have fun together!