About Our Trainers
Meet The Off Leash K9 Team
Steven and Lindsey WARD - Owners
Steven and Lindsey Ward are the owners and head trainers for Off Leash K9 Training Charlotte. They were both raised in a small town in Northern Virginia.
Lindsey grew up for a love of animals, begging to bring home whatever kind of animal her parents would allow. As a young adult, she worked with a variety of animals in different settings, including a pet superstore, horse stable, and county animal shelters. She started as an animal caretaker in the shelter and worked up to become a sworn Animal Control Officer. Lindsey is who will you are likely to speak to if you call or email us! She enjoys working with the owners, teaching them how to work with and implement the continuing training.
Steven always showed a passion for his family dogs. After school, Steve pursued a career in the family business as a Contractor in the State Department in Washington, DC. Steven is known as the behind the scene man, he enjoys working with the dogs in the board and train programs. He finds much reward in the aggressive/ reactive cases and seeing the dog’s transformation. Steve has the compassion and patience to see the dog’s potential and help it be obtained.
During Lindsey’s time as an Animal Control Officer, they adopted an Akita/ Malinois mix, named Torque. They were introduced to Off Leash K9 Training when Torque completed the famous two-week board and train program at the headquarters location in Northern Virginia with founder Nick White. In 2014 they moved to the Charlotte area and have been doing obedience training since!
In Steve and Lindseys time off, they enjoy staying active. The couple loves wake surfing behind their Heyday wake boat, going to local asphalt and dirt races, snowboarding in the winter, and working out in the gym.
Azrael Black- Trainer
Azrael began his journey in dog training at just 11 years old with agility work alongside his family’s Labrador. By 13, he was training his first working dog (a German Shepherd) in advanced behaviors like vehicle recalls, rebounds, and named-object retrieval.
At 15, Azrael became a kennel attendant under a police K9 trainer and KNPV Malinois breeder, beginning a three-year apprenticeship focused on working and sport dogs. This hands-on experience deepened his skills with aggression rehabilitation, high-drive breeds, and advanced obedience—especially in molosser and herding breeds like Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentinos, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois.
Azrael’s well-rounded background includes training in narcotics detection, agility, tracking, and rescue dog rehabilitation. He emphasizes ethical, modern methods such as clicker training, luring, and individualized behavioral plans.He is an MVP Trainer certified through STS K9, an applied animal behaviorist, Certified Off Leash K9 Trainer, & has completed 220+ hours of continuing education alongside 19 seminars across the U.S. with top professionals including Justin Rigney, Oscar Mora, Shield K9, FeyWild Dog Training, and others.
Currently training with Off Leash K9, Azrael also dedicates time to rescuing dogs from euthanasia lists training/rehabilitate & place in loving homes. He specializes in high drive dogs, psychiatric service dog training, and complex behavioral cases. Azrael is passionate about soul-based dog training, recognizing and honoring the unique nature of each dog.
Danica Snyder - Trainer
Danica Snyder grew up with dogs since the day she could remember. She trained all of her family dogs when she was young, and loved teaching them something new. Danica knew she had a passion for training since the day she trained that first dog. Originally, she wanted to be a K-9 officer, but found more interest in helping others build a better relationship with their fur babies.
After graduating she ended up getting her own dog, a Cane Corso named Apollo. She’s been training him for three years using German commands. Danica tells everyone that he is her best friend. Danica has helped lots of her friends have more control over their pups as well. Helping others brings her joy!
Danica continues to educate herself on dog training techniques and interpreting a dog’s body language. She always loves learning something new when it comes to animals. Danica started her career with OLK9’s Myrtle Beach location prior to transferring to us in the Charlotte area. She is very excited to help the OLK9 Charlotte community build loyal and loving relationships between humans and their canines. In Danica’s free time, you can find her reading a book, snuggling with Apollo, cooking and enjoying the outdoors.
August Watson - Trainer
August grew up in Birmingham, AL. He made his entrance into the dog world in 2016 as a kennel technician, working up to trainer very quickly. He also spent some time as a veterinarian technician. In 2020, August joined the Off Leash K9 Training Birmingham team. He then moved to work with the Off Leash K9 Training in Asheville. Settling in Rock Hill in 2023, he came to join our Charlotte team!
He has three personal dogs, a Pomeranian named Pinkie, a two mix breeds Annie and Mayweather. Mayweather and August are a certified therapy dog team, they enjoy visiting retirement communities together!
Scott Cofield - Trainer
Scott grew up in a military family moving all over the US. Scott started out working with dogs as a walker in NYC. He then apprenticed under two master dog trainers, training working dogs and therapy dogs!
Scott continued on as a private trainer for a Rottweiler breeder doing show dogs, and a German shepherd breeder contracted by the military!
After several years of working as a chemist, he missed working with dogs. That’s when he joined our team and is happy to be back spending his days with dogs!
About Off Leash K9 Training
Dog Trainers that Are Recognized Around The World!
Photo: A&E
Nick White is the Owner and Founder of Off Leash K9 Training. Nick is a former US Marine and former US Secret Service. He currently has over 130+ dog training locations throughout the United States.
Nick is globally recognized as being one of the top dog trainers in the world. He has 2 official world records in off leash obedience, named on Wikipedia as one of the top 20 dog trainers in the world, recently named top 10 trainer in the world by bestdogtrainers.org, has been featured in many magazines and shows, and he is regularly requested by the top celebrities and athletes! He has been called upon by people such as actor Ryan Reynolds, WWE’s John Cena, MLB All Star Max Scherzer, UFC World Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, and many more!
You can visit our YouTube Channel and watch over 1500+ before/after videos of Nick and his team’s work! Off Leash K9 Training has more documented videos than any dog training business in the entire world!