Charlotte Gibson, Owner & Head Trainer of Auntie Charlotte’s Canine Services (ACKS)

Hello, my name is Charlotte Gibson, and I am the owner and lead trainer of  Auntie Charlotte’s Canine Services (ACKS). I founded ACKS over six years ago with a mission to provide affordable, accessible, and ethical dog training, with a special focus on service dog training for individuals with disabilities.

My passion for animals began early in life, but my educational experience was far from typical. I am a service dog handler myself, having navigated high school and beyond with the support of a task-trained service dog. The challenges I faced as a handler not only strengthened my resilience but also inspired me to create a program that could support others walking a similar path.

Over the years, I’ve completed extensive studies in canine behavior and currently serve as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Certified Evaluator and Tempermant tester. As a trainer, I take a balanced approach—utilizing both positive reinforcement techniques such as marker training and rewards, while also implementing humane tools like gentle leaders, martingale collars,  and slip leads when appropriate for the dog and handler team.

Although ACKS is a small, privately owned business, our impact is significant. I have personally trained over 213 dogs in the past six years, and I continue to work closely with new and existing clients every day.

As ACKS grows, I’m actively looking to expand our team. We are a fully insured organization, operating as an independent business (not a nonprofit) Trainers who join ACKS receive 80% of client fees, with the remaining 20% allocated toward program essentials such as insurance, equipment, treats, and enrichment tools.

At ACKS, we believe in doing more with less—providing high-quality, compassionate training without the inflated costs often associated with service dog programs. Whether you're a client or a trainer, you're joining a community that values transparency, lived experience, and above all, the life-changing bond between humans and their dogs.