Meet Nicole Powell

Founder & Head Trainer

For nearly two decades, Nicole Powell has dedicated her career to understanding dogs at every level, from rescue and rehabilitation to advanced obedience and specialized working dogs.

Her career began in animal welfare in 2008, where years spent working hands-on with rescue and shelter dogs gave her an invaluable understanding of canine behavior. It was there that Nicole became particularly drawn to the dogs others found difficult: dogs struggling with fear, reactivity, aggression, poor socialization, and complex behavioral challenges.

That experience became the foundation of her training philosophy and ultimately led her to pursue dog training professionally.

Over the years, Nicole's work has taken her far beyond traditional pet dog training. She has trained and developed protection dogs, worked extensively with severe behavioral cases, and worked alongside Navy SEAL Multi-Purpose K9s at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, gaining firsthand experience with the precision, clarity, and reliability required of elite working dogs.

That diverse background shapes the standard behind High Caliber K9 today.

Nicole specializes in developing confident, capable, and reliable dogs while creating a stronger relationship between dog and handler. Her approach combines advanced obedience, behavior modification, engagement, clear communication, and thoughtfully applied training techniques tailored to the individual dog.

There is no one-size-fits-all program.

Every dog brings its own genetics, temperament, history, motivation, and personality. Every owner has different expectations for what life with their dog should look like. Nicole believes exceptional training begins by understanding both.

Whether working with a family looking for impeccable everyday obedience, rehabilitating a dog with significant behavioral challenges, or developing the skills of a high-drive working dog, the objective remains the same:

A dog that is confident, reliable, connected to its handler, and prepared for the life expected of them.

Nicole continues to train and develop her own Dutch Shepherd, Caliber, through protection and bite work and remains deeply involved in the working-dog community. She also shares her home with several rescue dogs, keeping the animal-welfare roots that began her career at the heart of her work.

High Caliber K9 represents the culmination of that experience: professional training built around communication, relationship, accountability, and uncompromising standards.

Certifications & Credentials:

• KPA Certified Training Partner – Karen Pryor Academy

• Basic Combat Medical - Sarah Simpson, DVM, MAJ, Force Veterinarian

• Certified in Basic & Advanced Off-Leash Obedience – Dustin Winn, North County Canine Training

• Trikos by Mike Ritland – Team Dog Online Academy Certificate

• Sophia Yin’s Low Stress Handling University – Silver Level Certified

• Fear Free Pets – Fear Free Elite Certified

• Former Certified AKC Dog Handler – Lend A Paw Therapy Dogs, Canine-Assisted Therapy

• Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator – STAR Puppy/CGC/CGCU/CGCC

• Certified in Pet CPR & First Aid