~story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh
Alice Waltermire was 10 years old when her father brought home a German shepherd mix named Banjo. It became her challenge and favorite game to teach Banjo to sit, roll over, and even “play dead.” That early connection—one girl and one dog—lit a fire that would grow into a lifelong calling.
Decades later, Alice would find herself training dogs not just for tricks, but for search and rescue— missions where the stakes were often life or death. From walking gridlines under the scorching 120-degree sun in California’s Joshua Tree National Park to bringing a missing child home alive to her family, Alice has seen firsthand how powerful the bond between humans and canines can be.
Today, that same love and dedication fuels her growing Nashville business, Brown County K9, where she trains, grooms, and mentors dogs—and their owners—with the same care and patience she first learned in her backyard.
“I always say the dogs kept calling me back,” Alice laughs. She’s sitting in her bustling grooming salon, the hum of dryers and the scent of shampoo filling the air. A border collie named Bea dozes nearby—a new puppy Alice plans to train for agility as well as search and rescue.
Alice’s road to Brown County K9 was anything but ordinary. A Columbus, Ind. native, she and her husband, Kirk Waltermire, followed his Marine Corps service to California in 1983. She started as a certified dog trainer and later earned grooming certification. Along the way, Alice, her border collies, and bloodhounds volunteered with search and rescue teams across the Southwest, working side-by-side with law enforcement and national park rangers.
“When you’re out there searching for someone— sometimes in unbearable heat—you realize how much these dogs can do,” she says. “They save lives. They bring people home.”
Alice studied at Texas State University’s renowned “Body Farm,” a forensic research facility where she learned how scent, decomposition, and time affect a search. “I told them my body will be donated there one day,” she says matter-offactly, “because I believe in giving back—even after I’m gone.”
After years in the desert sun, the Waltermires decided to retire somewhere quieter. The couple arrived in Nashville in 2019, where she took a job at Bear Hardware—until one customer noticed her ease with dogs and asked for training help. “Then they Googled me,” she laughed. “And before I knew it, I was back in business.”
What began as one-woman dog training sessions has blossomed into a full-fledged local institution. Brown County K9 offers everything from puppy obedience classes at Brown County YMCA and service-dog training to grooming and even a new cagefree doggie day care program for visitors who want to explore Brown County without worrying about their pets. Alice also is the owner and operator of training and competitions for AKC Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Tests), a timed 100-yard dash where dogs run one at a time, chasing a lure.
“It just keeps growing,” Alice says. “We added more groomers, and now we’re expanding days and hours—and even adding a cat day.”
The grooming side is affectionately called “Spa Day,” and it’s a hit with both locals and tourists. The nails and paws package costs just $20, a price that keeps tails wagging and regulars returning. “We sterilize everything, and we have vet techs on staff,” Alice notes. “If we spot any health issues, we refer the pet straight to a vet. We treat every animal like our own.”
Her partnership with the nearby Bean Blossom Veterinary Clinic has brought in a steady stream of clients. “They send folks to us all the time,” she says. “It’s about trust— we’re all here for the same reason: to keep the animals healthy and happy.”
Alice’s approach to training is practical, positive, and rooted in real life. “Training for real life” is her motto—teaching dogs to recall, stay calm, walk politely on a leash, and listen in any situation. Her students range from rowdy puppies to nervous rescues, and her lessons always include one key takeaway: patience.
“I hand out homework sheets for every owner,” she explains. “Sniff time, focus time, and reminders to just let your dog be a dog. You can’t overwork them—they need balance.”
For Alice, training is as much about people as it is about pets. “Owners want to understand their dogs,” she says. “I help them see things from the dog’s point of view.” She’s even started experimenting with AI-powered glasses that show clients what she sees during training sessions—an innovative twist that helps owners grasp canine body language in real time.
Twice a week, downtown Nashville comes alive with the jingling of leashes and happy chatter. It’s the Brown County K9 Dog Walk, a community event Alice began to help socialize dogs and bring owners together.
“Sometimes people think we’re a parade,” laughs longtime participant Linda Teal, a Nashville resident of 42 years. Linda first met Alice at the dog park and now attends her classes faithfully. “When we started, there were maybe four dogs. Last week, I counted thirty-three!”
Linda credits Alice with transforming her pack of four chihuahua-dachshund mixes into model citizens. “People stop me on the street to tell me how well-behaved they
are,” she says proudly. “Alice taught me it’s all about persistence —and that our dogs are smarter than we think.”
Each of Linda’s pups has earned AKC Community Canine badges, and when visitors come to her door, they calmly wait in their assigned place on the couch until they are released. “One of my dogs actually howls for Alice,” she laughs. “That’s how much she loves her.”
Alice beams when she hears stories like that. “That’s what it’s all about—helping people enjoy their dogs more. Teaching builds confidence, for both of them.”
Behind the laughter and wagging tails, Alice’s story is one of deep resilience. While battling breast cancer in her 30s, Alice vowed that if she survived, she’d never again weigh 320 pounds, and she would use her work with dogs to help others. “When I got sick, I realized how precious time is,” she reflects. “Training and helping others—it became my way of giving back.”
Her work in search and rescue taught her hard lessons about grief, courage, and compassion. She’s seen both tragedy and triumph—families reunited, lives saved, and losses, too. “When PTSD hits, it hits hard,” she admits. “But you focus on the good you did. You brought someone home.”
As she looks toward the future, Alice envisions expanding her team, adding a dedicated indoor space for dog sports, and continuing to mentor the next generation of groomers and trainers.
In Brown County, that calling has built not just a business, but a beloved cornerstone of the community—one where tails wag, friendships form, and every dog leaves a little better than they arrived.
As Alice puts it with a smile and a chin kiss from Bea, “Whether it’s a simple ‘sit’ or saving a life, it all starts the same way—one person, one dog, and a little bit of trust.”
For more information about Brown County K9, 812-994-9245, or visit BrownCountyK9.com and on Facebook.