“ Owners want to understand their dogs. I help them see things from the dog’ s point of view.”
From left, Kirk Waltermire, Alice Waltermire, and Honna Keller-Kuhn.
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.
Continued on 24 Jan./ Feb. 2026 Our Brown County 23