Chika Akiyama and Roberta Chirko working at the grooming salon.
ALICE WALTERMIRE continued from 23
“ 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
24 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2026 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. •