Strengthening the bond between dogs and their owners

At Au Pair for Paws Charleston, our mission is simple: to help dogs and their families build confidence, connection, and calm through proven training methods. As Charleston’s go-to dog training team, we specialize in puppy training, obedience work, reactivity support, and behavior modification, delivered with patience, structure, and a whole lot of love.

Our trainers bring years of hands-on experience, continuing education, and a deep understanding of canine behavior to every session. Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy or navigating challenging behavior, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

A woman kneeling on the ground in a wooded area, smiling while hugging a large German Shepherd dog sitting beside her.

Meet Meagan

Meagan Giarratano is the owner and founder of Au Pair for Paws Dog Training . After graduating from college, she began volunteering at a local animal shelter, where she taught dogs basic commands, how to walk on a leash, and helped make them more adoptable. The first dog she ever took out was a scrawny, bald, pit mix that licked the side of the kennel and shivered 24/7. His name was Chase. Little did she know he would change her life and teach her more about dogs than she thought she would ever know. 

Owner/Professional Dog Trainer

A woman sitting on a concrete surface, hugging a large brown and white dog, with city buildings and a cloudy sky in the background.

came with a host of issues, including resource guarding, male-dominant aggression, human aggression, and being overly protective. He also bit someone within four months of adopting him. Being at a loss, she was recommended to Jen Towers of Lead the Pack Dog Training in New York, where she was taught more than she could have ever asked for. Meagan worked hard with Chase and Jen, and she became increasingly passionate about dog behavior and training. Meagan apprenticed under Jen Towers of Lead the Pack Dog Training for a year and has been taking on her own clients since 2014.

Chase

Meagan has trained dozens of foster dogs and personal dogs, setting them up for success in their homes. Every challenging dog she has trained has taught her something valuable. Every dog is different, and her methods are tailored to what works best for each individual dog. The goal at Au Pair for Paws is to educate owners about why dogs behave the way they do and strengthen the bond between the dog and its owner. 


Meagan has continued her education and completed Michael Ellis' Principles of Dog Training I and Principles of Dog Training II interactive courses. She plans on continuing her education to better serve her clients.

A woman walking a dog on a leash through a park with trees and sunlight.
A woman in black athletic clothes squats on a forest trail, holding a white dog with a tan patch over one eye and a collar, in front of lush green foliage and trees.

Alexia Dickens

Professional Dog Trainer

From a young age, Alexia’s always had a deep love for dogs and a passion for teaching. At 19, she took a detour in life and joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as a Military Police Officer in Okinawa, Japan, and Yuma, Arizona. During her time in Okinawa, she had the privilege of working closely with K9 teams. Completing eight months of on-the-job training strengthened her love for working with dogs and her desire to understand canine behavior.

After completing her service, Alexia earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education, driven by her love for teaching. However, she soon realized her true calling was helping dogs and their families live happier, more connected lives.

With nearly six years of experience training dogs and over a year as a Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist through Starmark Academy, Alexia specializes in obedience and behavior modification for dogs of all breeds and ages. Her mission is simple: to help families build stronger bonds with their dogs through understanding, consistency, and fun, therefore allowing every dog to live their best life.

A woman standing outdoors on a dirt path with her dog. The woman has curly brown hair and is wearing a light gray T-shirt with the words "Train Your Dog" printed on it, along with blue jeans. The dog is a German Shepherd wearing a blue and white striped bandana, sitting in front of the woman. The background features tall trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Elizabeth Johnson

Professional Dog Trainer

Elizabeth’s journey into dog training began when she fostered and later adopted her dog, Milo. His intelligence, high prey drive, and boundless energy made him a challenging puppy to manage. With the help of Meagan's training methods at Au Pair for Paws, Elizabeth learned how to channel his energy into positive behaviors for a well-mannered and social companion.

Milo and Elizabeth compete in dog agility at the masters level with the United States Dog Agility Association. While agility may look like a simple course of jumps and tunnels, it's a sport that requires discipline, focused training, and strategy.

To further develop her skills, she’s attended agility seminars with Karen Holik, Stefanie Rainer, and Rebecca Thrift, all USA World Team Members and medalists at the highest level agility competitions.

Additionally, she’s trained with OneMind Dogs coaches Tuulia and Timo Liuhto from Finland. The OneMind Dogs method, developed when the founder's Border Collie became deaf, focuses on understanding the dog's perspective and using body language as communication. This philosophy strengthened her bond with Milo and continues to influence her training style.

Outside of agility, Elizabeth has volunteered with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a non-profit providing service dogs for people with disabilities. She puppy-raised Hailey, a Black Lab-Golden Retriever mix, teaching her 32 obedience skills, socializing her, and attending CCI-led workshops. Hailey was accepted into the professional hearing dog training program and is expected to graduate and be matched with a partner in March 2026.

Through Au Pair for Paws, Elizabeth combines her hands-on experience, continuing education, and appreciation for canine communication to help pet owners build stronger, more rewarding relationships with their dogs.

Meet the Rest of Meagan’s Crew!

  • A happy black and tan dog sitting on a dirt trail in a wooded area with sunlight filtering through the trees.

    Maverick

    Maverick one of the original dogs in Meagan’s pack and is now retired at 12 years old. She was a demo dog for lessons and has helped many dog through issues on leash.

  • A happy black and tan dog sitting on a dirt path in a forest with trees and sunlight in the background.

    Edmund

    Edmund is a demo dog for Meagan and helps her in lessons and is a faithful companion. He was re-homed to her in 2020.

  • A smiling black and tan dog sitting on a dirt path with trees and greenery in the background, outdoors during daytime.

    Augustine

    Augustine is Meagan’s first working dog out of Ivan Balabanov’s breeding program at OT Vitosha. They compete in the sport PSA. He has earned his BT in American Shutzhund and his PDC in PSA. They are planning on completing their PSA 1 in 2026. 

  • A black and brown dog sitting on a dirt path in a wooded area, with trees and foliage in the background.

    Joey

    Joey is a Malinois from a shelter down in Georgia who she rehabilitated and has been a great addition into the pack. He has great sociability with other dogs and has come a long way since she took him into foster in 2024. 

  • A happy brown dog lying on a dirt path in a park with trees and sunlight in the background.

    Billy Jeanne Marie

    Billy Jeanne is a field lab who Meagan took in as a rehome because she had way too much energy for the previous family. She has proven herself to be a great pet and working dog. Meagan has started to imprint her on black powder. They are hoping to compete in American Shutzhund scent work when she is old enough!