GALLERY
Dog Lodge Entrance
Outdoor Patios adjoining Indoor Kennels
Outdoor Exercise & Play Area
Outdoor Exercise & Play Area
Training Room
A group of our favorite clients
Indoor Kennel with Outdoor Patios
Indoor Kennels with Outdoor Patios
More of our favorite clients
Joel’s Career
From professional animal shows and movie productions to local non-profit work and public speaking, Joel brings over five decades of unmatched training experience to The Dog Lodge.
Shows
Me and my dog Freebie during a finale act at Arabian Nights Dinner Theater
"Southern Ice" show with Nancy Kerrigan in Myrtle Beach
"All Star Mutts," my first contract show at SeaWorld in Ohio 1997
The original cast of "Pets on Stage" at SeaWorld in Orlando
Corky Randall visits our "Pets on Stage" show
The cast of "Opening Night Critters" at Busch Gardens in Tampa. In 2015, we brought home the IAAPA award for "Best Edutainment Performance Act"
The cast of "Wild West Pet Palooza" at the State Fair of Texas
The cast of "Surfin Safari" at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The cast of "Pets Rule" at SeaWorld San Diego
The "Pets Rule" set
Photos from the "Pets Rule" show
Photos from the "Pets Rule" show
Trainers I’ve Worked With
Two of my absolute favorites of all time, Cathy Morrison and April Macken. They taught me more about dog training than I can put into words. Their film credits are amazing.
Myself and the great Gaylord Maynard with his horse, Chief Bear Paw at Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Kissimmee, Florida.
Corky Randall visiting my "Pets on Stage" show at SeaWorld in Orlando.
My dear friend Alvin Mears taught me so much about dog training on the set of Disney's "That Darn Cat" and "Rainmaker."
Tommy Turvey and I and his horse Joker at my training facility in St. Cloud, Florida
Movies & Production Work
One of my favorite projects, working with Jim Carrey on "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"
We trained the animals for the "Spring Spectacular" show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City with Derek Hough and the world renowned Rockette's
Joel Slaven's Professional Animals Inc. trainers rescued, trained, and travelled across the U.S. with 21 dalmatians for "The 101 Dalmatians Musical"
The dalmatians were featured in USA Today
And also People Magazine
"Pets 4D" was a fun short film that we did in Orlando. JSPA had the privilege of training an array of animals including dogs, cats, pigs, rats, an owl, a porcupine, alpacas, and macaws
On the set of "Pets 4D" with Eli
The cast and crew of "Pets 4D"
Flying Horse Farms
Flying Horse Farms is a camp in Mount Gilead, OH for children with serious illnesses. Joel founded the Canine Program for the camp, and it has been one of the favorite camp activities.
Celebrities
My dear friend Donna Douglas, better known as Elly May Clampett from the Beverely Hillbillies
Me and my dog Bear with Donna Douglas on the set of my "Pets on Stage" show
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus with our baby Bactrian camel, Calvin Demetrius, at the Bears Club in Florida
Legendary hall of fame jockey, Gary Stevens and I. We have spent countless hours talking about saving animals
On The View with Rosie O'Donnell and Naya Rivera
Jack Hanna and I on the set of Maury Povich's talk show
Jack Hanna, Wayne Newton and I after Wayne's show in Las Vegas
Awards
For decades, my dream was to have one of my shows win an IAAPA Award (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.) During the span from 2008-2018, we won six of them
I was honored to receive these awards from Canine Companions for Independence in Orlando
To receive the inaugural" Pet Hero Award" and the "Student Center of America's Veterinary Medical Association Award" were flattering and humbling
Animals
One of my favorite training projects, training Bubbles the boat driving dog
Snuffles the Malayan tapir
Public Speaking
Freebie and I doing a trainer talk at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Giving my speech at Canine Companions during my first fundraiser for them
Speaking about dog training and doing a demonstration for the Animal Science students at The Ohio State University
