Meet Our Team!
Our team of dog lovers are dedicated to helping your pup become their best self.
Makayla Thompson
Owner | Instructor
Christie Mendoza
Instructor | Trainer
Kayleen Anderson
Instructor | Trainer
Makayla Thompson
Owner | Instructor
Makayla grew up in a military family where her parents trained German Shepherds to be guide dogs for the blind. There were dogs around her throughout her life, which helped Makayla develop a keen sixth sense about how to read and bring out the best in them. Today, as a full-time professional trainer, Makayla uses her talents to help people accomplish things with their dogs that they never thought possible. Using proven positive training techniques, Makayla has transformed difficult problems into solvable solutions for hundreds of clients, as well as teaching owners how forge a deeper bond of love and trust with their dogs.
Since taking over East Bay Dog Spot in 2022, the business has won Best of the Emerald Coast Dog Training 2022 & 2023 as well as NextDoor’s Neighborhood Fave 2023. Makayla has expanded the facility’s curriculum with an impressive array of group classes, workshops, and private sessions, including puppy and foundational training, intermediate and advanced skills, tricks, Feisty Fido, and Therapy Dog classes. Makayla is a certified professional dog trainer (CCPDT-KA), and an AKC-certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator. She was also voted as one of Sniffspot’s top trainers in Florida 2023. Additionally, Makayla dedicates her time to helping animals in need as the President and a founding member of the Friends of Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter, a non-profit dedicated to providing community safety nets for pets and raising funds for the facility to improve the welfare of animals in their care.
Makayla is an eight-year Air Force veteran who has lived in four foreign countries, five states, and one U.S. territory. She loves fitness and competes in powerlifting events. Makayla recently completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration with summa cum laude and is pursuing a second Bachelor’s in Marketing. But nothing gives her more personal joy and satisfaction than her life as a dog trainer. “There’s nothing more rewarding than watching dogs transform through training and seeing the joy it brings their owners,” Makayla says. “I love helping people accomplish things they never imagined they could and building a better world all around for them and their dogs.”
Christie Mendoza
Instructor | Trainer
Christie heads East Bay Dog Spot’s Feisty Fido, Rally, and Therapy Dog programs. She has always loved training and caring for dogs. Pet sitting, pet walking, pet training – she’s done it all and brings an impressive list of instructor credentials to our staff. Christie is a certified AKC Evaluator and has taught a variety of classes, including AKC Puppy Star, Pet Manners, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Rally and Agility Foundation. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and is CPDT-KA certified. Christie is also one of Sniffspot’s top trainers in Florida.
Christie’s special passion is helping fear-reactive puppies and dogs. She knows firsthand how upsetting a reactive dog can be: she owns a mini-Schnauzer that has struggled with fear-based issues since puppyhood. “Fenway has taught me that training takes time and it isn’t a linear experience,” she says, “but when you build that handler/dog bond through positive reinforcement, it’s a very rewarding experience.”
Before relocating to the Pensacola area in 2021, Christie was an instructor for a popular training facility in Naples Florida where she worked with dogs of all ages and breeds. She currently lives with three mini-Schnauzers, a Goldendoodle, and a foster and competes in agility and rally with two of her dogs (the other two rescues prefer just “being lazy on the couch”). Staying active physically is important to Christie. She’s done numerous half-marathons and 6 full marathons, loves CrossFit, and when she’s not working or training dogs, she loves being at the beach and paddleboarding.
Kayleen Anderson
Instructor | Trainer
Kayleen is East Bay Dog Spot’s newest instructor. Kayleen grew up in Fort Worth, TX as a ballerina and military child. She always had a love for dogs and when she wasn’t dancing you could find her hanging out with her family’s dogs. As an adult, she married a Sailor and they adopted their first hound, Lucy. She had lots of anxiety and really pushed Kayleen to learn more about what her dog truly needed to be comfortable. They were stationed in Washington, where Kayleen truly began finding her passion. She worked at a Farmer’s Store and Co-op where she quickly learned she loved to share her knowledge with other dog lovers. After she had her first child she became a dog walker until they were stationed in Pensacola. She went on to have another child, attended school with the Animal Behavior College, and adopted three more dogs and a cat!
In 2022 Kayleen graduated from Animal Behavior College as a Certified Dog Trainer. She has continued her education completing both ‘Shelter Dog Training’ and ‘Animal Nutrition’ courses. Once eligible she does plan to test for her CPDT-KA. As well as being an instructor at East Bay Dog Spot she is an active board member for Friends of SRC Animal Shelter. Given that Kayleen’s four dogs are rescues, she enjoys the problem-solving aspect of dog training!
In Kayleen’s spare time she enjoys a variety of activities including reading, crocheting, almost anything outside, and anything involving animals. She is always looking for something new to learn.