By Kristi Spencer
At just 16 years old, Alethea Evans is already a rising star in the dog training world. Her passion for train-ing dogs began when she was just 7 years old. When she got her own dog, Zofi, Alethea took her training to the next level. Today, Alethea and her dogs compete in AKC competitions and use their skills to help in serious situations.
Alethea realized just how effective her training was when Zofi successfully sniffed out a missing bottle of medication. Since then, Zofi has found lost batteries, keys dropped in a field and even credit cards and cell phones. The aspiring dog trainer and her mom, Aleesa, travel to AKC dog competitions, where their pups participate in dock diving, agility, herding events and more. Alethea is also active in her 4-H club and proudly received the Best in Show award at this year’s fair in Newton County, earning a spot in the State 4-H dog competition. Alethea’s dedication extends beyond competitions. Earlier this year, she, her mom and their dogs assisted in search and rescue efforts after the Barnsdall, Oklahoma, tornado, prov-ing her skills can make a real difference. “If I can bring closure to someone sooner, it’s worth it,” she says.
The mother-daughter duo currently runs their rescue animal business and offers pet-sitting services for all kinds of ani-mals. In the future, they plan to open Wisdom and Healing, a space for dog training. Alethea says, “My mom is my biggest inspiration. She is so supportive, and she’s the one who allows me to do all of this.” Alethea is homeschooled, which allows her to attend compe-titions and fuel her passion. Alethea and her dogs, Zofi, Ellie and Bosch, are also TikTok stars. One particularly hilarious video featuring Zofi reacting to a frozen pond has garnered over 100 million views and led to attention from ESPN and “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” In the future, Alethea plans to continue showing dogs and aims to become a groomer and, eventually, a professional handler. She is passionate about hands-on learn-ing and continuing her work in helping people. Alethea’s passion for animals has already led to impressive achievements. As she continues to grow and pursue her dreams, there’s no doubt Alethea will make an even greater impact in the world of dog training and beyond.