Coaching Staff
When choosing a dog training company, you want to know the people behind it—their methods, experience, and values. You want to work with professionals who not only have the knowledge to help your dog, but also the heart to support your family. At Sit Happens, we take that responsibility seriously. We’re proud of our team, our accomplishments, and our commitment to using humane, science-based training methods that truly make a difference.
We know that when you choose Sit Happens, you’re trusting us with something priceless — your dog and your family. And that’s a trust we work hard to earn every single day.
Tina M. Spring
Tina's journey with dogs began in 1979, when she started helping her parents with their family’s dog breeding, showing, and training business. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion for dogs—and for helping people better understand them. Over the years, Tina has built her career around improving relationships between dogs and their families, specializing in fear and aggression cases. She has worked with families locally, nationally, and internationally, making compassionate training her mission.
Since 1995, Tina has called Georgia home. She shares her life with her animal crew:
Alberto, a mostly deaf pug; Marco and Jack, her Potcake rescues from Turks & Caicos; Mister, her spirited Jack Russell; and KWNN, the cat who runs the house.
Outside of training, Tina loves photography, motorsports, and learning to bake homemade bread. She and her husband, Chris, also organize scavenger hunt road rallies that encourage families to get out, explore, and make memories together.
A lifelong learner at heart, Tina believes that “teachers must challenge themselves to be students of something they aren’t naturally good at—so they remember what it’s like to be a learner.”
She believes teachers must challenge themselves to be students of something they are not naturally good at in order to remember what it’s like to be a learner.
She is the owner of Sit Happens Dog Training, LLC, the SE Regional Coordinator for Doggone Safe, APDT, AKC and CGC, a STARR Puppy Program Evaluator, member of BNI, and Mentor and trainer for Animal Behavior College and CATCH dog training. Tina is also the host of the Your Family Dog podcast.
Host: Your Family Dog Podcast
Contributor: “APDT Top Tips from Top Trainers”
Licensed Presenter: Family Paws Parent Education
Licensed Presenter: Be A Tree; Be Doggone Smart at Work
Southeastern US Coordinator: Doggone Safe
Author: “90 Days to the Perfect Puppy”
Creator: 90 Days to the Perfect Puppy Program
Member: Association of Pet Dog Trainers, # 64086
Evaluator: AKC Canine Good Citizen; STARR Puppy Program # 6408
Certified Mentor Trainer: Animal Behavior College
Mentor Trainer: CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
Past Board of Directors, President: Athens Area Humane Society
Past Member: SPARCS
Past Member: Athens Referral Factory Chapter of BNI
Gina Grimes
Gina Grimes has been training dogs for over 11 years, though her experience with animals began much earlier. Before focusing on dogs, Gina trained and showed horses, an experience that taught her patience, communication, and the importance of building trust between humans and animals.
Her lifelong passion for animals inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to helping families and their dogs understand one another better. Gina earned her degree in Psychology from Macon State College, where she developed a deeper understanding of behavior and learning. She later attended Animal Behavior College, graduating with honors in both Dog Obedience Training and Service Dog Training.
Through Animal Behavior College, Gina met Tina M. Spring, owner of Sit Happens Dog Training, who became her mentor. That mentorship evolved into a lasting friendship and professional partnership, and Gina is now a valued member of the Sit Happens training team.
Beyond her work with Sit Happens, Gina collaborates with the nonprofit organization The Ways We Care to help provide service dogs for children in need. She also works with Pup and Cat Co., training foster dogs to increase their chances of adoption.
Gina is also the founder of Elite K9 Solutions, a company she created to help families build joyful, respectful, and lasting relationships with their dogs. Her training philosophy is rooted in compassion, communication, and trust—principles that guide every session she leads.
Gavyn Grimes
Gavyn Grimes grew up on a small farm, where a lifelong love of animals began early. His passion for dogs truly took off when he got his first puppy, Ace. What started as an effort to have a well-behaved dog quickly turned into a deep fascination with training—and he hasn’t stopped since.
As Gavyn’s skills developed, he and Ace moved beyond basic obedience to perform agility and circus demonstrations for foster children and local schools. These experiences sparked his desire to continue working with dogs and sharing their potential with others.
His journey led him to discover Search & Rescue (SAR), where he saw an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. After adopting his first bloodhound, Nancy Drew, Gavyn became certified in SAR and began traveling across the country to train and learn in Tracking, Trailing, and Detection.
To date, Gavyn has trained several dogs who have gone on to become successful trackers. His work continues to evolve as he expands his knowledge and contributes to the vital mission of Search & Rescue. For Gavyn, this is only the beginning of an exciting and purposeful journey with his pack.