meet the family

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Hi, I’m Nina Alfaro, founder and lead trainer at Embark Dog Training — and I couldn’t be happier that you’re here!

Growing up on the West Coast, I was fortunate to be surrounded by dogs of all breeds, personalities, and temperaments. This early exposure sparked a lifelong fascination with canine behavior and the deep, often unspoken connection between dogs and their humans. I still remember watching off-leash dogs glide effortlessly across the beaches of Malibu, completely in sync with their owners. That kind of harmony left a permanent mark on me.

Just behind my childhood home, I’d often find myself perched at the fence line, captivated by the sight of professional handlers working with personal protection dogs and police K9s. Watching detection and bite work unfold up close gave me a glimpse into the incredible intelligence and potential that dogs carry — and it set my future in motion.

That curiosity eventually led me to the foothills of North Carolina, where I enrolled at the renowned Highland Canine School for Dog Trainers. There, I received immersive, hands-on education in everything from advanced obedience and behavior modification to service dog and law enforcement K9 training. It was there that I learned what it truly meant to bring out the best in every dog,  no matter their background, breed, or behavior.

But the dog who truly changed everything for me was Toretto, my Belgian Malinois, and the reason Embark even exists. His unmatched intelligence, loyalty, drive, and sass forced me to grow not just as a trainer, but as a leader. He taught me that training isn’t just about tools or techniques, it’s about understanding, consistency, and showing up with intention every single day. Toretto didn’t just shape my skills — he shaped my standard.

After graduating, I continued my journey across the country to Georgia, where I deepened my understanding of the science behind canine behavior, military working dogs, communication, and learning. I worked hands-on with a wide range of dogs and clients, developing a training style rooted in clarity, structure, and mutual respect.

Today, I’m proud to call Nashville, Tennessee home — and to have built Embark Dog Training into a business that reflects everything I believe in: real-world results, practical guidance, and transformative relationships between dogs and their people.

With over half a decade of professional experience, I specialize in customized, balanced training that meets each dog exactly where they are — while pushing them toward their fullest potential. Whether it’s a new puppy learning the ropes, a reactive dog working through big emotions, or a behavioral case in need of serious structure, I’m here to help. From leash manners and impulse control to off-leash reliability and detection work, we build training programs that create lasting change.

Above all, I believe dog training should be clear, connected, and empowering, for both the dog and the owner. My goal? To help you build a strong, respectful, and joyful relationship with your dog that lasts a lifetime.
Let’s embark on that journey, together.

There’s always one dog that changes everything.
For me, that dog was Toretto.

A Belgian Malinois through and through — driven, brilliant, intense, loyal, and full of fire. Toretto came into my life at a time when I thought I understood dogs. I’d grown up with them. I’d studied training. I’d admired working dogs from the sidelines. But nothing could have prepared me for what it meant to live with, lead, and learn from a dog like him.

Toretto wasn’t just a handful — he was a force.
He challenged me, frustrated me, pushed every boundary I didn’t even know existed. But he also revealed something I had never seen so clearly before: the power of structure, the importance of clarity, and the incredible bond and transformation that happens when a dog is truly understood.

He wasn’t “bad.” He wasn’t “broken.”
He was misunderstood, and he needed a leader, not just a handler.

Toretto demanded more of me than any textbook ever could.
He taught me the value of consistency.
He made me see that tools aren’t shortcuts — they’re conversations.
He reminded me that softness doesn’t always mean love… and that leadership doesn’t mean control.

In training Toretto, I found my standard.
The one I bring into every session, every dog, every client.
The one that built the foundation for Embark Dog Training.

But our bond runs even deeper than the training.
Toretto is also a task-trained personal protection dog — my safety force, my constant. After losing both of my brothers, I was left with a hole no one else could fill. That kind of loss changes you. It makes the world feel heavier, louder, less safe. And in that space, Toretto became not just my protector, but a piece of the family I still carry with me.

He walks beside me with purpose, not just because he was trained to, but because he chooses to. He is my calm in chaos, my shield in uncertainty, and my reminder that love, loyalty, and protection can live in one beating heart.

People often ask me where my style comes from and why I’m so balanced, why I care so much about communication and leadership and real-world results. The answer is simple:

Toretto taught me.

He taught me that some dogs need more than commands — they need purpose.
They need patience, pressure, release, reward.
They need someone who sees past the behavior and speaks to their drive.

Toretto was never an “easy” dog. But he was never supposed to be.
He was my teacher.
He was my compass.
He was, and always will be, the heartbeat behind Embark.

So if you’re here because your dog feels like “too much,” or you’re overwhelmed, or you’re wondering if anyone else could understand what you’re going through…

Just know: I’ve lived it.
And it all started with one dog who refused to be underestimated.