MEET THE TAYLORS
Founders | Taylor Kennels
Taylor Kennels was founded by Matt and Samantha Taylor with a shared vision: to build a structured, performance-driven training program rooted in protection sports, purposeful development, and long-term thinking.
Together, they combine national and world-level PSA experience, decades of hands-on training, and a commitment to building capable dogs and educated handlers. Their approach blends working-dog precision with practical application — whether on the PSA field, in structured development programs, or in the foundation work that creates reliable personal protection and therapy prospects.
As a family-led program based in Dade City, Florida, Taylor Kennels is built on discipline, clarity, service, and community.
Matt Taylor
Co-Founder | Protection Sports & Personal Protection
Matt Taylor serves as Co-Founder of Taylor Kennels, leading the protection sports and personal protection programs.
He is a graduate of Tarheel K-9 Academy’s Protection Sport & Decoy Trainer Certification Program, a Certified PSA Decoy, and has served as a PSA Senior Decoy since 2019. Matt is also the Head Decoy for Tampa Bay PSA.
He has been selected as a PSA National and World Select Decoy in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with multiple South Regional Select Decoy honors — reflecting years of consistent involvement and trusted service within the PSA community.
Matt holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and currently serves as a firefighter for the City of St. Petersburg, continuing his commitment to service both on and off the training field.
Working Partner: Kados
Matt’s primary working partner is Kados, his Dutch Shepherd.
Kados holds his PSA 2 title.
At Taylor Kennels, Matt focuses on structured progression in protection sports and personal protection dog development — building confident handlers and dependable working dogs through clear systems and steady standards.
Samantha Taylor
Co-Founder | Protection Sports, Therapy Development & Nutrition
Samantha Taylor serves as Co-Founder of Taylor Kennels, overseeing sport development, handler education, therapy prospects, and performance-based nutrition guidance.
She is a Certified Master Dog Trainer through Tarheel K9, with formal training in professional obedience, patrol, detection, man tracking, trailing, and behavior modification. Samantha brings over 20 years of hands-on experience working with sport, working, and companion dogs. She is also a double major graduate of the University of South Florida.
In 2023, she became an official PSA Judge, and in 2025 she was selected as a PSA World Select Judge at PSA Worlds, reflecting her continued involvement at the highest levels of the sport.
She also completed advanced studies through DNM University in 2023, earning certifications as a Raw Dog Food Nutrition Specialist and Pet Food Nutrition Specialist.
Protection Sports & Competition
Samantha serves as President of the Tampa Bay Protection Sports Association Club and actively competes in PSA.
Her current competition dogs include:
Badfish (Belgian Malinois) – PSA 2 First Leg
Ese Loco (German Shepherd Dog) – PDC
She previously earned her PSA 1 and competed at the PSA 2 level with her Belgian Malinois, Ruco.
At Taylor Kennels, Samantha emphasizes structured development, long-term clarity, and thoughtful systems — whether preparing teams for protection sports, developing stable therapy prospects, or guiding performance-centered nutrition programs.