Located in the rolling hills of North Carolina, Rolling Meadows Academy was founded by Barbara Simpson and her late husband, Allen Simpson, in 1995. The company has trained over 8,000 dogs in its 30+ years of doing business. During its first decade, Allen and Barbara trained K9 and protection dogs for police forces nationwide. They also provided local pet training, boarding, doggy daycare, and grooming services, bred working-line German Shepherds, and competed in many competitions.
Barbara loved seeing the joy a well-trained dog with a well-suited family brought to people. However, she primarily trained dogs with behavioral issues, and she found that it was often rooted in a poor match between dog and owner.
About Barbara Simpson and Rolling Meadows Academy
Meet the Owners
Barbara Simpson
Co-Founder
Nurse 1990-2000
Nationally Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
Professional Member of IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals)
Professional Sport Dog Competitor (obedience, rally, agility, schutzhund)
NC Certified Dog Care Technician (DCCC)
Certified Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor (RMKCT)
Trained “unadoptable” dogs at Humane Societies and Shelters
Instructor for The New Leash on Life Program
Presented seminars on Dog Bite Prevention, canine first aid, dog health and wellness.
Barbara delivering Mame, a Great Pyrenees Service Dog
Barbara grew up in Florida and moved to North Carolina with her late husband, Allen. There, they raised two children and built the Rolling Meadows business together. Barbara's first career was in nursing, specializing in hospice care. It was there that she discovered her true passion for helping people. Through Allen's job as a police K9 handler, they both fell in love with dog training.
Barbara has numerous accomplishments and certifications as a dog trainer and dog sport competitor. As a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), she continues to challenge herself and learn from other professionals in her field. As much success as Barbara has had with dogs, her natural gift is with people. She profoundly understands her clients' specific needs, personalities, and desires. Combining this with her extensive knowledge of dogs enables her to select the perfect dog for her clients. For example, some people require a more sensitive dog, while others need one willing to take more direction.
As many dog trainers will say, dog problems are almost always people issues. Barbara's unique ability and vast experience enable her to match dogs to their best homes successfully. Her compassion for both people and dogs has resulted in an unparalleled set of programs combining her love for people and rescuing dogs.
Glen “Allen” Simpson
Co-founder
Criminal Justice Degree (GTCC)
NC Certified Law Enforcement Officer 1992-2002
NC Certified Police K-9 Handler
Nationally Certified Police K-9 Trainer
Certified Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor (Penn Foster College)
Nationally Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
Professional Sport Dog Competitor
Allen, a beloved figure in the community, passed away in 2020. He and Barbara founded Rolling Meadows Academy together,
were married for 33 years, raised two children, and watched 5 grandchildren grow.
Allen found his love for training dogs through his job as a K9 handler and deputy sheriff officer. While Barbara may be magical with people, Allen was a true master of dog training. He could communicate with dogs like no other, often preferring their company over people's. Allen adored training police K9s for narcotics, tracking, and protection. He also loved competition and had great success in dog sports such as Schutzhund, IPO, and AKC classes.
Allen and Barbara's dedication and passion for changing the lives of dogs and people have positively affected numerous lives.