Top Tier K9 Dog Trainer School

Academy for Dog Trainers

The Top Tier K9 Dog Trainer School is designed using Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy, advanced Internet technologies, and an industry first Virtual Reality Dog Trainer system with K9 associated Augmented Intelligence (AI), to take you step by step from knowledge, comprehension, application, and analysis levels of learning allowing the future dog trainer to go as far as they desire with the ability to "jump off" at strategic points to maximize potential and minimize investment in time, energy and money.

We have the only programs that provide our students with business, project management, sales and marketing support to help them start and manage their own dog training businesses. Our franchise system puts our students on the map and our dog trainer program includes actual project management and business training as part of the curriculum.

Our Internet based programs are "Live On-Line" and our campus programs are "Live On-Campus". We don't send you to video libraries and expect you to figure out the right way to learn. We meet you in our classrooms and we teach you, the old fashioned way through verified and validated levels of learning. All of our programs have our instructors face to face with our students in every learning platform, live on-line and live on-campus.

You do not have to certify with Top Tier K9 to enjoy the value of our classes. Many of our students are seeking professional development or simply taking our classes to enjoy learning how to train their own dogs for service, protection, sport, or simply as obedient family pets.

It starts with the Pet Trainer program where you learn to train pets for other people. Pet trainer techniques must be transferable to the owner and the pet is not trained until the owners are trained as well. We teach you to do this successfully using our proven techniques and methods of dog and human training. We are the only dog trainer school with certified master dog trainers and certified (and award winning) teachers of human beings.

You can then move into the Foundation Dog® intro/trainer program. This is a program where you learn to take a working line puppy and train it in tracking, scent detection, protection/apprehension, and off leash/advanced obedience. Once certified as a Foundation Dog® trainer you will have one of the best demonstration dogs anywhere to promote your skills and your dog training business and you have the option to enter any or all of our masters programs to learn how to finish a Foundation Dog® as a Law Enforcement K9, Military K9, Virus detection Dog (Special Security Dog) Service Dog for people with disabilities, executive/family protection dog, or a sports dog.

Academy for Dog Trainers

Professional Training Programs

Pet Trainer Program

Pet Trainer Program: Live On-line
Pet Trainer Certification with Business Development: Live On-Campus
Master Pet Trainer with certification

Foundation Dog® Trainer Program

Intro to Foundation Dog Training Live online (no dog required)
Foundation Dog® Trainer: Live On-line (dog required)
Foundation Dog® Trainer Certification: Live On-Campus

Internships

Certified Pet trainers are eligible for on-campus internships. This is a competitive opportunity allowing you to work side by side with the world's best dog trainers at 3 different locations.

Masters Programs

Service Dog Training Program

Service Dog Training Program On-line
Service Dog Training Certification Live On-Campus

Special Security Dog Training Program (including Virus Detection)

Special Security Dog Training Program: Live On-line
Special Security Dog Training Certification: Live On-Campus

Executive/Family (Protection Dog) Training Program

Protection Dog Training Program: Live On-line
Protection Dog Training Certification: Live On-Campus

Advanced Business and Project Management Workshops

Business Development Workshop Live On-Campus
Project Management Workshop Live On-Campus

Pet Trainer Program: 8 Weeks Live On-Line

8 weeks Live on-line: This is the entry level course for all of Top Tier K9's Dog Trainer Programs. All attendees must complete this training and pass the tests associated with this training to move to the next level of training.

All about dogs and the dog training industry. How to read dogs and communicate with them, new techniques and offerings in the world of the dog training business: Live On-line. Face to face with our instructors right through your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

How dogs Communicate
Marking and luring
Classical and operant conditioning
Training equipment
The basics of pet training
Health and nutrition

You will need access to a dog(s) for this training beginning week 4. (any untrained pet will do) so that you can practice and show your work for instructor review and evaluations. This is hands on training. Live On-Line . Face to face right through your computer, laptop. or tablet. We demonstrate to you and you show us you can apply the training techniques to a pet.

Advanced Training Equipment
Markers, Rewards and Corrections
Climb Command
Sit Command
Down Command
Recall
Loose Leash Walking

At the end of this class you will be tested and evaluated on your skills as a pet trainer. If you are successful in that testing and evaluation process, you will go to Top Tier K9 Milton Florida Location (Top Tier K9 - Blackwater Bay) for up to 2 weeks where you will participate in the business bootcamp and train pets under the watchful eye of a certified Top Tier K9 Instructor.

Introduction to Foundation Dogs® : 8 Weeks Live On-Line

8 weeks Live on-line: This is the entry level course for working dog training. The best working dogs start as Foundation Dogs and students will learn how to train a puppy through 3 phases of working dog elements that include teaching a puppy to:

Track (humans and animals)
Find specific odor (narcotics, explosives, viruses)
Perform protection (personal protection)
Advanced obedience (conditioned retrieve, off leash work, sendouts for bites etc..)

You will have access to all the supporting video training as a streaming service or DVDs and will be tested on how to teach a dog to track, find find specific odor, protect you, and perform advanced obedience. You do NOT need a puppy for this introduction class. You will learn how to do it all in this class and can then sign up for Foundation Dog® Trainer when you are ready for a puppy and want to take that puppy through these phases with our support.

At the end of this class you are eligible for the Foundation Dog® Trainer program outlined below. The Trainer programs are launched in line with our "Litters on the Ground" program so that amazing, world-class Malinois/Dutch Shepherd puppies will be available to you. You do not have to use our puppies, you can find your own breeder and use your own puppy in this program.

Pet Trainer Certification

Students travel to Top Tier K9's main campus in Milton Fl. (Top Tier K9 - Blackwater Bay) to demonstrate their new skills.

The student has up to 1-2 weeks to certify as a Pet trainer. Requirements are to demonstrate proficiency with the skills learned during the hands on training accomplished in the Pet Training Program under the watchful eye and mentoring of some of the industries top dog trainers and entrepreneurs. This 2 weeks is the test for certification, you must be prepared to pass the certification before you go to Top Tier K9.

During this 2 weeks you may be eligible to attend our Business Development Bootcamp where you will learn to manage your own business and develop your business plan.

Master Pet Trainer with Certification

This is the newest addition to our certification portfolio. This certification is required for Top Tier K9 franchisees and is included in the franchise license. Non-franchisees can apply to attend this training and certification. Approval is at the discretion of Top Tier K9 management based on a Certified Pet Trainer maintaining good standing in his/her community and with the Top Tier K9 organization.

This training and certification prepares Top Tier K9 Certified Pet Trainers to manage and train dogs with severe behavioral issues as well as teaching the owners of the dog how to maintain the dog after training. There is an advanced online training program for the owners of these dogs, available only to customers of Certified Master Pet trainers. In addition, this program provides real-time Zoom-based support to Certified Master Pet Trainers as they are working with dogs that have severe behavioral issues.

Building on the Top Tier K9 command sequence and the successful application of our training method, a student learns how to utilize pressure techniques for dogs that may be reactive to traditional corrections, may not have the food or toy drive to want to work for the trainer, and may be "instinctively intact" meaning closer to the wolf in their lack of desire to please a human (non-compliant). Additionally this training is of tremendous value for trainers who live in jurisdictions that do not allow corrective collars in training.

Students will learn how to recognize dogs that will need these techniques, learn how to apply these techniques using equipment and processes that have been perfected through Top Tier K9's Corporate locations.

This training and certification adds new tools to the trainers toolbox allowing him to effectively train 95% of all dogs regardless of the dogs behaviors and helps empty shelters by training dogs with severe behavioral issues while helping the new owners manage the dog effectively, greatly reducing the recidivism of shelters and rescues

Foundation Dog® Trainer: 9 Weeks Live On-line

Introduction to Foundation Dogs® - 8 weeks every Wednesday
Foundation Dog® Trainer - 9 weeks every Saturday

Top Tier K9 has developed a one of a kind puppy imprinting and forecasting system that we teach to our students. It incorporates effective project management processes and advanced working dog training techniques to teach students how to plan for and predict their training programs based on the desired use of their dogs with the health and welfare of the dogs as the top priority.

If the scope of the training is to produce a bomb detection dog, a narcotics dog, a search and rescue dog, a protection dog, a service dog for people with disabilities or a fully polished demo dog the Top Tier K9 system helps our students achieve that goal through a replicable plan and process that they take with them into their own businesses.

Plan your work and work your plan. This requires our students to comprehend working dog training and project management processes before they select their candidate puppy for use in the program. Something no other training program even tries to accomplish. Once our students comprehend the working dog program and processes, they then select their candidate puppy from Litters on the Ground program or a quality breeder of their choice to begin the training.

After creating their training plan our students select their candidate puppy based on selection criteria learned from the previous classes and begin the formal processes of training their working line puppies based on the Top Tier K9 Imprinting and Forecasting plan developed in the previous class creating their very own Foundation Dog®.

We assist our students every step of the way using proven learning and teaching techniques that ensure our students comprehend the material before they apply the training to their new puppies. Our expert staff will analyze and evaluate each students performance and provide any needed adjustments to help our students become certified Top Tier K9 Foundation Dog® Trainers.

Once the trainer and his/her puppy are ready to be evaluated for final approval, they go to our Milton Florida location for additional hands on training, mentoring, and Certification.

Live On-Line with our certified and professional staff

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Foundation Dog® Trainer Certification

Students who pass all requirements to get to this level of training have proven themselves to be strong prospects for adding working dog offerings to their pet training businesses.

We actively recruit the best in the business in protection, detection, search and rescue, pet trainers, working dog trainers, veterinarian and kennel owners/managers. Men and women who have proven themselves as great leaders, trainers, and business people.

Students take their freshly trained puppies (now working dogs) to our main campus in Milton Florida to show off their skills for evaluation on techniques, quality performance, and capabilities as working dog trainers for mentoring and additional hands on work in their discipline(s) of choice. Students also create their business and marketing plans at the end of this portion of the training.

Master Service Dog Trainer Certification

Top Tier K9 Certified Foundation Dog® Trainers are eligible to become a Certified Service Dog Trainer.

Our students learn how to select a Foundation Dog® for use in the service dog industry, how to analyze the future owner of a service dog, effectively match that service dog to the owner, and then finish that dog for use as a service dog.

Training also includes:

Training a Foundation Dog® to become a service dog
Teaching people with disabilities how to manage their service dogs
Proofing Foundation Dogs® into the service dog arena
Common needs of the service dog industry
Health and nutrition of a service dog
On-going support for service dogs and their owners
...and so much more

Classes are Live On-Line for 10 weeks followed by an online certification test and a Zoom based dissertation requirement (additional fee required). The process takes the trainer into the Synthesis level of learning relying on the levels of learning achieved within the Pet and Foundation Dog® Programs. Each trainer MUST train and sell/place a service dog as part of this certification. Average duration is 1 year between the 10 week online training and eligibility for certification.

Certified Safe Catch Decoy/Helper

Our students learn to create protection dogs at all levels of a dogs life-cycle and development opportunities. Becoming a Certified Safe Catch Decoy/Helper ensures that our graduates can effectively manage the on-going support necessary to ensure a protection dog continues to grow and improve.

Training includes:

Teaching people how to manage their protection dogs
Proofing working dogs into the protection dog arena
Common needs of the protection and sports dog industry
Health and nutrition of a protection dog
On-going support in protection dog legal requirements
Personal injuries common in the the Decoy/Helper arena and how to avoid them
...and so much more

Classes are Live On-Line for 10 weeks with a Live On-Site certification for 2 weeks. The process takes the trainer into the Synthesis level of learning relying on the levels of learning achieved within the Pet and Foundation Dog Certification Programs.

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Master Special Security Dog Trainer Certification

Top Tier K9 Certified Foundation Dog® Trainers are eligible to become a Certified Special Security Dog Trainer.

Our students learn how to select, train and finish a Certified Foundation Dog® for use in the Security Dog industry (Security and Virus detection).

Training also includes:

Training a Foundation Dog® to become a Special Security dog
Teaching people how to handle and manage their Special Security dogs
Proofing Foundation Dogs® into the Special Security dog arena
Common needs of the Special Security dog industry
Health and nutrition of a Special Security dog
On-going support for Special Security dogs and their owners
...and so much more

Classes are Live On-Line for 10 weeks followed by an online certification test and a Zoom based dissertation requirement (additional fee required). The process takes the trainer into the Synthesis level of learning relying on the levels of learning achieved within the Pet and Foundation Dog® programs. Each trainer MUST train and sell/place a Special Security Dog as part of this certification. Average duration is 1 year between the 10 week online training and eligibility for certification.

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Master Executive/Family Protection Dog Trainer Certification

Top Tier K9 Certified Foundation Dog® Trainers are eligible to become a Certified Special Protection Dog Trainer.

Our students learn how to select, train and finish a Certified Foundation Dog® for use in the Protection Dog industry (Executive Protection and Family Protection).

Training also includes:

Training a Foundation Dog® to become a Protection dog
Teaching people how to handle and manage their Protection dogs
Proofing Foundation Dogs® into the Protection dog arena
Common needs of the Protection dog industry
Health and nutrition of a Protection dog
On-going support for Protection dogs and their owners
...and so much more

Classes are Live On-Line for 10 weeks with an online certification test and a Zoom based dissertation requirement (additional fee required). The process takes the trainer into the Synthesis level of learning relying on the levels of learning achieved within the Pet and Foundation Dog® Programs. Each trainer MUST train and sell/place a Protection Dog as part of this certification. Average duration is 1 year between the 10 week online training and eligibility for certification.

Advanced Business Development and Project Management Training

Jeff Minder, founder and CEO of Top Tier K9 is an award winning teacher and entrepreneur. Jeff has created a one of a kind project management process used to forecast, imprint and train pets and working dogs. This process is proven and replicable allowing students to effectively train all types of dogs and their owners.

Jeff has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in N. America as well as one of the best dog trainers in the world. He shares his ideas and processes used to start and manage successful businesses through the entire dog training program. His business analysis and project management courses have been taught at several US colleges and universities as well as at Lockheed Martin, Motorola, Crowley Maritime Services.

Business Development Workshop - Live On-Site - Professional development. This 1 week immersion program teaches students the basics of business development regardless of the technical offering of the entrepreneur. This is a stand alone program that is not specific to the dog training industry but can be used by students as the platform to launch any business the student wants to be involved in. During immersion training, this class is specifically designed for the student planning to launch their own dog training business.

Classes and Prices Effective 1 June 2024

Prices are subject to change without notice. Each class is paid for separately, allowing students to gain knowledge and select the next level of training only after they pass the previous level. This allows students to determine if they have what it takes to be a successful dog trainer BEFORE committing to thousands of dollars of training. Only TTK9 offers this form of certification path.

Additional costs are associated with expenses for travel and living expenses at Top Tier K9's Milton Florida Campus for Pet, Foundation Dog, Service Dog and Decoy/Helper Trainer Certifications. The Pet Training Program requires pets to practice with during the class under the eye of TTK9 certified Instructors via your computer or tablet webcam. Foundation Dog Trainer Program requires an investment in one working line puppy and the care and feeding of that puppy, this puppy can continue to be used in the master.

There are no refunds. You pay for each class as you determine you are ready for it. Once the class is completed, provided you pass the class, you will be invited to attend the next phase of training. There is no guarantee that you will certify . If you are not motivated, if you do not dedicate the time and effort to accomplish the requirements, you should not sign up for this program. Not everyone is capable of becoming a Top Tier K9 certified dog trainer and to maintain your certification requires dedication to honesty, integrity and ethics. Those who prove they are not honest, lack integrity, or intentionally violate business ethics will have their certifications revoked, with no refund of any kind.

Pet and Foundation Dog certifications are held in Milton Florida. There are several hotels and Airbnbs within 6 miles of the Milton facility. There is no student housing available except for interns.

Top Tier K9 provides it's standards, encased in our certification programs, to an industry without standards. Through this application of world-class dog training and human education we train students to become Top Tier dog trainers and business professionals. We are not a government controlled college or university, We do not accept any government money to include the GI Bill or any government grants. Those who accept government money are 100% controlled by the government and government controlled schools have landed the United States at #27 in education. Top Tier K9 is #1 in the world and that is because our students pay their own way and take accountability for the success of their education.

Academy for Dog Trainers

Academy for Dog Trainers

Professional Training Programs

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Masters Programs