.png)
Top Tier K9® 3.0
Adaptive Reliability™
Academy for Dog Trainers, Owners and Handlers
Recognized as the World's Greatest Dog Training Company
Academy for Dog Trainers
The Top Tier K9® Academy for Dog Trainers is designed using Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (for dogs and trainers) advanced Internet technologies, the industry's first Virtual Reality Dog Trainer system, and Augmented Artificial Intelligence (AAI), 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. It is all about Adaptive Reliability™
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 "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 certified instructors face to face with our students in every learning platform, live on-line and on-campus. We have personally trained more than 1,000 dogs and in 2026 will hit the 400 certified dog trainer mark. Our system is proven.
It all starts with the online Pet Trainer Class where you learn to train dogs for other people. Dog trainer techniques must be transferable to the owner and the dog 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. Certified master dog trainers and certified (and award winning) teachers.
You can then move into the Foundation Dog® trainer program. The Foundation Dog Trainer program is 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 Special Security Dog, Service Dog for people with disabilities, executive/family protection dog, or a sports dog.
Dog Training Programs
Academy for Dog Trainers Professional Training
We offer two unique paths for dog trainers: Pet training and working dog (Foundation Dog) training. You can do both and if you choose that we recommend completing Pet Training Certification prior to entering Foundation Dog Training but that is not a requirement. Adaptive Reliability™ applies to pets, foundation dogs and finished working dogs, the basics of Adaptive Reliability™ are first taught in our Pet Trainer Class
Pet Trainer Program
-
Pet Trainer Class: Live On-line
-
Pet Trainer Certification: Live On-Campus
-
Master Pet Trainer
Foundation Dog® Trainer Program
-
Pet Trainer Class: Live On-line
-
Intro to Foundation Dog® Training: Live online
-
Foundation Dog® Trainer: Live On-line (puppy required)
-
Foundation Dog Certification: Live On-Campus (you bring the puppy your trained)
Masters Programs
-
Masters in Pet training
-
Masters in Foundation Dog® Finishing (Tier 4)
-
This prepares you in advanced scent detection, protection, tracking and obedience for working dogs
-
Professional Pet Trainer Program: 7 Weeks Live On-Line
7 weeks Live on-line: This is the entry level course for all of Top Tier K9's Trainer Programs (Pet, Foundation Dog, and Working Dog). All attendees must complete this training in Adaptive Reliability and pass the tests associated with this training to move to the next level of training (Pet Trainer Certification).
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
-
Training equipment
-
The basics of pet training: "Adaptive Reliability"™
-
Health, nutrition, and the "Cortisol Trap"
-
Top Tier K9 3.0 AI Trainer Access
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 .
At the end of this class you will be tested and evaluated on your skills as a pet trainer at the application level of learning. If you are successful in that testing and evaluation process, you will go to Top Tier K9 Madison Florida Location for a week where you will train under the watchful eye of a certified Top Tier K9 Instructor.
Pet Trainer Certification
Students travel to Top Tier K9's main campus in Madison Fl. to demonstrate their new skills.
The student has 1 week to certify as a Pet trainer (it is intense). Requirements are to demonstrate proficiency with the skills learned during the hands on training accomplished in the Pet Trainer Class under the watchful eye and mentoring of some of the industries top dog trainers and entrepreneurs. This 1 week is the test for certification, you must be prepared to pass the certification before being invited to certify, we help you with the process. You MUST be able to apply Adaptive Reliability with a dog and an owner. You will learn about public speaking and customer management.
Master Pet Trainer
This training 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.
Building on the Top Tier K9 "Adaptive Reliability™" process and the successful application of our training methods, a student learns how to utilize pressure management techniques for dogs , that 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).
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 tested and approved by Top Tier K9.
This training adds new tools to the trainers toolbox allowing him/her to effectively train 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. You will demonstrate an Analysis level of learning in Adaptive Reliability.
Foundation Dog® Trainer: 12 Weeks Live On-line
Top Tier K9 has developed a one of a kind puppy imprinting and forecasting system that we teach to our students in the Introduction to Foundation Dog class. It requires a deep understanding of Adaptive Reliability as it applies to training working line puppies. 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. Recognized by the US Patent and Trademark Office as Top Tier K9s incontestable brand "Foundation Dog" program, meaning, nobody can use the term "Foundation Dog" without written approval of Top Tier K9.
Plan your work and work your plan. This requires our students to comprehend working dog training and project management processes before they acquire a puppy for use in the program. Once our students comprehend the working dog program and processes (intro to Foundation Dog Training), they then acquire their candidate puppy from a quality breeder of their choice.
After creating their training plan our students acquire their puppy 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.
Live On-Line with our certified and professional staff
Foundation Dog® Tier 3 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 Madison 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. Students must complete the master class to then certify within this discipline.
Tier 4 Masters Program
Top Tier K9 certified Foundation Dog® Trainers are eligible for this program.
Students learn how to select, train and finish a Tier 3 Certified Foundation Dog® creating a Tier 4 Foundation Dog meaning a Top Tier K9
-
Tier 4 protection training
-
Tier 4 scent detection training
-
Tier 4 tracking
-
Tier 4 Advanced obedience for a working dog
-
Teaching people how to handle and manage their Top Tier K9
-
Health and nutrition of a working dog
-
On-going support through seminars.
-
...and so much more
Classes are Live On-Line for 10 weeks with a dissertation requirement relating Adaptive Reliability in training working dogs . 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 Tier 4 Dog as part of this certification. Average duration is 1 year between the online and onsite training and eligibility for certification.
Introduction to Foundation Dogs® : On-Line Self-Paced
The best working dogs start as Foundation Dogs and students will learn how to train a puppy through 3 tiers/phases of working dog elements/functions that include teaching a puppy to:
-
Track (humans and animals)
-
Find specific odor (narcotics, explosives, viruses)
-
Perform protection (bite development and drive building)
-
Advanced obedience (conditioned retrieve, motivational retrieve, off leash work, sendouts for bites etc..)
You will have access to all the supporting video training, and the AI Coach, 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. (Once you get a puppy it is a 12 week process meeting live online each Saturday to train together)
At the end of this class you are eligible for the Foundation Dog® Trainer program outlined below. You use your own puppy (acquired from a reputable breeder). Introduction to Foundation Dog Training is 100% academics, bring you to a comprehension level of learning and Foundation Dog Trainer is when you apply what you learned to a puppy with our weekly support and oversight.
Advanced Business Development
Jeff Minder, founder and CEO of Top Tier K9 is an award winning teacher and entrepreneur. Mr. Minder has created a one of a kind project management process used to forecast, imprint and train pets, working dogs, dog trainers and dog owner/handlers (Adaptive Reliability™). This process is proven and replicable allowing graduates to effectively train all types of dogs and their owners. It utilizes Six Sigma quality assurance processes for constant improvement.
Mr. Minder has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in N. America by Dell Computers and The National Federal of Independent Businesses (NFIB) 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.
Now recognized as the World's Greatest Dog Training Company, Top Tier K9® was developed from the ground up using world-class project and program management techniques/processes, effective business analysis and curriculum design/development, and a quality assurance program second to none. In January of 2026 Mr. Minder was listed in the Marquis' Who's Who in North America for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. That same month saw the launch of Top Tier K9® 3.0, the worlds first fully integrated VR and AI-Based Dog training system solidifying "Adaptive Reliability™" so that dogs can live their best lives. Top Tier People™ is a separate system that helps humans live their best lives incorporating "Adaptive Reliability™" in becoming a rugged individual, no longer relying on "other men who call themselves government" for their survival, security and belonging as they strive to achieve self-esteem and even self-actualization.
Classes and Prices Effective 14 February, 2026
Prices are subject to change without notice. Each class and certification 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 the entire program.
Additional costs are associated with expenses for travel and living expenses to attend certifications at Top Tier K9's Madison Florida Campus for Pet, and Foundation Dog 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 (Tier 4) programs.
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 and maintaining a Top Tier K9 certification, it 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 at the sole discretion of Top Tier K9, LLC, with no refund of any kind.
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 #40 in education. We would never have accomplished recognition as the world's greatest dog training company without applying true capitalism to the art of dog and human training. T