Our Team

David currently runs his own full-time dog walking business, where he works hands-on with dogs of all temperaments and energy levels every day. Through this work, he gained a deep appreciation for canine behavior, communication, and the importance of structure and consistency.

His interest in training grew after working with one of Koru K9’s top trainers to help his own reactive dog, an experience that showed him how powerful the right training approach can be in improving both behavior and quality of life. Inspired by those results, David decided to pursue dog training to help other owners build stronger, clearer relationships with their dogs.

He uses a balanced approach, combining positive reinforcement with fair, appropriate corrections, and focuses on practical, real-world skills that help dogs and humans succeed together.

Debbie Port grew up riding and training horses professionally. She trained her own dogs on the side and over the years got interested in dog sports. Over the past 15 years she has taken clinics and seminars to better her training for her dogs.

As she educated herself more she decided to switch from helping horse owners to having better relationships with their horses to helping dog owners to have better relationships with their dogs. She attended the Micheal Ellis School for dog trainers and is an AKC Evaluator for the Canine Good Citizens, Community Canine, Urban Canine and Tricks Dog certifications.

Committed to providing the most effective, convenient solutions to her clients dog training needs, Debbie advidly pursues ongoing continuing education and provisional development by attending several seminars per year and keeping current on all industry literature.

When not helping clients to enjoy easier lives with their canine companions, Debbie trains her own dogs in IGP (Schutzhund), ring sport, AKC obedience and dock diving.

Becca has been training dogs professionally since 2011. During that time, she has made the transition from a purely positive trainer to balanced training, after seeing the limitations of purely positive training, particularly when it comes to behavior modification. Becca managed a successful daycare, and board & training facility in her home town of Chico, CA.

Her experience at this facility allowed her to gain invaluable experience in dog behavior through working with a wide variety of dog breeds in diverse environments. Becca’s own personal dog, Smokey, a German Shepherd mix, proves that, at 12 years young, it’s never too late to train! A year later Becca adopted an Australian Shepherd, named Bentley, who had resource guarding issues as well as reactivity towards people.

We are happy to report that, through balanced training, Bentley is a calm, cool, and collected guy, and is one of our staff dogs used to help other reactive dogs. Becca has continued expanding her training by obtaining her certification through the Balanced School for Dog Trainers.

Jourdan was born and raised in Santa Cruz County. Her passion and love for dogs started at a very young age. Jourdan has owned high drive, working breeds her entire life, and realized, at a young age, that she had a natural affinity for training. The beginning of Jourdan’s career in canine training started with her seeking a higher level of training for her Australian Cattle Dogs.

She took them to an Obedience & Agility class at a local police K9 training facility. The facility owner had been training dogs fro over 30 years, and immediately identified Jourdan’s potential, and offered Jourdan her first apprenticeship.

Upon completion of this apprenticeship, Jourdan began private lessons, and group classes in obedience, protection, and agility, as well as board and trains for dogs with behavior issues, and for mobility and medical alert service dogs, and puppy raising. Jourdan’s interest for protection training and sports was peaked, and she began attending protection and obedience seminar or workshop she could.

Through these seminars and workshops, Jourdan has trained with some of the best, and most inspiring trainers in the world. She has competed at a national, and International level with her personal Belgian Malinois, and has trained and titled multiple dogs / breeds.

Jourdan who is forever a student of her craft, is happy to pass along her years of experienced, and education to her clients, and is excited to see her client dogs become happy, confident, engaged dogs.

From the time she was young Celeste always had a deep passion for animals. Learning as much as she could and spending her free time with the family dogs. In her early teens she got her first dog Dakota, who had severe fear aggression towards people, and fear-based reactivity towards other dogs.

She reached out to local trainers to work with him. That turned into Celeste mentoring with those trainers and eventually becoming their assistant trainer. These trainers worked for an animal shelter, and Celeste assisted them in training and rehabilitating the shelter dogs that had behavior issues.

She learned the importance of timing, consistency, and balance, and worked Dakota through his behavior issues. Dakota was such a success story that he became their go-to demo and training dog! Little did Celeste know at that time that she would eventually end up fulfilling her mentors’ role, and become the lead trainer for the shelter.

Celeste was also responsible for evaluating the temperament of all the dogs at the shelter, giving her a tremendous depth of experience in dealing with a wide variety of breeds, temperaments, and behavior issues. In her spare time, she began training Dakota in sport work — successful competing with and titling Dakota.

It was through this process she discovered her passion for German Shepherds, and went on to compete with and title her first GSD, as well as train him up to be her Medical Service Alert Dog. Since that time, she has also gone on to start her own, successful breeding program for German Shepherds as well.

Maddie has always had a passion for dogs. Aside from growing up with them, as soon as she graduated high school she was volunteering with a local German Shepherd rescue and shadowing a balanced trainer. After that, she began working for a company that did behavior modification and working dogs.

From there, her passion grew for working dogs and she started working with detection canines in the school system and conservation detection canines that detect invasive species. Maddie was a competitor on Americas Top Dog Season 2 and is now working towards PSA (Protection Sport Association) titles with her Malinois.

When Maddie is not working with dogs she enjoys working out, traveling and hiking (dogs are typically still included here though!).

Izzy has spent her entire lifetime surrounded by animals and was always the resident expert for all family and friends with pet questions. At an early age, Izzy began pet sitting and quickly became comfortable with a plethora of animals and animal husbandry techniques. As she continued to expand her animal care network, she remained close with her two family dogs, Scout and Sequoia.

Although her love for all animals persists, her true passion remains in dog behavior. Izzy began studying her own two German Shepherd’s behavior and researching operant conditioning and classical conditioning. Her German Shepherds sparked an ongoing curiosity obedience training and she was inspired by her dogs’ ever-present drive to learn and engage.

This continued interest in training led her to volunteer countless hours at the Humane Society of Ventura County. Her time working with high risk shelter dogs gave her the opportunity to work hands on with many difficult cases and observe behavioral changes brought on by a highly stressful kennel situation.

Her natural ability to read canine body language made her one of the few volunteers who could handle the more difficult dogs in the shelter. She committed to help as many reactive dogs as she could and make training her career. While seeking a training school, Izzy met Heather, an animal behaviorist with 10 years of experience and a degree in behavior and neuroscience.

Heather recognized Izzy’s natural talent and immediately took her under her wing and into her internship program. Under the guidance of a behaviorist, Izzy practiced training fundamentals with several dogs with varying degrees of reactivity. Over the course of her internship, Izzy worked with several challenging cases of human aggression, dog aggression, fear reactivity, resource guarding and more.

It quickly became clear, training dogs saves lives, and this constantly fuels her passion to learn more and grow as a behaviorist. Izzy continues her education by attending seminars and seeking her perfect working dog companion who will most likely be another German Shepherd. Once she finds her future working dog, Izzy wants to continue to expand her knowledge of the field by competing in PSA, GRC and scent work.

Kathi has been working with dogs professionally for over 13 years. Her parents allowed her to get her first dog at 14 years old only because she promised to train him. She signed up for obedience classes and overtook it by week 5, helping the other students and becoming the instructor’s assistant.

She started going to client’s homes to teach private lessons when she got her driver’s license at 16 years old, and started teaching group classes for the Auburn parks and recreation department. After a little while, she wanted to do more than obedience and behavior modification, so at 18, she got her first German Shepherd and started dog sports and Search and Rescue.

She has titled several dogs in AKC obedience and rally, National Association of Canine Scent Work, Schutzhund/IPO/IGP, and Working Dogs of America venues, as well as certified in Search and Rescue for live find and human remains detection. Kathi uses balanced training methods to teach behaviors from obedience to searching to behavior modification.

Jefferson has over 15 years of experience training and rehabilitating dogs. He holds a Foundation Level Huntsmith Trainer Certification through Ronnie Smith Kennels, where he spent a month as an apprentice. He also holds a Certificate through the Balanced School of Dog Trainers and spent some time with Jonathan Katz of Chicago Canine Company learning more about Protection Work and Decoy Work.

A true outdoorsman, Jefferson and his Pudelpointer, Gunner, are an amazing team together. Gunner is a bird dog and loves spending time hunting with his dad! Jefferson’s down to Earth and straightforward nature make him a favorite with many of our clients.

Lindsey has been training dogs for over 13 years. Her passion for dogs started as a child, and only grew more as an adult. After volunteering at a dog shelter in college, she decided that she wanted to spend her career helping dogs with training and behavioral needs.

She attended the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, and ended up working for the school as a training instructor for 6 years.​She became fascinated with Belgian Malinois early in her training career, and now currently breeds, trains, and raises working Belgian Malinois. She competes with them in a sport called Mondioring.

Lindsey is passionate about helping dogs and owners better understand each other to make life together more enjoyable. She considers herself a reward based trainer, but believes that punishment is a necessary part of the learning process. She uses prong collars and electric collars in a fair and consistent manner so the dog has the best opportunity to learn how to properly behavior in the world.

I love dogs! They bring me so much joy! I have more than 20 years of experience working closely with dogs from raising and training my own to working as a veterinary nurse, veterinary practice manager and providing pack hikes and dog walking, grooming and boarding services. I have also worked for many years as an educator and have trained other educators in the field of environmental conservation.

I found Koru after adopting my fourth dog Max, a 100lb doberman, hound, shepherd mix who was extremely reactive and aggressive on leash. Having had such an easy time training all of my previous dogs using a positive only approach, he felt impossible to train. As a last resort I looked for a company who specialized in training and rehabilitating aggressive dogs.

It was a life changing experience and from that point on I was a firm believer in a balanced training approach. All dogs are different and we need to adapt our training methods to their varying needs and environments. I have always dreamed of being a professional trainer so I went on to complete Koru’s Balanced Trainer Academy: Master Program.

My favorite thing about training with Koru is seeing the transformation in the dogs’ behavior when they are given clear boundaries and consistent training. I am passionate about coaching clients to bring out the best in their dogs so dogs are not given up or put down due to behaviors that could have been managed with balanced training tools and methods.

When I am not hanging with a pack of dogs I enjoy volunteering at an equine therapy program, paddling in the bay, camping, cooking for my children and all of their friends and spending lots of time outdoors with my dog and human family.

I began training at a very young age with my own American Eskimo from the basics to tricks. That’s where my spark and love of dogs began. Shortly after I knew I wanted to work with dogs, but never really knew what exactly. Little did I know training dogs would become a passion for me and then into my career.

I trained under great mentors that were balanced trainers that have made me the trainer I am today. Working from pet dogs, to dogs with behavioral issues to sport dogs and competing in the sport IGP with my personal dogs. I’m also an active certified explosives K9 handler with my yellow lab and have been working in detection for the past 3 years and it’s been great being able to learn more skill sets!

In my free time, I also enjoy spending it with family or traveling, as well as enjoying time with my pups!

I’ve been a K9 Handler with Nevada County Sheriffs Search and Rescue and California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) since 2011, and with El Dorado County Sheriffs Search and Rescue for the last 2 years. With these entities I train and deploy dogs in Search efforts for missing and deceased individuals in suburban and backcountry terrains throughout the state of California.

I also serve as Mentor and Primary Evaluator for CARDA and K9 Team Lead for El Dorado County SAR. Search and Rescue sparked my interest in Obedience training and K9 scent work. I enjoy teaching handlers how to build drive in their dogs and utilize that drive to hunt specific odor.

Whether it’s human remains, natural oils, narcotics, or even certain nuts or bed bugs, teaching a dog the game of how to find what we’re looking for is sometimes challenging and always rewarding. In scent work classes, we teach the dog to associate odor (birch, anise & clove) with a reward: either high value food or a toy.

Once the dog understands the association between odor and reward, then we create the game of hunt for odor. In 2016 I became a certified dog trainer through Animal Behavior College, and in 2018 I left my job as an Animal Control Officer with Nevada County Sheriffs Office to strike out on my own as a dog trainer.

Through my company I offer Basic and Advanced 1-2-1 Obedience, behavior modification for aggressive and reactive dogs, 2-6 week Board and Train, day training, and scent work classes.

Continuing Education

• 3 day K9 Handler Development class with Cameron Ford of Ford K9, June 2020
• 2 week K9 Police/Professional Detection Training Seminar, October 2020
• 1 week K9 Sport Detection Training Seminar, again with Ford K9 in Las Vegas NV, March 2021
• Annual Locating the Dead training in San Luis Obispo, CA. This is a specialized and restricted Cadaver K9 training utilizing whole human cadavers in various scenarios including submerged in water, buried, in burned vehicles etc.
• In November of 2021 I organized a 3 day Canine Cognition Clinic with Ford K9 for our County and regional Search and Rescue K9 teams.

Juliana combines a strong academic foundation with extensive hands-on experience to help dogs and their families succeed. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Molecular Environmental Biology with an emphasis in Animal Health and Behavior from the University of California, Berkeley in 2022 and went on to earn a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2025.

Her education provides an in-depth understanding of animal behavior, learning theory, and the science behind canine health and behavior, allowing her to approach every dog with both compassion and evidence-based training methods. Beyond her formal education, Juliana has dedicated herself to learning from some of the most respected professionals in the dog training industry.

She has worked alongside and been mentored by experienced trainers, continually refining her skills through real-world application and continuing education. She regularly attends professional seminars and has immersed herself in a variety of canine disciplines, including behavior modification, scent detection, and working dog sports.

This broad experience allows her to tailor training to each dog's individual needs while drawing from a diverse toolbox of proven techniques. Juliana's passion is helping families develop the kind of dog that truly complements their lifestyle, creating reliable, lasting results that allow owners and their dogs to confidently enjoy life together.

Hi my name is Mikayla, I have been working with dogs for almost 7 years now. I have two dogs of my own. Jupiter, who is my 5 year old rescue, she is the one responsible for getting me into dog training. My other dog Saturn, is just about 2 years old now and we compete in dog sports.

While training dogs is my life I also currently study Aerospace Engineering at San Jose State University. Hence, my dogs are named after planets. I also work with and train local police K9 units in Cambpell, Santa Clara, Yuba County, Fremont and Richmond.

My goal as a dog trainer is to teach owners how to enrich your dog's life through clear communication, building a strong relationship and providing proper outlets so your dog can be an active member of the family. I look forward to meeting you and your dog and helping you guys conquer anything.

Tino has been involved with working dogs from a very young age. Originally born in Mexico, he and his family managed a large ranch that was their livelihood. They owned a large pack of working dogs who were a integral part of their every day life, playing countless roles to help his family.

Even as young as 5 years old, he was tasked with caring for his own pack, this gave him a fantastic foundation in dog behavior and understanding different dispositions. As he got older he moved to the states, while he took a break in school he quickly got back into working with dogs once he graduated.

He eventually moved to Northern California where he met a training club and quickly learned to be a decoy as well as trained his own personal dog in protection. Since then he has been hooked, he has been decoying and working with protection dogs for over 5 years and now managed a ranch with his wife, Celeste.

Bringing back some of his roots he also now trains his dogs to help aid with daily chores on the ranch, including managing the livestock. It has also created a great environment to work with his clients in, offering many new distractions and experiences they would not get to have in a city environment.

My name is Halle Tennison. I have been working with animals my whole life. I personally have rescued and rehabilitated two adult huskies and an adult pit bull. All of which were intense, behavior modification cases. I have been trained through multiple eight hour sessions of animal nutrition through Pet Food Express and Just Food For Dogs to be able to solve food allergies, sensitivities as well as other dietary related issues.

I have successfully passed the Animal Behavior College of Santa Clarita’s internship and hands on externship program of positive reinforcement training. I am certified in Animal CPR and have worked with the Humane Society of Silicon Valley as an assistant for over half a year. I use the LIMA (Least intrusive, minimally adverse) approach to my balance training to ensure maximum success with dogs.

I have seven years private client experience with behavioral modification in all sizes of dogs. Please reach out to me at any time with any dog related product or dietary concerns.

Jennifer has always had a fascination with animals, particularly dogs. She grew up always intrigued by animal behaviors and dreamed of becoming a local zoo keeper as an adult. Fast forward to after college, a mess of a German Shepherd Dog somehow landed into her home which opened the door to her dog training adventures.

After mentoring and shadowing under a few balanced trainers, Jennifer was introduced to the world of sport dogs and working dogs. Venturing into competition has allowed Jennifer to learn and read dogs to a higher degree, understand their behaviors, and bring the skillset to her pet dog training program. Jennifer enjoys working with clients on troubleshooting and developing a better relationship with their dog(s).

She strives to strengthen the communication and engagement of the dog and owner team to create a healthy relationship. Jennifer has two Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd and they all compete in a variety of sports!

Jenn Cassens lives in Penn Valley CA and started training Search and Rescue dogs in 2016. She currently works 3 SAR dogs: a Golden Retriever and two Belgian Malinois. With a lifetime of training and riding horses, training dogs was a natural evolution.

She and her husband Rich Cassens, also a KoruK9 trainer, volunteer for their County Sheriffs Dept K9 Search & Rescue Team and are Mentors and Evaluators for California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), and specialize in Basic Obedience, Scent Work, and Behavior Modification.

Jennifer has been training dogs for nearly 20 years. She has been around animals her entire life. From a young age she was exposed to all sorts of animals, from domesticated small pets to exotics and livestock. She began her journey with dog training after going to a nearby Schutzhund (now IGP) trial.

From then on- she was hooked and knew that this was what she wanted to pursue. After that, she spent many years showing, training, trialing and titling dogs. She has participated in many dog sport and training seminars and has learned from the best professionals available.

Not only does she train dogs and help their owners, but she holds a current license issued by the California Veterinary Medical Board as a Registered Veterinary Technician. She is extremely qualified and experienced in Veterinary Medicine and has worked in Specialty Practice, experiencing the most critical of cases.

She has multiple certificates in a wide variety of areas and continues her education every possible moment she can. She has gained excellent animal care and husbandry skills through this education and experience. Her passion for working with animals has allowed her to create a career doing what she loves… helping dogs and their owners co-exist.

Jennifer has never been a stranger to dogs, Born into the world of dog shows, her grandparents have been breeding AKC Champion sporting dogs for 50+ years in Redwood City. She has been attending dog shows since she was born. Jennifer showed her first dog when she was 10 years old and ever since then, it has stuck.

She competed in Junior Showmanship, and received thousands of dollars in scholarships, and has been featured in newspapers such as the Fresno Bee and San Mateo Daily Journal. Jennifer has qualified for one of the world's most prestigious dog shows, the Westminster Kennel Club, 5 years in a row for junior showmanship. Jennifer took to the dog shows and got serious when she started working for various professional dog handlers.

There she learned many “tricks of the trade” handling many different breeds ranging from Dachshunds to Black Russian Terriers, but the one that made the biggest imprint on her was grooming. Jennifer learned grooming styles such as hand scissoring, hand stripping, and mastering AKC breed cuts. She is passionate about transforming her guests into well-groomed, clean, and happy dogs.

Jennifer got sucked into the world of dog training through her ex-business partner with whom she traveled the country by attending multiple training seminars taught by world renowned trainers, PSA Decoy camps, grip development seminars, dog sport obedience seminars, French Ring seminars, and attending PSA nationals.

Jennifer actively competes and has titled in PSA and French Ring, she is also the lead decoy of the Bay Area PSA Club. Jennifer is also learning how to train and build sport and police K9s.

From an early age, it was evident that Sparky had a deep passion for dogs. His path into dog training began in Port Townsend, WA, where he worked as an apprentice with a Police K9 trainer. During this time, Sparky was introduced to Schutzhund (IGP), and by the age of 11, he became the youngest competitor in Washington State.

By 13, Sparky had earned Schutzhund Level 1 and Tracking Level 3 titles, along with several ‘High Tracking’ awards with his German Shepherd. Sparky then advanced his training at the prestigious Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, where he participated in the Long Term Immersion Program under one of the leading trainers globally.

Currently, he is a successful Mondioring competitor and recently won the 2024 USMRA National Championship at Level 2 with his dog Archie. They will compete in the FCI Mondioring World Championship in Greece in October of 2024, and have also achieved a notable tie for the highest Mondioring Level 2 score in US history with 298/300 points.

Sparky’s dedication to the human-canine bond goes beyond working dogs, encompassing all dog owners and their dogs. Achieving high level scores with a working dog requires a a deep bond and intuition with animals and meticulous eye for behavior changes. This is what makes Sparky incredible to work with.

He has a keen eye for what individual dogs and their people need in order to reach their goals.

My interest in dog training began when I got my first dog, Scout, in 2017. He had severe reactivity toward dogs and humans, and his behavior worsened over time. I struggled to manage his reactions, which led me to the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers. I completed a 5 month immersion program, which inspired a passion beyond training my own dog.

I wanted to help other owners find the same relationship and peace with their reactive dogs. In the last 8 years I have worked with dogs and their humans, helping families all over the world, including in Greece, Colorado, Washington, California, and Oregon. I look forward to helping more dogs and their people achieve a brighter and more fulfilling life together.

Lorie has joked that “once you raise ½ dozen kids you might as well train dogs, right? She absolutely loves her job and takes “Train To Transform'' seriously. After working for years in a dog training job that limited the true power and range of Balanced Training, Lorie is excited to partner with the Koru K9 Team and help ALL dogs.

She took her passion to Oregon where she attended and passed the Koru K9 Balanced Training Master’s Program. One of her strongest areas is confidence building. Both in the dog and within the dog owners as well. She understands that oftentimes it can be a daunting journey but coaching is where she shines.

With a great sense of humor and lots of understanding, patience and guidance, Lorie is passionate about helping you and your dog be the best you can be and truly partner with one another. As an in-home and private session trainer, Lorie will be with you every step of the way! Beginning your training journey in the comfort of your own home, Lorie will help you build a training foundation to carry out anywhere.

Her expertise and compassion extends to the entire family and Lorie loves to get the whole pack involved and help you all grow together. Lorie lives on a 35 acre horse ranch in Wine Country, Temecula with her husband, son and two Queensland Heelers (Gimli and Frodo) as well as a collection of loving ranch cats.

Originally from Rhode Island, Brian has had a love for dogs his whole life, especially his old lab/ridgeback Zeke from Providence. That feeling has continued out here for his twelve years in the Bay Area. Previously, he served in the Marines, studied comparative religion and psychology in college, and most recently has worked in the organic produce industry.

Brian immersed himself into the dog-training world through various seminars, classes, and working jointly with established dog behaviorists. Brian completed his internship and education through The Balanced School of Dog Trainers. His work is best seen in his Pit Bull, Maté, a fantastic transformation done by utilizing balanced techniques.

Darcey Hall is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist. She has dedicated the last fifteen years to training canines. She is CA P-O-S-T Certified K9 Handler and a Protection Sport Association (PSA) member. As a balanced trainer Darcey’s passion is creating a bond between the owner and the dog to make an everlasting relationship.

She loves doing fun games to create a learning environment for the dog to retain their obedience. Specializing in advanced obedience and behavior modification, Darcey is also an AKC Canine Evaluator for Canine Good Citizen certification, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and is part of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).

Elena has been professionally training dogs for over six years, with experience ranging from family companions to working and sport dogs. With a B.S. in Animal Science from UC Davis, she brings a strong understanding of animal behavior and learning theory to her practical, relationship-focused approach to training.

Elena is an active competitor in Protection Sports Association (PSA) and has extensive hands-on experience with a wide variety of breeds, temperaments, and behavioral challenges. She is passionate about helping owners build clear communication with their dogs while creating reliable, practical behaviors that translate to everyday life.

When she’s not training client dogs, Elena can usually be found working with her own dogs or golfing!

Halley is a dedicated canine trainer who has a diverse background working in the animal industry. She has been working with dogs for eight years, and over the past four she has discovered her passion for understanding dog behavior. Her journey in dog training started after she attended an apprenticeship, where she learned the basics of dog training and understanding the “why” behind dog behaviors.

When she graduated from the apprenticeship, she was assigned 10-15 dogs at a time to focus on daily. She not only learned how to rehabilitate their behaviors but also helped build their confidence and create neutrality in their world. She now works as a Dog Behaviorist and Balanced Trainer, helping build dogs’ confidence while coaching owners and their companions to thrive together.

Though some cases are similar, no case is ever the same, which has led her to believe that there are many techniques to help bridge the gap of communication between a dog and their owner. Halley spends a lot of time going on hikes, cliff jumping, spending time on the beach, going to car events, and camping with her two-year-old Pit/Corgi mix named Percy.

She resides in a home with a 4yr old German Shepherd, a 9yr Goldendoodle, and a 6yr old Orange Tabby cat. If you want to spark an easy conversation with her, you can’t go wrong bringing up cars.

Keith is a dedicated canine trainer and enthusiast with a diverse background. Growing up in Washington surrounded by dogs, he developed a passion for animal companionship early in life. After serving eight years in the Navy, stationed in Hawaii, Keith and his wife welcomed their first dog, a Chihuahua mix, into their family.

Upon returning to Washington, he transitioned to a career driving armored vehicles while pursuing his education in HVAC/R. During his eight years in the trade, Keith adopted a Malinois puppy and recognized the importance of proper training. He sought out online resources and engaged with a local trainer, where his exceptional bond with his dog was noticed, leading to a job offer.

With three and a half years of hands-on experience under his belt, Keith further honed his skills by completing a six-month master trainer course at Tarheel K9. He is currently an active member of a local IGP and American Schutzhund club, training two of his dogs for competition, and continues to share his passion for canine training with the community.

Damian grew up in Northern Indiana, playing sports and spending as much time outdoors as possible. After high school Damian started an apprenticeship at an automotive paint and repair shop where he excelled at the trade and spent almost 10 years honing those skills and positioning himself for a successful career however, he soon realized that his chosen trade was not fulfilling and he had to try something different.

So he put in his notice and spent the next two years traveling the country with his 3 German Shepherds. Damian hiked to the top of mountains in Colorado, boated the Great Lakes, and even rafted rapids in Wisconsin, the whole time his dogs were right next to him. The bond he developed with his “pack” was the reason he pursued a career in dog training.

Damian wants every dog owner to have a bond and relationship like he had with his dogs — and the best way to achieve that is through structure and opening up communication between pet and owner.

Damian started his dog training education through mentorship with one of the most passionate and knowledgeable trainers in the country, and continues to develop and learn through continued mentorship, weekly club, and any other opportunity he can grab. Damian is a decoy for various protection sports.

Listen to Damian, Shane and Koru K9 co-founders, Ray & Bridget, on their monthly Trainer Talks discussing dog training advice, information, and debunking dog training myths and misinformation: https://youtu.be/cu5X_inEDUQ

Kym has been working in the canine industry for eight years. Her experience started in the U.S. Navy as a Military Working Dog Handler, searching for narcotics and explosives, along with training patrol work. She’s spent her newly gained civilian time learning to work with and train companions, service animals, and their owners.

She believes there are multiple ways to succeed with your companion and adapts techniques to work best for everyone. Kym spends her free time out hiking, paddle boarding, and camping around the PNW with her own dogs. Her household includes a six year-old Golden-Doodle, a three year-old Belgian Malinois, a one year-old German Shepherd, and a four year-old orange Tabby Cat.

If you're looking for a great conversation starter, try discussing the Star Wars universe with her!

I am a certified trainer who has worked with various breeds from pet dogs, working dogs, and competition dogs. A graduate of the Top Tier K-9 Trainer School with advanced certifications in pet and working dog programs. Owner of 4 dogs, including 3 Belgian Malinois and a Whippet mix.

I am committed to developing my skills and utilizing training methods for getting the most out of each dog and their owner. I believe that each dog and owner has an individual learning style that requires a customized approach.

Hi! I’m Mikayla. My dog training journey started on my 11th birthday with a Golden Retriever puppy named Penny. Penny was my first introduction to the world of canine behavior, training, and competitive obedience, and was a loving adventure buddy for many years.

After graduating from college, I decided to rejoin the dog community and adopted an Australian Cattle Dog rescue named Miracle. What was supposed to be a smooth entry back into the dog world quickly turned into a crash course in aggression rehabilitation and behavior modification.

Seeing the changes and improvements in Mira’s quality of life was incredibly rewarding, and inspired me to continue learning and developing my training skills.

I’ve trained in a variety of disciplines including competitive obedience, detection and nosework, and trick training. I am what’s called a “balanced trainer,” which means that I use a combination of training methodologies and tools (including slip leads, toys, prong collars, long lines, e collars, pedestals, and balance equipment) to teach and communicate with my dogs.

I strongly believe that owners must understand what tools to use, when and how to use them, and why to use them in order to communicate effectively with their dog. My training style is rooted in the NePoPo® approach, with emphasis building rapport, structure, and advocacy into the relationship between dog and owner.

I regularly pursue continuing education opportunities and study the latest advancements in behavioral research in order to expand my knowledge and best meet the needs of the dogs in my care.

When I’m not training, I can be found enjoying too many cups of coffee, spending time with my family, or lounging in the yard and reading a good book.

I’m Terry, and working with animals has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up raising and showing horses, primarily Arabians, and began raising and training Pit Bulls when I was 18. Those early experiences taught me the importance of understanding each animal as an individual and approaching training with patience, consistency, and clear communication.

My Malinois, Farrah, has been a major part of my more recent training journey. Together, we’ve worked on everyday obedience as well as PSA sport, and I’ve been involved with a PSA club for the past two years. Farrah and I recently competed in our first WDA trial, where we placed fourth in the FO.

I’m also the owner of Northwest K9 Solutions in Kent, where I work with dogs and their owners to build practical, reliable skills for everyday life. This includes leash manners, recall, confidence, impulse control, and staying calm and focused around distractions.

I completed Duke University’s Dog Emotion and Cognition course, which further strengthened my interest in understanding how dogs think, learn, and communicate. I enjoy getting to know each dog as an individual and helping owners better understand their dogs while building the confidence and skills they need to succeed together.

My name is Rhys, I’m a professional dog trainer who has been working with dogs since I was 16 years old. My approach to training is relationship based. I believe that clear communication, trust, and mutual respect create the strongest results; whether you’re raising a family companion or developing a working/sport dog.

I focus on helping owners build meaningful partnerships with their dogs so that training can be something both human and dog enjoys. I share my life with two Belgian Malinois who keep me constantly learning. We compete together in ringsport and spend a lot of time in the woods hunting truffles, giving me the opportunity to experience both the precision and challenge of sport work and the joy of exploring the PNW with my dogs!

Training dogs isn’t just my profession, it is a lifelong pursuit, and I am very passionate about helping people better understand and connect with their dogs.

Rob’s passion for dog training was shaped by Nanook, a Malamute/Timberwolf mix whose lack of early training taught him firsthand how important clear communication and leadership can be. That experience still drives his approach today.

With decades of experience around dogs and years as a professional trainer, Rob helps owners better understand their dogs, build confidence, and create calmer, more fulfilling relationships through practical, real-world training.

Most know Lindsey as the girl with the dog. In 2004 she began her canine ventures by raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. This experience sparked an interest that ignited a passion. She continued working with service dogs for the next twelve years. Focusing greatly on early development and socialization of puppies in training.

After attending The Tom Rose School in 2017, she ventured into other fields of dog training. Participating in agility, tracking, nose work, protection, obedience, tricks and therapy work. In more recent years she has been the manager and trainer for a doggy daycare in Southern Oregon.

During which Lindsey set up a canine enrichment program. The idea being a daycare alternative that provided both mental and physical stimulation for dogs that were not suitable for social play. Enrichment activities included obedience, tricks, agility, nose work, treadmilling, brain games and more.

As a trainer, Lindsey’s goal is to maximize a dog’s potential. As this varies from dog to dog, so does her approach of achieving it.

After over 20 years in the Information Technology industry, Annette decided it to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a dog trainer. The skills learned in her Information Technology career have taught Annette how to be a continuous learner, communicate well, understand her client’s needs quickly, set realistic expectations and follow through on what she says she will do.

Annette successfully completed Koru K9’s Balanced Trainer Academy’s Master Program. Annette is passionate about teaching other dog owners how to experience the very best in their unique bond with their K9s. Annette’s love of dogs started with Betsy the Beagle.

After Betsy, she has had several dogs, all of different breeds, sizes and temperaments from Baloo the Springer Spaniel, Whilee the Akita, Coyote, German Shepherd mix, Impulse the mutt, Mater the Golden Retriever and Thor the Mastiff mix. Annette currently has two purebred Italian Mastiffs, Stella and Nero.

Maloree has been training dogs since she was 12 years old. Her and her dog Bella were the youngest certified therapy dog team for Delta Society and Intermountain Therapy Animals. At 16 she began working as a trainer at Gateway to Canine Partnerships in Salt Lake City training service dogs and running daily classes and outings.

She also managed a veterinary clinic as the lead technician and office manager for 6 years. She did an internship at Logan Haus Kennels in West Virginia. She worked for Ty the Dog Guy and then opened her own business for 5 years in Salt Lake City. Once she moved to the PNW she now lives on an acre with her 3 German Shepherds, a French Bulldog, and a Bengal kitten.

She trains and competes in IGP, Dock Diving, and Scent work with her dogs. Her passion is helping owners have a meaningful relationship with their dog and fixing reactive behaviors. She also specializes in therapy and service work. She volunteers for Woof Project and frequently has foster dogs. She is so excited to help you with your pup!

Natalie and Lee Lane, a husband-and-wife team on the Oregon Coast. Originally a Northern California native, Natalie interned and eventually worked for a dog training facility in Chico as the Training Center Coordinator. In 2005, Natalie earned her certification as a Registered Veterinary Assistant.

In 2011, she graduated from Sierra Nevada University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Her professional animal training career has included working with everything from tigers to tortoises, but dogs have always played a pivotal role in her life. Lee was born and raised in Northern Idaho and his family always had extra-large dogs such as St. Bernard’s and Brasileiro Filas.

Lee pursued a career as a heavy-equipment mechanic, but a dog named Jack jump-started his venture into dog training. Through their experience training Jack, both Natalie and Lee acquired a devoted passion for Balanced Dog Training and the high quality of life it can bring even the most reactive dog.

In 2016, Natalie and Lee began working as Dog Trainers for GET RATTLED which conducts rattlesnake, porcupine, and skunk aversion training clinics for dogs all over the country. Jack has since passed, but his legacy lives on in the work Natalie and Lee now do together. They both work for Koru, offering in-home and Board and Train for people looking to bring out the best in their dog.

Natalie and Lee, their American Bully Valkyrie, cat, chickens, ducks, horses, goats, reptiles and 2 pet skunks live on the Oregon Coast in Lincoln County. They are thrilled to be able to represent Koru K9 and bring their experience to the area.

Hi! My name is Alex McGovern, I’ve been training dogs professionally for about 5 years! I originally got into dog training when I rescued a reactive dog I fell in love with the process and the science behind why dogs behave the way they do. I began fostering and training the dogs I had through rescues and shelters.

Throughout the last five years I’ve worked with so many dogs who struggle with aggression, insecurities that lead to reactivity, and your classic basic manners. I’ve also been heavily involved in dog sports over the last three years and I love having fun with my dogs!

One important take I have from this journey is that dogs are always training, we are always reinforcing behaviors, whether that’s a positive thing or a negative thing! I love working with people and their dogs and creating a customized plan that makes their day to day life easier!

Cyndi has worked as a dog walker and sitter for over 20 years but she discovered her passion for dog training while rehabilitating a rescue Siberian Husky. Although she had grown up with dogs her whole life, this was her first experience with a reactive and aggressive dog. As her dog became increasingly difficult around unfamiliar dogs and people, Cyndi began to feel their world shrinking.

Determined to find more than a quick fix, she turned to Koru K9’s balanced training approach—and the transformation was life-changing for both of them. The results spoke for themselves. Friends, family, and neighbors began asking what she had done to improve her dog’s behavior, and she quickly realized how many dogs—and their people—could benefit from the same tools and structure.

What started as helping others informally became a calling. Cyndi pursued formal education in balanced dog training to confidently support dogs with even the most challenging behaviors. Today, Cyndi works as a Dog Behaviorist and Balanced Trainer, helping improve the lives of dogs while empowering their humans.

She recognizes that every dog and every family is unique, and she tailors her training plans to meet individual needs. She focuses on in-home training, working directly with clients both in their homes and in real-world environments where behaviors typically surface. When she’s not working with clients, you’ll find Cyndi hiking with her dogs or curled up on the couch with them and a good book.

I’ve been a dog advocate for more than 25 years working with organizations such as Stray Rescue out of St. Louis and adopting a variety of pups abandoned and left to wonder if they were worth loving. I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 26 owning restaurants, a clothing line, and consulting for corporations.

I bring my life experience to training dogs and horses on my small farm in Black Forest Colorado. I sought to work with Koru K9 because of their philosophy around helping the core issues that keep the dog and the owner from a fulfilling relationship together.

If I’m your last resort or you want to take the steps to teach your dog valuable life skills, I will be dedicated to giving you my very best and helping you discover your dog’s true potential!

Jenna Zulauf is a passionate and dedicated professional dog trainer with over a decade of experience working with dogs. She furthered her education by attending Tarheel Canine School for Dog Trainers, where she graduated as a certified professional pet trainer, strengthening her knowledge and expertise in professional dog training and behavior.

Jenna believes in going the extra mile—not only with her clients, but with her own dogs as well. She actively competes in PSA (Protection Sports Association), continually challenging herself and her dogs to reach higher levels of performance, teamwork, and reliability. One of her proudest accomplishments was competing at PSA Worlds 2025, with her dog, Jax.

An experience that reflects her commitment to putting in the time, dedication, and hard work required to excel in the sport. What truly sets Jenna apart is her passion for helping people build better relationships with their dogs. She understands that every dog and owner is different, and she takes pride in creating practical, individualized training that helps owners better understand, communicate with, and enjoy their dogs.

Whether working through everyday obedience, behavioral challenges, or pursuing higher-level goals, Jenna is committed to helping both dogs and their people succeed. With years of hands-on experience, professional education, competitive accomplishments, and a genuine love for what she does, Jenna brings dedication, knowledge, and enthusiasm to every dog she works with.

Trey grew up in a small rural town but that never stopped him from seeking a new adventure. After realizing college wasn’t right for him his research into the dog training world began. Trey then attended the Fall 2019 Immersion Program at The Michael Ellis School for dog trainers with his American Bully, Shark, who had become reactive to most dogs and cats.

It was there Trey learned to help his dogs live a more fulfilling life using a reliable communication method through balanced dog training. Trey hopes to compete in bitesports one day and learn the art of decoying.

Haley grew up in Louisiana, and always had dogs growing up. She loves to travel and be outside with her dogs. Training and playing with her dogs has allowed her to do that more. She started working with her own dogs and quickly began to see progress. As Haley’s knowledge of how dogs learn grew she became fascinated and developed a passion for it.

She soon discovered that she wanted to work with dogs and their owners full time. There’s nothing more rewarding to her than assisting dog owners in building a relationship between them and their dog.

For as long as Jessica can remember, she enjoyed understanding the behavior of animals - especially canines! As she got older, the passion only grew along with her knowledge and experience. She has worked with many kinds of dogs: eager to please, shut down and scared, dogs with no motivation and dogs that challenge their owners with other undesirable behaviors.

She loves helping the dog and owner overcome these concerns, and understand all of their challenges so they can be the perfect family. Jessica's love for training has led her to compete in dog sports that require precision and enthusiastic obedience. She trains and competes with her dog in PSA and various other activities.

With a strong belief that the relationship between dog and owner is the foundation of obedience, she approaches training with balanced methods to ensure the dog and owner can be successful together. Jessica's goal is for the dog to be confident in their behaviors and happy to obey!

Ever since I was little I knew I would always be working with dogs, I grew up volunteering in shelters and worked as a veterinarian technician during and after college. Once I got my high drive Belgian Malinois, Church, I knew I had to get him into an activity that would fulfill his genetic needs. Together we became a certified explosive detection K9 team and have worked all over the country.

I have trained many law enforcement dogs and independent teams in obedience and detection work. I now live with my two working dogs, a Malinois and a Working line Cocker Spaniel, and a pet pit bull.

My favorite part about dog training is seeing an anxious dog come out of its shell and gain the confidence it needs to live a happy and fulfilled life with its family, as well as teaching the owners how to better communicate with their pet. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places and going on hikes with my pups.

My training career began with sport horses. I lived with several upper level event horse trainers from North Carolina to California to study under them full time during and after high school. While studying Animal Sciences in college, my horse training experience unexpectedly led me to a job as a full time Zoo Keeper caring for lions, bears, elk, otters, and bald eagles!

During my zoo keeping time, I adopted my first dog and immediately fell in love with the endless possibilities of an on-the-go companion. I became my North Carolina town's go-to person for dogs with behavior issues, fostering and boarding dozens of dogs with aggression and anxiety over several years. Ready to experience city life, I moved to Denver in 2020 and joined a private dog training team full time.

I focused on private in-home lessons for 1 year before establishing a training club that additionally offered board-and-trains and in-home day training. Over the last 4 years, I've specialized in off leash and advanced obedience as well as behavior modification for working breeds.

Outside of professional dog training, I'm a member of Blackwater PSA and spend 3 days per week training to compete in obedience and protection scenarios with my dogs. I also opened a specialized boarding facility for aggressive dogs in Austin, and started a personal protection dog training club!

Ashley has been a dog trainer for almost a decade, with a special interest in behavior modification and rehabilitation. She's worked with nearly every issue an owner can run into, including rambunctious puppies, fear, anxiety, reactivity, and aggression. She also has experience with specialized work like service dog training, police and military K9 work, and personal protection dogs.

Ashley's own two dogs are proof of what training can do. Ronan, her Malinois, came to her with a severe bite history, resource guarding, a habit of running off, and kennel anxiety. Wooster, her Schipperke, had his own bite history, was reactive on leash, and would actively seek out fights with Ronan.

Today, you'd never guess it. Both dogs are balanced, easy to live with, and able to coexist peacefully, thanks to a strong relationship, clear boundaries, and outlets suited to each of their breeds. Ashley wants every owner to experience that same relief and connection with their dog.

Her approach centers on motivational teaching that builds dogs up and brings out their best, rather than suppressing behavior through force and intimidation. Ashley is a graduate of the Tarheel Canine School for Dog Trainers, where she obtained her Master Dog Trainer certification with a focus on obedience, behavior modification, detection, tracking, and patrol work.

She's also completed intensive coursework in canine neurobiology, genetics, and endocrinology, earning a certificate in applying natural sciences to canine behavior modification and training. Ashley is a graduate of the University of Washington's Applied Animal Behaviorist program, granting her the title of Animal Behaviorist. She is also a certified Pet Nutrition Coach through the North American Veterinary Community.

Ashley actively competes in PSA (Protection Sports Association) with Ronan, who holds a PSA 1 title. He is also trained in narcotics detection and human odor tracking. She is working towards earning competitive obedience titles with Wooster.

Emily Whipp has been training dogs professionally for over 10 years. Her experience has been gained through intensive, self-propelled study and execution. With a solid foundation based in competitive dog sports she has amassed years of experience in both balanced and motivational techniques.

Emily has learned from some of the most successful pet dog trainers and competition dog handlers in the world. It has been this accumulation of knowledge and experience that has aided her ability to implement real, science based training to create and even change behavior in companion dogs today.

Emily is also a National level competitor with her two female German Shepherds in a dogsport called PSA.Her mission is to help her clients and her community to better understand their best friends. That when we have a relationship based on trust and respect, the effects are mutually beneficial.