Our Team

Brandon has grown up with animals all of his life. Once he graduated school, he spent 8 years working as an automotive repair technician and excelled rapidly. It wasn't until he got his Pitbull Mix Opie, that he was drawn to the world of Balanced Dog Training. Brandon attended Koru K9's Balanced School for Dog Trainers and found his true passion and career path. He found joy in helping dogs and owners build a solid relationship with trust, and structure. In his free time, he can be found fishing, hiking and spending time with his wife, son, two dogs and horse.

A little about me. I have 5 personal dogs, 2 working dogs, 2 house pets and 1 retired hog hunting dog. Nani, Orson, Geisha, NightMare and Piggy. I’ve been working with dogs since 2011 when I started volunteering at Berkeley Animal Care, I gradually worked my way up to being a Shelter mentor, Bad Rap handler/volunteer and fostering n training dogs labeled “aggressive”. Sadly seeing so many dogs fail due to human error had me striving to really work with the dogs and guide the humans to be better and do better. I train n compete with my personal dogs in Dock Diving, Weight Pull, Wall Climb, French Ring Sport along with K9 Detection. I also competed on America’s Top Dog Season 3. On my off time I like to go to the gym, relax and Road trip to new food spots. 

Seyonna grew up around dogs — mainly field Labs. Seyonna would always sneak animals that were hurt or injured into her room — just in case her mom wouldn’t let her keep them. Even at that young age, Seyonna wanted to save them all. That need to save animals led Seyonna to her first puppy Tiena, a blue Queensland Heeler rescue. An unbreakable bond was instantly formed. And Seyonna quickly learned about genetics! Tiena would herd Seyonna and her siblings like cattle. Climbing up ladders, working on construction sites, playing soccer with the kids, climbing the chain link fence at our school to watch the kids, racing us while Seyonna and her siblings snowboard, and keeping their hearts full. She was unlike any other dog Seyonna had ever owned. Outside of work, Seyonna’s children keep her super busy. They like to spend their timing hiking, or playing sports. Seyonna says, “You have heard that having dogs is a lot like having children I am here to say that is true and I agree to that 100%. No two dogs are the same just as no two human beings are the same. What works for one may not work for the other. Koru K9 works to help any dog any problem and to be apart of a company that has a great philosophy and track record is rewarding!” Working for Koru K9 allows Seyonna to help people in the right direction to get the training that is necessary for their dog to succeed. She believes that everybody should feel the love of having a dog just like she did with her first dog.

Sammy grew up with a humongous family surrounded by all types of different animals. She has owned dogs, cats, chickens, horses, goats, bunnies, and so much more! Sammy grew up riding and competing in local horse shows and spending time with her fur friends. Sammy became passionate about dogs when she was a teenager and started working for her local dog kennel. She has helped with local rescues as well as rehabilitating horses. Sammy and her husband own two pitty mixes who they consider to be their best friends and family members. When Sammy is not in the Office at Koru K9, she can be found backpacking, hiking and exploring with her two dogs and her husband.

Kaitie was born in Connecticut and spent her childhood surrounded by animals. Her mother is a Veterinary Technician, and she inspired Kaitie’s love of animals. Her family had a number of pets including dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs and tortoises. Kaitie moved to Florida to attend the Florida Institute of Technology and pursue her passion for Animal Behavioral Psychology. After university, she worked in the Education department of SeaWorld Orlando, doing small animal handling as well as management positions at Panera Bread. Kaitie went on to focus on her love of assisting people and worked at overseeing the Guest Arrival experience of SeaWorld Orlando. Kaitie has a background in both animal behavior and guest service and she understands the need for positive training experiences to help better the relationship between people and their animal companions. Kaitie is an avid reader and loves to SCUBA dive whenever possible, she lives in Celebration, Florida with her fiance and 2 cats. Koru K9 is a perfect fit for Kaitie, as she loves assisting people who simply want the best possible training for their companions.

I was born and raised in a small, rural mountain town in Northern California, where I found a love for the outdoors and all the creatures that inhabited the forests and streams around me. From a young age I was known for my love of animals. Once, I raised a starling chick that fell from its nest, feeding him every two hours around the clock and making sure he stayed warm. I never left him even during my softball tournaments, he would sit in his box on our bench as the unofficial mascot of Lassen Xplosion! I received my first puppy, a Jack Russell mix with what we thought was cattle dog, at the age of 9.

It was quite a daunting task to raise such a high-strung dog at a young age, but I was up for the challenge. My parents made it clear they would take no part in raising the dog, so I set my mind to proving I could make my puppy, Peanut, the best dog. She never left my side, my partner in crime. I would teach her trick after trick. Making her stay while I threw her most prized possession, a tennis ball, until I gave her the release. I taught her all the tricks I could think of at the age of 9 which included dance, sit, shake, roll over, sit pretty, craw, and jump.

After high school I became a mother to 3 beautiful children. Being a mother, I get to pass on my love for the mountains and animals to those dearest to me. I get to coach Tball to my children and see them struggle and succeed at something they have little control over while teaching them failure is fine, as long as you never give up. Looking back at my childhood and raising a dog of that caliber on my own devices makes me grateful to work for a company that offers help to those who need it. Peanut had the potential to become a very destructive and dangerous dog. This company helps save dog lives like Peanut.

Ashley was born in Bradenton, FL and got her first fur baby in 2005. Ashley moved to Miami, Florida to attend Johnson and Wales University to pursue her passion for Baking and Pastry which she now couples with her love of animals in her bakery business where she makes homemade dog treats (as well as yummy human treats!). 

Lynneice was born in Alabama and is truly a Southern Girl at heart!  She lived in the Bay Area for some time where she received a degree in Early Childhood Education from San Jose State University.  Lynneice humorously notes that many of the skills used in teaching humans can apply to our furry friends as well! Although she hasn’t owned dogs in a few years, she has many “nieces & nephews,” because her sister Mahogany is a trainer with Koru K9 and has quite a few pups of her own! When not speaking about dogs, Lynneice’s children keep her busy.  Lynneice resides in Georgia and is a mother of four.  Her twin daughters are currently learning all about dog training from their Aunt Mahogany!  Lynneice is also an avid reader and aspiring voice over artist who thoroughly enjoys meeting all who come through the doors of Koru K9. Wag On!

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.

Kristin has had a lifelong interest in behavior and cognitive processes which led her to earn her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in counseling. Her everlasting love of and interest in animals motivated her to join the veterinary field from 2005 until 2017. She has always enjoyed the casual training and activities with her dogs. In early 2013 she acquired Ash, a reactive Australian Cattle Dog, and her interest in canine behavior modification fully emerged. Her goals were reached with dedication, balanced training, and the help of seasoned trainers. Her passion for using her veterinary experience, education, and experience training guided her to a three-month apprenticeship where she continued to learn and practice balanced training methods for basic obedience and behavioral modification. In 2015 she began offering private lessons, conducting group classes, and training dogs in the board and train program and has been training people and their pets ever since. She believes learning, like training, is a lifelong process and continues to learn with hands-on experience, research, seminars, classes, and working beside other experienced trainers. For Kristin, it is incredibly rewarding to assist dogs and their owners in overcoming personal limitations, building healthy relationships, and living happier lives together. In addition, she is an AKC CGC evaluator and a professional member of the APDT. In her free time, Kristin enjoys taking her Australian Cattle Dogs, Ash and Rowan hiking and participating in herding training.

Ericka has been training dogs since 2000. Ericka has run her own dog training business, that included running a working sheep ranch with 200 sheep and 11 working dogs, developing and managing the behavior department for two animal shelters, training and competing with dogs in agility, conformation, obedience, rally-o, weight pull, nosework, mondioring, and lure coursing, and helping thousands of people and dogs live better lives together. Ericka is certified in several programs that help people and dog live happier lives together. These include: The Train to Adopt Program making dogs in the shelter more adoptable as well as provide them with daily mental stimulation through training. The Training Wheels program, that keeps dogs out of the shelter by providing mobile behavioral and medical assistance to the community. She also became certified in the Lug Nuts program that helps intercity kids keep out of dog fighting and give them an outlet to “show off” their dogs while using positive reinforcement training and fostering a community bond. Ericka excelled in her ability to match dogs and people together to make life long matches in the Asses a Pet program. In addition, she is certified in the Pets for Life program helping owners transition their new dog or puppy in their home. Dog Sport are her passion. She loves to help pet dog owners make the jump to dog sports and reap the benefits! Ericka believes training is more than just teaching dog behaviors. Seeing the relationships that develop between dog and owner and the freedom that well-trained dogs can experience is what is it all about. In addition to working with Koru K9, Ericka is the lead trainer for the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers where she teaches several courses — with her favorite being Detection. Ericka is a NoseWork Judge, CGC Evaluator, and the President of a NoseWork and Rally Obedience Club.

Growing up on a working horse ranch, Heather’s work with animals began at a youn age. With 30 head of cattle, several dozen chickens, and various other species to look after; she began training her rescue German Shepherds how to herd and help with ranch work. In high school, her bond with animals continued to grow as she began competing in ranch horsemanship, reining, trail competitions. and dog agility. Her love for science and animals lead to Heather pursuing her degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior at the University of California Davis. During her time at UC Davis, Heather worked for the UC Center for Neuroscience as an Animal Behaviorist. There she would asses various exotic species for training. Heather would design behavioral experiments to test various aspects of the neuroanatomical findings for labs and act as a behavioral consultant for a variety of projects. She also worked on her own behavioral research and is currently working towards publishing her findings. While at Davis she continued her work with dogs and started a dog rehabilitation program for dogs sanctioned to be euthanized for aggression issues. It became her goal to save as many dogs as possible and she continues to take on “project” dogs for rehabilitation to adopt out as therapy dogs for hospice, children’s hospital and various other non profit organizations. Because of her time spent at UC Davis, and seeing the lack of results purely positive methods gave clients, lead Heather to moving to become a balanced trainer. Heather and her dog Quigley have also piloted a program to give emergency therapy dog services to those in need. Through interactions with local cancer support groups, she have been able to create a network of emergency dog therapy support lines.

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.

As a child, Mahogany’s favorite pastime was spending time with her uncle’s and friends’ dogs, and could often be found observing their behavior or training them in between school, homework, and sports. She began working with dogs in 2005, starting with pet sitting and boarding, and teaching dogs basic obedience while in her care. Mahogany began to learn from more experienced trainers and after initially working with two reward-based trainers, she found a balanced trainer with more than 25 years of experience that she apprenticed with and then worked for rehabilitating some of the most aggressive dogs in the SF Bay Area. Mahogany simultaneously operated an off-leash dog walking company with five staff. In 2013, Mahogany met Lisa Maze, a dog trainer with more than 30 years of experience who took her under her wing and imparted much of her wisdom and experience to Mahogany, in addition to introducing her to dog sports. Mahogany has competed in nosework, rally obedience, dock diving, and Mondioring, and her dogs have placed in all those sports. Mahogany also interned at the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers and completed a Train the Trainers Nosework course. Mahogany is also a Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

Becca has been training dogs professionally for over six years. 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 has managed a successful daycare, and board & training facility for 5 years 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.

Jeremy has had a strong passion for working with animals since a young boy. After spending some time in the military, he began his quest into working dogs. Jeremy apprenticed under a highly experienced animal behaviorist, and, during that time also found his passion for protection sports. And the rest is, as they say, history. Since then, Jeremy has gone on to become a certified helper and decoy in multiple protection sports, earning National level with honors in one. Jeremy has successfully earned titles on multiple dogs as their handler and trainer. He runs a working dog club in Northern California, and has helped his club members achieve titles with their own dogs. Jeremy has also bred several litters of working line German Shepherds — all who have gone on to live and thrive in working homes. He is incredibly dedicated and passionate about helping owners and their dogs achieve a relationship they never thought was possible.

Ashley has held a lifelong affinity for dogs. Through her childhood and teenage years, she trained dogs and volunteered at an animal shelter. As Ashley went on to college, she realized she could turn her lifelong passion into a career. She continued her schooling and finished with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, while also studying dog behavior and getting as much hands on experience as she could. After graduating Ashley attended the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, gaining more insight on dog behavior and complex training techniques. Ashley is currently working her Belgian Malinois for Mondioring and her Border Collie for Dock Diving, Nosework and Rally Obedience.

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.

Irini started her journey into the world of dog training through sport work. Competing and training at higher levels allowed for Irini to learn and understand how to read dogs, understand their drives, and behavior at a higher level that she can then bring into her pet dog training. After realizing that dog training was the path she wanted to follow in life, she started working with the local Police Department to help with their K-9s to work through control, and obedience issues. Irini competes in French Ring with her Belgian Malinois. She has two Belgian Malinois, a German Shepherd Mix, and a Shiba Inu.

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.

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.

Sierra’s life has always been about DOGS! She went from teaching her family pets fun new tricks, to volunteering at her local Humane Society throughout her high school years. From there, Sierra got her first Malinois, and dove head-first into the working dog world. Over the years, Sierra has dedicated her entire life, and countless hours, to the art of dog training through mentorships, seminars, and hands-on experience. Her experience training high drive working dogs has provided her with unique tools that she incorporates into pet training to help other fur parents build relationships with and understand their pups better. Sierra is currently furthering her education in pet nutrition, to help her client’s address their pet’s dietary needs. Sierra wants nothing more than for you and your dogs to live happily, and in harmony!

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!).

John got started with dog training learning personal protection with Guard Dogs of Miami, under owner Vince Cooper in the 1980’s. Then he got into sport training and has trained in all 5 European sport disciplines: Schutzhound, KNPV, NVBK, French Ring and Mondio; and has been certified twice as a French ring decoy, once as a Mondio ring decoy, and has been a Schutzhund helper. In addition to this, John was the president of North America Ring Association (NARA), has opened 5 ring clubs, and is the training director of Independent Ringers North (IRN). John worked with Tony Guzman of Metro Dade K9, working with police k9s, and has also menteed under Michelle Valladon, Dany Maison, Stephen Vanderbeck and Christopher Malsert. He enjoys attending as many seminars as he can, and has traveled to Europe, Mexico and across the U.S. to further his education. For the past 7 years, John has been the trainer for Scooter’s Pals Rescue.

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.

Being around animals has always been a passion of mine. Having grown up with many types of pets, from dogs and cats to snakes and birds, I have always sought new and better ways to live and communicate with each and every one of my animal companions. However, I always knew that dogs held the most special place in my heart. Their drive, intelligence, loyalty, and unique personalities are unmatched and what led me to devote my time learning how to repair and create healthier relationships between owner and dog. All of my experience has been hands-on, including learning from various mentors and dogs of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. I am hoping to change the world through dog training by educating those around me and creating healthier and happier dogs and owners!

Heather has been training professionally since 2015 when she started her own training company and has loved how amazing it has been working with and meeting so many amazing owners who want their dogs to enjoy this beautiful world we live in! She currently has 4 dogs, 2 rabbits and a cat. Her GSD competes in IGP and Dock Diving and has her Dock Senior Title! Heather’s pet dogs include a Beagle, GSD X, and a Lab X who get to delve into scent work, tricks and lure coursing.

She has been around animals her entire life and her first two loves were horses and dogs. She used to show competitively in equine sports (3-day eventing) and absolutely loved working and training horses! She has always had a job working with and caring for animals. These jobs included stablehand, dog daycare attendant, dog walker, dog sitter and vet assistant. Heather could not imagine a world in which she didn’t work with animals!

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. 

Hailey has been working with dogs since she was 10 years old. She started off as a walker for her neighbors in the East Bay Area and every year asked for a puppy on Christmas and birthdays. Although this never happened, it gave her experience with many more dogs than it would have if she had gotten her wish, and for that she is grateful! Hailey now lives in the Seattle area and owns a plethora of animals, including a horse and a ball python. Hailey is very proud to be a part of a talented balanced training team, and hopes to expand her horizons into bitework sports within the next few years with her first working dog. Her goal is to instill obedience, confidence, and a love of training time into every dog she works with!

As a child, Joey grew up in a house that had a (at the time) strict no pets allowed rule. This only made his desire for canine companionship grow stronger. So he sought out the local neighborhood dogs he could play and interact with.
Once he left home he picked a career path in the grueling world of the food service industry. Between odd hours and long hours it didn’t leave much in the way of owning and caring for a dog. So he did the next best thing. He volunteered at a local animal shelter and always took on offers to pet sit for friends and coworkers.
Joey worked as a coffee educator for a once small specialty coffee chain where he trained countless baristas. He then went on to work as a cook and chef in various kitchens that took him to places like New York, Los Angeles, Rome, and even China. During this time he would often joke that his life goal was to have enough free time to get a dog of his own.
It finally happened and he traded in the chef whites for a training vest and got his first ever dog, an extremely exuberant Malinois. He knew right away that this was going to be more than a hobby, it was going to be his new career and passion. His training experience started by attending the Immersion Program at Michael Ellis School (where he went home with his second Malinois), and interning for a friend and fellow dog trainer. Joey plans on competing and decoying in ring sports and IGP. When he is not training his own dogs or going on hikes, he visits his parents' senior dogs so he can enjoy a slower pace of life.

Like many of my clients, I owned a dog that had behavioral issues but there wasn’t a trainer in my local area that could help me. So, I began doing my own research and working with my dog, Honey, to help her cope with a world that was filled with dogs. After a few failures but many successes, Honey was able to reach a level of advanced obedience and off leash reliability. The knowledge that I gained was further put to work when rescues, my local shelter and a dog rehabilitation farm began asking for help with their dogs. Soon, I was under the apprenticeship of a local dog training company that eventually lead to my employment as the lead trainer and behavior specialist of my local SPCA dog shelter. I bring many years of experience with me and a specialization in aggressive behavior and situations that need delicate or complex solutions. I have a judgment free, positive attitude and when it comes to aggressive behaviors, I’ve been there and done that! While I love watching the transformation of my challenging clients, I also enjoy training all breeds for obedience and helping owners live happily with their pets!

Kim grew up in Steamboat Springs, CO — riding horses, and helping her family breed and raise hunting line Golden Retrievers. From a very young age it was clear that Kim had a special connection with all animals, especially dogs. After high school Kim traveled to Thailand, India, and Central America teaching English as a foreign language to both adults and children. Kim is a licensed massage therapist who specializes in corrective massage therapy for people, horses, and dogs! A very special Rottweiler puppy named Bel happened into Kim’s life introducing her to the wonderful world of dog sports. Soon after Kim got her first Belgian Malinois puppy named Z to train for the protection sport, PSA. Kim is dedicated to continuing education in the dog training world though mentorships, weekly private lessons, seminars, and being a member of a PSA training club. Kim also attended Tarheel Canine School for Dog Trainers. Not only does Kim eat, sleep, and breath dog training she also has a passion for teaching their humans and showing them how amazing it is to have a well behaved dog to share this life with.

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.

I was born and raised in American Samoa, joined the Marine Corps right after high school and was honorably discharged in 2012.

As with most veterans, those first few months of transitioning was very difficult. I adopted my first dog in 2013 (DannyBoy), and through working with and training him, I discovered my passion for dog training and adventure therapy.

My dog taught me how to appreciate and live life to the fullest, having him gave me a zest for life I had been lacking since being discharged.

As my way of giving back, I decided to get involved with rescue as a foster.

Through fostering, I was able to connect with another dog trainer who later became my mentor and employer. I quickly excelled as an Apprentice and was later hired on a Board and Train Lead Trainer.

I love helping dog owners discover the joys of bonding with their dog(s) through dog training and outdoor adventures, and it warms my heart to know that one less dog is in the shelter because their family did the work necessary.

I’m excited to continue helping dog owners restore peace and joy within their homes with the Koru K9 Team.

Chris has owned and trained dogs his whole life except for the 4 years he was in the US Coast Guard. Starting off training his own bird dogs, Chris quickly became the go-to person within his family and friends when it came to dog training. Since 2004, Chris has been an avid diver, specializing in freediving. He is an Instructor Trainer Evaluator for one of the top agencies in the world. Chris has devoted most of his time educating people through complex courses. In 2018 Chris started training his Dutch Shepherd in French ring as well as training as a French Ring Decoy. Chris has decided that he would like to help other dog owners develop the best and healthiest relationship he can with their dogs.

Sparky grew up in a small Port Townsend, WA where his love of dogs and fascination with animal behavior began at a very young age with his clever and quick-witted Border Collie. He spent countless hours working with this dog, teaching her obedience and new tricks where eventually he convinced his parents to let him get a German Shepherd, under the circumstances that he would train the dog. Not only did Sparky keep this new dog under control, he dedicated his life to training him and soon was introduced to the sport of Schutzhund and began learning the tedious training process of advanced sport and trialing for the next few years, truly unlocking his passion for dog training. After finishing high school, he made the decision to dedicate his life to dog training and make it a career, thus not even a month after graduating, Sparky ventured to the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers to take their long-term immersion program. This program opened up so many doors and directions for Sparky and allowed him to dedicate all of his time and energy to the work he truly loves, including introducing him to the Belgian Malinois breed where he now owns two of and is preparing them to compete in the ring sports. Sparky is dedicated to keep growing as a trainer by continuing his education in dog training by attending seminars, sport work clubs, shadowing other trainers all over the west coast, and routinely returning to the Michael Ellis School.

Clover has a BS in Captive Wildlife Care and Environmental Education. He contracted for the US Army and spent time working the medical aspect of military working dogs as an animal health specialist at Schofield Barracks, in Hawaii. He took to studying more on obedience work and earned his certified dog trainer certificate.He became a police decoy under the tutelage of his mentor a former K9 handler for his county agency and vendor/trainer, in Utah, who train and sell dogs to departments across the country, and started working as many dogs as he could. He traveled to seminars and he learned theory and practicum as to how and why certain methods are used. He compiled all that he's learned into a variable method that can be used to strengthen the trust between a dog and their owner whether they are a K9 team on the street or deploying, or a person and their companion as home.He competes in Protection Sports Association and is a certified trial decoy as well.Clover also is employed by HRD Police K9 as an adjunct instructor. Outside of dogs Clover competes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and goesoffroading.

Kareena Moore is a Certified Master Dog Trainer who graduated from Tarheel Canine in Sanford, North Carolina. She grew up in the beautiful Whidbey Island, Washington where she competed in 4-H with her horse, Toye where she went to the State Championships in Western Gaming. She started her love for dogs and more specifically working dogs when she got her cattle dog, Po. She experimented with Po and his herding capabilities out at the ranch with the horses and that then led her on the road to North Carolina to attend Tarheel Canine, specializing in police dogs and training. Most recently, Kareena trained pets in Chicago, Illinois, at Chicago Canine Company while apprenticing under Jonathan Katz, PSA Judge and highly respected working dog trainer. While she was there she worked with rescued and abandoned senior dogs along with all of the knowledge she began to learn in the world of sport dog training. After learning more about these dogs she has become more driven to educate people about the dogs they are getting and the responsibilities of owning them. When Kareena is not busy training her clients’ dogs, she enjoys training her own dogs in different sports and activities like PSA, French Ring Sports, Agility, tracking, and various odor detection. Kareena is also a co-host on The Balanced Dog Podcast, along with Sr. Trainer, Samantha Lee, and Koru K9 Owner, Bridget Murphy.

A Colorado native, Cory grew up exploring the outdoors through camping, hiking, snowboarding, hunting, and fishing. Graduating college with a B.S. in Psychology he started a career in the medical field that eventually led to vascular sonography. After 9 years in the medical field he changed careers when offered a position in the outdoor industry at a premiere backpack company. While growing up his family owned a Doberman x German Shepherd mix that performed, then, unknowingly well as a guard dog and family pet. Due to this experience while younger and his time spent in the outdoors with various high performing hunting dogs throughout his life he had the perception that all dogs should be operating at this high level of obedience. With the realization that a lot people struggle with their pets and reach dead ends with their ability to train and understand their dog’s behaviors he now has passion to help others work with their dogs so that they can have the same experience and enjoyment as he has had. Cory has spent numerous years working with labs and pointers in the hunting aspect of dog training, and interning under Senior Trainer Kareena Moore. Cory is ready to help you and your dog get on the right track!

Hello everyone!

My name is Taylor Davis, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Koru K9 team! I have always had a fascination with animals and knew that I wanted to work with them from a young age. In 2014 I attended The Tom Rose School for dog trainers, where I learned many aspects of training. After completion of both the Professional and Master courses, I knew that I needed to learn more. I have spent a lot of time travelling the country learning about various types of training ranging from competition to police canine training.

Through my travelling and learning I believe in a few key things when it comes to training. I believe that it is my obligation to provide you with the skills and knowledge to not only train your dog, but to create a trust, bond, and understanding that that goes beyond simply teaching obedience. Individual dogs are unique and require various things in training and in their lives. Determining what will make you and your dog’s life better will ultimately determine what you need from training. We show these animals the ultimate respect when we provide and treat them in ways that will make them prosper and understand what it means to coexist with humans. When these things are done properly, we create a canine that is attentive and respectful of us. It is our duty as their caregivers to lead them in the right direction. This is my mission when training with not only my own dogs, but you as well.

In January to September of 2014, I attended the Tom Rose School for professional dog trainers under the instruction of Kari Koch, and Dave Van Garderen. I took my learning and put it to practice with my own two dogs, and later found them great homes as dual purpose K9’s. After graduating the Professionals program, I accepted a job at Kennelwood Pet Resorts, in Saint Louis Missouri, where I met and worked with so many great people and dogs. The biggest learning experience for me is finding ways to work with the dog that’s in front of me. Aside from training dogs, I absolutely love working with their owners! It’s so rewarding to see happy and motivated owners that are excited about working with their dog.

I have, and always will, consider myself a student of dog training! My goal is to always be learning because not every one dog is the same, and should not be treated as such. I have been training dogs professionally for over 10 years, starting at the young age of 18. You’ve heard it straight from me… I started as a trainer for Petsmart. I longed for something more, which is where I found myself attending the Tom Rose School for professional dog trainers (TRS) at the age of 19. I graduated from their professional and master program.

When the opportunity arose, I became an instructor at TRS where I helped many others like myself find out more of what our dogs can offer. I really developed a liking and passion for working with protection dogs, and in 2013 I certified as a Protection Sports Association(PSA) decoy. After working many dogs and many trials, I was honored to become a PSA national select decoy in 2017, 2018 in Canada, 2019, and 2020. It has been amazing!

In March of 2020 I attended a NePoPo R seminar, with Bart and Michael Bellon, that helped reignite and refuel my passion for learning. I graduated the silver program, and a couple months later attended and graduated from the gold program. With so many schools of thought, it can be a daunting task for any dog owner to choose which way to go with their dog. It is my goal to use all the tools in my toolbox, all my resources, and all my experiences to help guide owners on their dog training journey and enjoy the process. Training and learning is fun, and that is why I am here.

Kim Cerio began training dogs, professionally, in 1999. Kim attended her first obedience class, with her family golden retriever, Mandy, when Kim was 10 years old. She failed that obedience class when Mandy ran the opposite direction on the recall. This began her journey in learning how dogs think, and how to get the best and most positive response in training. Since then, Kim has participated in many dog sports, including personal protection, obedience, agility, confirmation, IPO and is currently training in PSA (Protection Sports Association). Kim has trained and handled several detection and police K9’s. Kim recently retired her operational human remains detection dog, Cooper. Cooper and Kim, successfully worked many criminal investigations, throughout the United States. Kim has been in law enforcement since 2004. She spent 11 years as a highly decorated patrol officer, with the Chicago Police Department and recently retired as a Master Texas Peace Officer, for a police department in North Texas. Kim’s love and passion, for training dogs, is evident, in each dog, she has the honor of training.

Sarah started out working with task trained service dogs for veterans with PTSD. During that time she also apprenticed under another trainer rehabilitating dogs with behavioral problems. Her passion has always been learning how to communicate with everyone, both dogs and people, in the way they understand best. Sarah enjoys dock diving, disc games, mondioring, and training many other tasks and tricks with her two personal dogs.

Sean is a veteran of the United States Navy and the United States Army, serving his country from 2005 to 2012. Sean served as a NCO and as a MOS 37F Psychological Operations Specialist. During his military career, Sean developed a strong appreciation for his fellow canine service members. After leaving the military, Sean perused his interest in canine training. He attended The Tom Rose School’s Professional and Master Dog Training Programs. Sean specializes in canine obedience, detection, and apprehension training. Currently, Sean works as a decoy for High Risk Deployment Police K9, a network of canine trainers, decoys, and handlers that are committed to improving police canine training well beyond the existing certification standards. As a board member of Hounds 4 Heroes, Sean oversees daily operations, training programs, and assessment of canines.

Mikayla’s dog training journey started on her 11th birthday with a bundle of love disguised as a Golden Retriever puppy named Penny. Penny was Mikayla’s 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, Mikayla 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 in to 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 Mikayla to continue learning and developing her training skills. It wasn’t long before friends, family, and neighbors began asking for training advice with their dogs, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mikayla is passionate about helping dogs and their owners develop healthy relationships through clear communication, consistency, and confidence building (for both dog and owner!). When she’s not working with clients, Mikayla can be found spending time with her personal dogs (Mira, Moose, and Das), volunteering for multiple dog rescues, and honing her decoy skills.

Natalie has been training dogs and working with a wide range of critters professionally since high school.  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.  In 2016, Natalie began working as a Dog Trainer for GET RATTLED which conducts Rattlesnake aversion training clinics for dogs all over the country. Through experience with her and her husband's beloved dog, Jack the Lab x Gorilla mystery breed, Natalie has acquired a devoted passion for Balanced Dog Training and the high quality of life it can bring even the most reactive dog. Natalie, her husband, dog, cat, Flemish giant rabbits, horses and reptiles now live on the Oregon Coast in Lincoln County. She is thrilled to be able to represent Koru K9 and bring her experience to the area. 

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.

Hanna Seitamaa started her animal career by going to school to be a Zookeeper, and she graduated in 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden. During this time she volunteered at a dog shelter in Malaga, Spain, and she was also heavily involved with a local dog rescue where she helped them find good homes for their rescue dogs. During this time she had her own 2 dogs as well, a golden/border collie mix and a border collie/dalmatian mix.
In 2011 Hanna continued her passion for dogs by working for K9 Lifeline, a respected dog training facility in Salt Lake City, where she stayed for 7 years. This is when she joined the IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals), she went to multiple seminars a year and got to learn from some of the best dog trainers in the industry. After years of intense learning, Hanna had the opportunity to train nearly 3000 dogs and their owners.

She traveled throughout the country where she co-taught workshops to teach other dog trainers, as well as visiting other countries to spread knowledge about how to better our communication and lives with our 4-legged family members.

In 2018 Hanna moved to Portland to continue teaching dogs and their owners how to better understand each other, so both the 2-legged and 4-legged can live better, more fulfilled and happier lives.

Hanna takes on behaviors through a big picture approach, and she emphasizes to teach owners why their dogs do the behaviors they do so they can fully understand and achieve the best solutions and training. It’s crucial to understand the why’s, so we can act correctly to help our dogs and ourselves to have easier and happier lives together with more freedom to explore.

Hanna is enjoying her family that consists of her husband James, her 4 dogs; Violet the White Shepherd, Maja the Chocolate Lab mix, Merlin the Iggy, and Pizza the terrier mix and their 3 cats; Booboo, Coyote, and Astro.

CPDT-KA and Professional Member of the International Association for Canine Professionals, has been involved in the dog world of the San Francisco Bay Area for a decade, before setting out to Portland, OR. She demonstrated early on in her career a specialty for canine body language through her hearing disability.

While many would consider a hearing impairment to be a set back to overcome, it proved to be a huge asset for Rebecca, in helping manage dog playgroups and working with otherwise difficult dogs. The absence of sound allows for full concentration on the subtleties in each dog’s personal conversation styles.

Dog Training is a passion in teaching communication between different species, enriching their lives, and supporting peaceful cohabitation. In tandem, to helping Koru K9 students learn to communicate and live with their companions, Rebecca competes in Flyball, Barn Hunt, and Dock Diving with her 3 dogs, Archer, Cooper, and Fiver.”

Lucia has been working with dogs for over two decades. She grew up in San Francisco surrounded by family pets and started her career as a dog walker walking her next door neighbor’s dogs. Her training journey began at the SFSPCA where she volunteered to train service dogs for the hearing dog department. After that she started working with local animal rescue groups fostering dogs with behavior problems. Under the supervision of various Bay Area trainers she helped rehabilitate these dogs and was able to place them into loving homes. She has also worked as a groomer and dog daycare attendant.

Working in rescue inspired Lucia’s desire to become a professional dog trainer and in 2007 she attended a 6-month long intensive at Triple Crown Dog Training Academy in Hutto, Texas, under the instruction of Jessy Gabriel and Rob Dunn. After graduating she moved to Oakland and started working as a dog walker and trainer. Lucia values continuing education and has attended seminars, workshops and courses since graduating; most recently at The Michael Ellis School in Santa Rosa, California. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her hound mix Wulfric and terrier mix Dexter, and continues her work as a foster parent for dogs in need.

Ryann Cantrell is a trainer, behaviorist, and French Ringsport competitor who began volunteering in animal shelters in junior high - with a goal to leave no dog behind. As she grew, she broadened her experience to everything from neonatal kittens to wild mustangs. After pursuing dual degrees in communication and biological sciences she started a journey through corporate leadership. However, her passion for canines continued to take priority. On her days off, she’d shadow the behaviorists at the local shelter observing each and every interaction. Eventually, seeking the most challenging cases to foster and rehabilitate. With this process came a need to understand obedience. After apprenticing with her current team, she abandoned her prior career. Ryann works hard to make sure each client is equipped with the tools and knowledge to have the very best relationship with their dog.

I’ve been passionate about animals my entire life and at an early age knew I wanted to work with dogs. In high school I volunteered at multiple animal shelters which only made my love and passion for animals grow even more! I attended Sandford Brown Institute where I studied veterinary technology. My first job out of college was working as a kennel technician at Karma K9. I loved watching the trainers work with the dogs and knew immediately that was what I was meant to do! I have now been training dogs at Karma K9 for 3 years and I can honestly say this is my dream career. I dedicate myself to every one of my training dogs and care for them like family. I build relationships with all of my clients and work diligently to ensure they’re satisfied. I can’t wait to be a part of you and your pup’s next journey!

Jason Davis is the director of our training programs at Jet Set Pets and University. He is a third generation dog trainer has has literally trained thousands of dogs of all breeds and temperament. Additionally he is the owner of Karma K9 in Jacksonville Florida. More recently has been involved with assisting with law enforcement protection training and he has won a National Championship with the highest score ever in the sport of protection. Because of his background he has a natural ability to understand and handle all types of cases from the family pet behavioral problems to dog and human aggression issues.

Meet Grant, Grant has spent his whole life around dogs. Growing up the son of one of the top AKC collie breeders he has been apart of almost every aspect of the dog industry. (Dog breeding, Puppy raising, Showing dogs, boarding, and of course dog training). In 2018 Grant decided to expand his dog training knowledge and attended 2 of the top dog training schools in the world! The Tom Rose School For Professional Dog Trainers earning his professionals and masters certification. He also attended The Michael Ellis School For Professional Dog Trainers where he earned his 3rd certification from. Grant spent 2 years learning his craft from some of the best in very intense programs and continues to expand his knowledge to this day. Grant is ready to share his knowledge with eager pet dog owners who are ready to start their training journey! 

Lydia is a South Carolina native. Animals have always been special to her, from the creepy-crawly to the cute and fluffy. She began volunteering at an animal shelter during her early college years, which ultimately helped shape her education path. She now holds a degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences with a concentration in Animal Agribusiness from Clemson University. During her time as a Clemson student, she was heavily involved with their equine programs. She worked as a student employee for Clemson’s Equine Center and rode on the ISHA Clemson Equestrian Team. She has been training dogs for 5 years. Pictured with her is the dog who started it all. Lydia has most recently worked as a vet tech for both a small animal clinic as well as an equine clinic. In her free time, Lydia enjoys training her dogs in scent detection and competing in protection sports with her American Bulldog, Rosie.

Anneliese has been working with dogs professionally since 2006. She started off working in kennels, doggy daycares, at veterinary clinics as a vet assistant, and attending college to study Zoology before ultimately deciding to dive full-time into dog training in 2011. Through her volunteer work with several all-breed and breed-specific rescues, numerous foster dogs, and through the different pet-related companies that Anneliese was hired by, she found a growing desire to gain as much formal education in the world of dog training as possible. Anneliese attended Triple Crown Dog Academy (now called Starmark Academy for Trainers) in 2011 with a Certified Training and Behavior Specialist diploma, earned her AKC CGC evaluator test in 2012, her CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) in 2013, moved to California to start training with Michael Ellis in 2014 and attended his full program which ultimately led to becoming his full-time employee for nearly two years starting in early 2015, and has attended countless additional seminars, conferences and workshops to further her education in dog training over the last decade.

Since the start of her career with dogs, she has been employed by some of the most renowned dog training companies and dog trainer schools all across the U.S., as well as gaining valuable experience in smaller businesses before starting her own dog training company in 2018. Anneliese’s greatest passion in her career as a dog trainer is helping dog owners have the best possible relationship and reliability with their canine companions! She believes that having real conversations with her clients to implement authentic training solutions is the best approach to working together to achieve their goals with their dog.

In her free-time, Anneliese travels and trains/competes with her own dogs in dog-sports, with her primary focus being in Mondioring.

Erin was born and raised in Stamford CT. She realized an early love of dogs, being introduced to therapy dogs after being diagnosed with, thankfully a curable cancer, at age 14. She’s been working with dogs in almost every capacity for the last 13 years. She started as an in-store trainer for the retail chain, PetSmart and fell in love with training pet dogs, and strengthening owners bonds with their pets, before broadening her horizons and completing the Master Trainer Certification course at National K9 in Ohio. Following that she worked for many companies in her area and did a few internships across the country. She spent 9 months as the Head Intern at Logan Haus Kennels, learning under Mike Suttle, working with adult working dogs and helping whelp, imprint, and raise puppy’s for Protection, Detection and Military jobs. Erin has also begun decoy training for protection work with Shawn Edward’s and Stateline Canine as well as owning her own Training company, K9Six.

I have been training dogs for about 5 years or so, worked at a hunter canine and co-owned Kinetic Canine with Nicole, now I run my own business, Apex Canine Solutions. I have done a little bit of helper work with a local IGP club and have done a little bit of decoy work with a French Ring club. My Malinois and I have done a couple seminars for IGP and have also completed a couple nose work classes just for fun. There has never been a time in my life I have not had a dog or five. My mom was a vet tech and worked at several zoos, I have been around almost every animal you can think of. I also do wildlife rescue, anything from rattlesnakes to birds of prey to javelinas and coyotes.

Nicole grew up in the mountains of Colorado riding, training and raising Quarter Horses. She expanded her training horizons to dogs. Nicole’s first working dogs were two Dutch Shepherds, from then she began handling Belgian Malinois and a Doberman. For the last 7 years Nicole has spent countless hours attending seminars across the US with some of the most knowledgeable trainers, handlers and decoys available. Primarily she competes in French Ring with her Belgian Malinois but has also competed in Mondioring and Dock Diving. After starting her own board and train business, she began training pet dogs as well as raising and putting sport foundations on multiple Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd and Doberman puppies. She has a passion for working dogs and she has trained close to 1,000 purebred and mixed breed pet dogs.

Hi! I’m Brittney Howard, I own Dawg Boss! I started training dogs when I was 12 years old in 4H, and since then I have been dedicated to the art of dog training. I opened Dawg Boss in 2016, while stationed in Alaska! In 2018, I got out of the military to peruse dog training full time. At Dawg Boss, our specialty is behavior modification. Our goal is to change your dog’s state of mind; from frustrated, crazy, distracted to a dog that is focused, attentive and respectful to the norms of our day to day life. We can also tackle those hard cases of aggression that get dogs put down. One of my favorite board and train programs we offer is our “puppy raising program”, allow us to train your puppy to be the best adult dog possible! I cannot wait to train with you all!

I have been a dog guy since childhood. I started my professional training career in dog training 15 years ago as a behavioral rehabilitation specialist right here in Nashville. Over the last decade I have made a well respected name for myself in the working dog world, producing Law Enforcement K9’s. My love for teaching comes across in my communication with my clients. I live for that “light bulb” moment when a pet owner gains the knowledge and perspective to communicate clearly and precisely with their pet.

I have an amazing wife of 17 years that puts up with all my “crazy” dog antics and we have one amazing son 7 years old. Even though I’m originally from Texas…Tennessee is home and has been almost two decades.

I look forward to helping TN dog owners gain a better understanding of their beloved dogs and opening up those lines of communication to allow a happier, more fulfilling, and active relationship between you and your dog!

Eloise’s history with Working Dogs date back to 2009 in the British Forces, followed by an ongoing career in Firefighting. Before her move from Britain to the USA in 2015, her main focus was Accelerant Detection Canines. Arson roles in the US are commonly filled by Law Enforcement, due to this, she found herself delving into apprehension training. Over the years, she’s stayed busy with; Pet dogs, trialing her own Dog, and training with K-9 units and other mentors nationally (always looking to better her trainer and decoy skills). This is how she learned about Koru, through Ray Murphy and HRD. Eloise currently has a career firefighting, and instructs and assists with various Fire Academies, and owns her own Pet/Working Dog company. We are happy to have her as a part of the team and happy to see Tennessee on the Koru K9 map!

Ray Murphy is the co-owner, Training Director, and Lead Behaviorist of Koru K9 Dog Training and Rehabilitation, co-owner of The Balanced School for Dog Trainers, and High Risk Deployment Police K9. Ray’s background in the military and project management gives him a unique perspective and advantage when it comes to working with the human aspect of the dog training equation. With a passion for rehabilitating aggressive dogs, Ray is known for taking the most difficult cases and turning them around with results that far exceed client’s expectations. Ray is Koru K9’s lead aggression specialist and regularly works court mandated training cases. When given the chance for training, Ray turns these dogs around and the cases have been dismissed! These dogs are often dogs that other trainers have given up on, or are unwilling to work with. He is certified through Tarheel Canine in North Carolina, and is a Police K9 Instructor Certification through Torchlight K9. Ray and Nero (pictured) achieved their PDC, PSA-1 title (Protection Work and Obedience), and Canine Good Citizen title before Nero’s untimely and unexpected passing. Ray is now working with his new German Shepherd puppy, Voodoo — training to be future PSA champions!

Bridget and her husband, Ray, co-own Koru K9 Dog Training and Rehabilitation, The Balanced School for Dog Trainers, and High Risk Deployment Police K9. Her passion for behavior training started while rehabilitating her own dog, Luna, who Bridget describes as a “hot mess” when she was rescued. While Bridget spends the majority of her time running the Koru K9 operational side of things, her training style is one that is motivational and with a focus on building the relationship between the dog and it’s owner. Bridget and Luna, who is no longer a hot mess, work together in sheep herding as well as high level obedience. Bridget and Cairo, have achieved their PSA (Protection Sports Association) PDC, and PSA-1 title, and are actively training for their PSA-2. Bridget also founded The Balanced Dog Podcast, and is a co-host along with Samantha, and Kareena.