GAK9 Wisconsin-America’s Premier Dog Trainer

GAK9 offers specialized training schools for police, military, and SAR teams in tracking, trailing, and detection work. Programs include the GAK9 Sport Tracking and Detection School, Tracker School, and certification pathways for trainers. Training is delivered through intensive, professional-level programs designed for working dog handlers, not pet owners. They also offer a certification program for becoming a certified trainer.

GAK9 Wisconsin-America’s Premier Dog Trainer is a veteran and family-owned company specializing in advanced K9 training for law enforcement, military, SAR, and detection work. They provide specialized training in tracking, trailing, air scent work, and human remains detection. Despite their name suggesting a focus on Wisconsin, their primary operations and trainer base are in Canton, GA, with international branches in Europe. They do not accept clients for pet obedience or behavior modification, focusing exclusively on professional and working dog programs. Their founder, Jeff Schettler, is a retired police K9 handler and expert in tactical tracking, author of four acclaimed books on K9 trailing. GAK9 trains and certifies professional handlers and offers training schools for police, military, and SAR teams. They also sell K9s, training books, and equipment, but do not offer services for pet owners.

The business operates as a training institution and certification body for working dog professionals, not as a direct service provider for household pet owners. Their services are tailored to agencies and certified handlers, not the general public seeking basic obedience or behavior help for companion dogs.

Accomplishments

Jeff Schettler, founder and lead trainer, is a retired police K9 handler with 25+ years of experience, trained at the US Army’s Leadership Academy, and has worked with the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Teams’ K9 Program. He is an expert witness in K9 trailing and has appeared on CNN, ABC, CBS, Unsolved Mysteries, and Mythbusters. He authored four published books on K9 trailing, which are used globally by professional handlers. GAK9 is recognized as a premier training institution for tactical tracking and detection K9s worldwide.