Georgia K9 National Training Center

Georgia K9 National Training Center offers a range of specialized training programs. Obedience Training includes Puppy Preschool (8-16 weeks) focusing on house/crate training, basic manners, and socialization. Basic Dog Obedience (4 months and older) covers on-leash commands like heel, sit-stay, down-stay, and come. Advanced and Elite Obedience programs provide control under heavy distractions, off-leash training, and the option for AKC Canine Good Citizen testing. Environmental Training helps dogs with fear, aggression, or erratic behavior in public settings, available only to obedience clients.

The GAK9 Sport Tracking and Detection School teaches dogs to track human scent and detect various substances, starting with an evaluation of the dog’s natural instincts. Training can be conducted in diverse environments such as woods, fields, towns, and cities. Police K9 Training involves hand-selecting puppies at 7-10 weeks and continuously training them for specific jobs, including Basic/Advanced Police Trailing Handler’s Courses, Patrol K9 Trainer’s Course, and detection of narcotics, explosives, and evidence. On-site lodging is available at the Edisto Island, SC location for these courses.

Service Dog Training focuses on selecting and pairing puppies specifically chosen for children or adults, offering a trailing program for children with Autism that includes monitoring, companionship, tethering for safety, and search capabilities if the child goes missing. They also provide services for physical assistance and emotional support. Additionally, GAK9 offers a Sport Tracking Trainer Course to certify individuals in their tracking method, with options for two-week individual or three-week group classes. This course requires prior K9 training credentials, a capable K9, and passing specific online and practical certifications.

Pricing Summary

Financing is available for loans from $1,000 to $12,000, with no interest on principal if paid in full within the first six months.

For the Sport Tracking Trainer course, individual one-on-one training with lodging costs $9500.00. A group class (3:1 student to trainer ratio) costs $3250.00 per student. If a student does not reach GAK9 level, they may still receive a trainer’s certificate but cannot work under the GAK9 banner, with a non-GAK9 Trainer fee structure of $7,500.

For obedience training, a boarding fee applies for Board and Train programs, and a travel fee applies for lessons at the owner’s home. The Sport Trailing Trainer agreement has annual fees starting from $500 USD.

Policies

For the Sport Trailing Trainer program, participants must complete specific instruction focused on the GAK9 mantrailing technique and teaching pedagogy, divided into 6 modules over 10 days, plus at least 10 days of practical teaching under GAK9 trainers’ guidance. Participants are assessed on their teaching skills and must pass theoretical and practical exams, demonstrating their ability to manage a trail. They must also pass a Level 1 certification with their dog or a loaned dog.

The GAK9 Sport Trailing Trainer certificate is signed by Jeff Schettler. Trainers may sign an agreement with Jeff Schettler for at least two years, working under the GAK9 banner for an annual fee starting from $500, which grants rights to GAK9 logos and advertising. Sport Trailing Trainers are authorized to teach only within their local team/group for leisure/sport, not for rescue, police, or military purposes. They are not authorized to certify official GAK9 Sport Trailing certifications but can prepare teams for them.

Sport Trailing Trainers must be supervised for at least two days per year by a GAK9 instructor or invite a GAK9 Trainer for a seminar with their group. This status does not confer GAK9 instructor status, but trainers may apply to become an instructor after two years of practice. If a student in the trainer’s course does not reach the GAK9 level, they may still receive a trainer’s certificate but cannot work under the GAK9 banner, with a non-GAK9 Trainer fee of $7,500.

Georgia K9 National Training Center provides specialized dog training services with locations in Georgia and South Carolina, and a presence in Europe. They offer a variety of programs with guaranteed results, catering to both everyday dog owners and professional K9 handlers.

Their services range from basic obedience to advanced training for specific disciplines like sport tracking, detection, police K9 work, and service dog training. The founder, Jeff Schettler, is a renowned police K9 trainer and author, bringing extensive experience in tracking and K9 operations to the general dog training industry.

They also offer private search services for federal agencies, state and local government, security professionals, educational institutions, corporations, and hosted events. Additionally, they sell K9s and dog training books, and provide trainer certification courses.

Accomplishments

Georgia K9 National Training Center is a nationally certified K9 training company. Its founder, Jeff Schettler, is a retired police K9 handler from the Alameda Police Department and the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, and a former member of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. He has conducted hundreds of mantrailing operations across the USA and is recognized as a specialist in tactical mantrailing.

Jeff Schettler is the author of four books on tracking: “Red Dog Rising”, “K9 Trailing; The Straightest Path”, “Tactical Tracker Teams”, and “Tao of Trailing”. His work has been featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, Unsolved Mysteries, and Mythbusters. The company holds professional licenses including DEA License #RG0406062, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives license #9-68-005-01-1C-01065, CA Bureau of Security and Investigations license #124481, GA Business Control #09023585, Cherokee County, GA license #30142, and Georgia Board of Pharmacy license #PHRS000595 for law enforcement training involving controlled substances.

How to Get Started!

To begin, dog owners can contact Georgia K9 National Training Center for a free evaluation for obedience training. For Sport Tracking and Detection, the process starts with an evaluation by a GAK9 Trainer to assess the dog’s natural instincts and motivation. For Sport Detection, clients can sign up directly with a GAK9 trainer to start lessons. For Police K9 training or K9 availability, interested parties should contact GAK9 NTC. General inquiries can be made via phone or through the contact form available on their website.