Solid K9 Training Academy

Solid K9 Training employs a systematic, start-to-finish training protocol developed by Jeff Gellman, focusing on consistency and teachability to bring out each dog’s full potential and foster harmony with their owners. They emphasize developing a calm state of mind and teaching dogs to make good choices, working with all dogs, including those with severe behavioral issues like aggression and fear.

Their offerings include:
* **Board & Train Programs:** Intensive 24/7 programs at their Bradenton, FL facility. The 4-week “Elite” program covers leash manners, basic obedience (sit, down, recall, place, heel, out, crate manners), and correcting common unwanted behaviors such as jumping, counter-surfing, mouthing, nipping, chasing, and playing keep-away. It also addresses separation anxiety (in some cases), crate issues, confidence building, calm on command, public access training, and off-leash excursions. The 6-week “Behavior Mod/Aggression Rehab” program is designed for dogs exhibiting intense dog aggression, fear aggression, human aggression, extreme fear, or biting, providing intense rehabilitation to recondition behaviors. Both Board & Train programs include six hours of owner training (a mid-program session, a completion session, and a follow-up session within two months).
* **Premium LIVE IN Board & Train Program:** A VIP offering that combines the 4-6 week facility training with 2-5 days of in-home integration and training for family members or household staff at the client’s location. This program aims to achieve service-dog level public access skills and includes one year of full access to their online academy and community membership.
* **Online Academy & Community:** Provides digital courses such as “Green to Graduate 1 + 2” for step-by-step on and off-leash obedience, and “Chaos to Control” for addressing leash reactivity. The “Community Membership” grants access to these core courses, live coaching calls with Jeff and Joelle twice a month, a supportive online group, and a vault of over 12 workshops and masterclasses covering basic obedience and behavior modification.
* **Video/Phone Consults:** One-on-one sessions offering guidance on dog training techniques for various issues, as well as business, marketing, and social media strategies.
* **Seminars:** Jeff Gellman conducts in-person RV seminars globally, sharing his expertise in balanced dog training.
* **Free Training:** The “Ground Zero” training offers fundamental leadership skills to address common rude behaviors like jumping, pulling, excessive energy when leashing, crate issues, and disrespecting thresholds.

Pricing Summary

Boarding is priced at $75 per night or $475 per week, with an additional $25 per night for holidays and a 2-night minimum for holiday periods. Board & Train programs range from $6,000 to $10,000 for 4-6 weeks, with the cost of an e-collar ($199-$329) being separate. Full payment is required upfront to secure a Board & Train reservation. The Online Community Membership costs $997 per year. Shadow Programs for aspiring trainers are $3000 for 7 days or $4500 for 2 weeks, with additional days available at $400 per day after completing the minimum 7 days. Private video/phone consults are $199.99 for dog owners and $299.00 for dog trainers.

Policies

For the Online Community Membership, Solid K9 Training offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee with a 72-hour “love it or leave it” policy, allowing clients to switch to another training program if they are not satisfied. For Board & Train programs, full payment is required to secure a dog’s reservation. For video/phone consultations, clients who are 15 minutes late or more will forfeit the entire consultation without a makeup session. Boarding services require a 2-night minimum stay during holidays, and no drop-offs are permitted on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day.

Solid K9 Training Academy is a dog training business dedicated to changing the lives of families and dogs for the better. They have been a “trainer of last resort” for over 12,000 dogs over the past 22 years, specializing in resolving severe behavioral issues and guaranteeing positive changes in the relationship between owners and their dogs.

The company offers a comprehensive range of services including in-person Board & Train programs at their Bradenton, FL facility, online courses through Solid K9 Academy, virtual consultations, and seminars conducted worldwide. They focus on a systematic, start-to-finish training process that emphasizes leadership, structure, and boundaries to help dogs make good choices, achieve a calm state of mind, and live harmoniously with their owners.

Solid K9 Training works with any dog, regardless of breed, shape, size, or history, and is renowned for successfully rehabilitating aggressive and fearful dogs that may have been turned away by other facilities. They also provide pet boarding services for past and current clients and sell various pet supplies. Their mission extends to empowering dog owners through extensive free resources, aiming to significantly reduce unnecessary re-homing and sheltering of dogs.

Accomplishments

Solid K9 Training has been in operation for over 22 years, having trained and rehabilitated more than 12,000 dogs in person and countless others through their digital online courses. Jeff Gellman, the founder, is recognized as a world-renowned expert in resolving severe behavioral issues in dogs and has conducted over 300 dog training seminars globally. The business has amassed over 160,000 global followers and subscribers, with their training content accumulating over 21 million hours of watch time on YouTube. They also claim to have helped launch or skyrocket over 520 careers for dog trainers. Solid K9 Academy offers 44 step-by-step online courses, all based on a single, consistent training process. Joelle Gifford is the co-founder of Solid K9 Academy and a distinguished trainer specializing in behavior modification. Courtney serves as the Head Trainer at Solid K9, bringing a decade of experience in behavior modification and K9 Nosework, and was a proficient Bed Bug Detection K9 handler.

How to Get Started!

To begin, dog owners can access free training resources, such as the “Ground Zero” program, which provides foundational leadership skills. For paid services, clients can schedule a consultation call (Zoom, phone, or video) or fill out a form for Board & Train programs. For boarding services, scheduling is handled by contacting the front desk via email or phone.