Southern Warrior K9

Southern Warrior K9 offers a variety of training programs designed to meet diverse needs. Their **Board and Train programs** provide an accelerated, immersive learning environment. These programs typically last 3-4 weeks and involve three phases: initial positive reinforcement for basic commands (heel, sit, down, come), incorporating leash pressure and proofing around distractions, and finally, layering an e-collar for off-leash reliability and high-distraction proofing. Each phase includes four private lessons after the boarding portion to ensure owners can maintain the training.

The **Puppy Board and Train** program is specifically for puppies aged 3 to 6 months, focusing on foundational learning, clicker work, crate training, potty training, and addressing common puppy behaviors like biting and jumping. This program costs $2,500 and includes boarding, training, and 4 private lessons. The **Basic Obedience Board and Train** is for dogs over six months, covering on-leash obedience such as polite leash walking, coming when called, sit, down, place/stay, and house manners, while also working to eliminate problem behaviors. This 3-4 week program costs $2,500 and includes 4 private lessons. The **Advanced Board and Train** program, a prerequisite of the Basic Obedience program, sharpens existing skills by proofing them under heavy distractions and off-leash, including public access training. This 3-4 week program costs $2,500 and includes 6 private lessons.

**Private Dog Training Lessons** are one-on-one sessions tailored to specific needs. These can take place at their facility (10 sessions for $750) or as **In-Home Training** (10 sessions for $2000), where trainers work with dogs in their home environment and involve the entire household. These sessions address common behavioral issues like leash pulling, reactivity, jumping, aggression, separation anxiety, and more.

Additionally, Southern Warrior K9 provides **Specialized Dog Training Programs** for service dogs, personal protection dogs, detection training (for both pets and professionals), competition skills, and behavior modification. They offer custom training plans for these advanced needs, including preparing police K9 teams for CLEET certification in narcotics, explosives, tracking, apprehension, and officer protection.

Pricing Summary

The Puppy Board and Train program starts at $2,500, which includes boarding, training, and 4 private lessons. The Basic Obedience Board and Train program is priced at $2,500 and requires a $250 deposit upon booking. The Advanced Obedience Program also costs $2,500 and requires completion of the Basic Obedience Program as a prerequisite.

For private lessons, an At-Facility Lesson Package of 10 sessions costs $750. An In-Home Lesson Package of 10 sessions costs $2000. If clients choose to go through all three phases of the Board and Train program at once, they receive a discount of $2500 on the total program cost. Pricing for specialized training services is available upon request.

Policies

Southern Warrior K9’s Board and Train programs typically last three weeks per phase. However, they operate on a results-based approach, meaning they may extend a dog’s stay for a few extra days at no additional cost to ensure mastery of the training. They may also request owners to join training sessions once or twice during the program to help them understand their dog’s learning and prepare for success at home. After program completion, they provide four weeks of once-a-week private lessons to ensure owners can maintain lasting results and offer ongoing support for any future issues or refresher needs.

Southern Warrior K9 is a dog training company that provides quality, personalized dog training services tailored to the individual needs of each family. They aim to help owners build a strong relationship with their dogs through improved communication skills, manners, and participation in dog sports. Their boarding and training programs are kept small to ensure personalized attention for every client.

Southern Warrior K9 offers various training options, including in-home dog and puppy training, private lessons at their facility, and training while boarding. They also specialize in protection dog training and service dog training. They work with dogs of all breeds and ages, from puppies needing basic obedience to adult dogs for personal protection or competition.

With over 20 years of experience in dog obedience, puppy training, and competitive dog sports, Southern Warrior K9 utilizes a Reward Based System with a Balanced Approach. This means they teach skills using positive reinforcement and then layer appropriate corrections once the dog understands the commands. Their trainers are dedicated to helping families communicate clearly and effectively with their dogs, striving for conflict-free methods that lead to lasting training results. They have a proven track record of success at both National and World championship levels in dog sports and guarantee consistent results for their clients.

Accomplishments

Brad Hardin, the head dog trainer at Southern Warrior K9, has over twenty years of involvement in competitive dog sports and hunting dogs. Since 2005, he has been deeply engaged in protection-based competitive dog sports, including Mondioring, PSA, IPO, NWDA, and Iron Dog competitions. He achieved certification as a Mondio Ring trial decoy in 2007 and a PSA trial decoy in 2008, and notably decoyed the Mondioring National Championships in 2009.

Brad is the former Vice President of USMRA, served on the USMRA Decoy committee, and has been the head decoy/training director for three different clubs across Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma. He is currently in the Apprentice Judge’s program for USMRA. In 2019, Brad achieved significant success at the USMRA National Championships, placing third with his Belgian Malinois, K10’s Kitty Pryde (Level II), and second with Lanzo van Arne’s Hoeve (Level 1), a German Shepherd. Lanzo also received the Decoy’s Choice award and was recognized as the best non-malinois competitor. Later in 2019, Brad and Lanzo competed in the FCI Mondioring World Championships in Poland, securing 12th place in their division.

Beyond competitive sports, Brad has worked professionally as a dog trainer for over ten years, collaborating with various organizations nationwide. His experience extends to working with numerous police departments and high-end vendors who supply working dogs to police and military organizations. Brad’s expertise also includes preparing police K9 teams for professional (CLEET) certification and training dogs and handlers in narcotics detection, explosives detection, tracking, apprehension, and officer protection.

How to Get Started!

To begin, clients can fill out a form to request more information on Southern Warrior K9’s dog training programs. Upon application, the team contacts the client to evaluate the dog’s issues and discuss specific training goals. At the start of the training program, goals are reviewed, paperwork is completed, and the dog is checked in.

Over the initial days, trainers evaluate and get to know the dog, beginning with clicker training to associate it with positive rewards and build engagement. Once the dog’s training is complete, the trainer discusses everything the dog has learned and how to maintain it. This is followed by four weeks of once-a-week private lessons to ensure the owner can maintain lasting results. Southern Warrior K9 also offers ongoing support, inviting clients to call at any point for issues, refreshers, or advanced lessons.