Top Tier K9 – Tallahassee

Top Tier K9 offers Pet Training with a phased approach, concurrently training pets and owners in on-leash and off-leash obedience. Their Pets Plus Program provides advanced training, including advanced obedience, obstacle work, protection training, service dog training, and scent detection. A 3-4 week board and train program is available for pets.

The Foundation Dog® program is designed to create world-class working dogs, starting with puppies, through a scalable, phased approach. These dogs are prepared for roles such as Police K9, Military K9, Service dogs, special security dogs, and virus detection dogs. Students in this program gain hands-on experience with puppies from Top Tier K9’s litters.

An optional Virtual Reality (VR) Dog Training Center is available for pet owners with Oculus headsets, allowing them to practice commands, rewards, and corrections on a virtual dog in the metaverse. This system helps owners become proficient before working with their real dogs.

For aspiring dog trainers, the Top Tier K9 Academy offers professional training programs, including Pet Trainer and Foundation Dog Trainer paths. These programs involve live online and on-campus certifications, covering dog training techniques, business development, project management, public speaking, and risk management. Specialized master programs are also available for Service Dog Trainer, Special Security Dog Trainer (Virus Detection), and Executive/Family (Protection Dog) Trainer. Additionally, a Professional Breeder Program is offered to certified locations to develop quality working-line puppies.

Top Tier K9 is recognized as the World’s Greatest Dog Training Company and is home of the Foundation Dog®. They specialize in pet, working dog, and people training, leading the way in developing dog trainers to launch their own successful businesses.

They offer comprehensive dog training services including a 3-4 week board and train program for pets, focusing on communication and basic obedience. This prepares dogs and owners for their Pets Plus Program, which includes advanced obedience, obstacle work, protection training, service dog training, and scent detection.

Top Tier K9 is the creator of the Foundation Dog® system, a program that trains world-class working dogs from puppyhood for roles such as Police K9, Military K9, Service dogs, and special security dogs, including virus detection. They also offer a Professional Breeder Program to help certified locations develop quality working-line puppies.

A unique offering is the world’s first Virtual Reality (VR) Dog Training Center, an optional educational tool for pet owners with Oculus headsets. This allows owners to practice commands, rewards, and corrections on a virtual dog in the metaverse, reducing mistakes with their real pets.

For aspiring dog trainers, the Top Tier K9 Academy for Dog Trainers, established in 2014, provides a scalable learning system built on world-class program and project management processes. Students learn to train pets, Foundation Dogs®, Service Dogs, Protection Dogs, and Advanced Security Dogs, alongside business development, public speaking, and risk management skills to launch their own dog training businesses. They emphasize a balanced training approach, utilizing both positive reinforcement and proper corrections.

Accomplishments

Top Tier K9 is recognized as the “World’s Greatest Dog Training Company” and was established in 2014. Their Certified Foundation Dogs were the first in the world to detect the COVID-19 virus and have been deployed in military operations, police K9 work, and as service and protection dogs.

The company received the “Best in Florida” award in September 2024 and was featured on the “World’s Greatest!…” Television show in June 2024. Founder Jeff Minder has been interviewed on “Real American Heroes” by Lt. Col. Oliver North and featured on “Unleashed – Dogs without Limits TV.”

Top Tier K9 has garnered significant media attention, with features on Channel 4 News Jacksonville, Action News Jacksonville, Suwannee Times, CBS News Miami, CBS News Tallahassee, Politico, First Coast News, ABC News Tallahassee, and WCTV News Tallahassee for their COVID-19 detection dogs and training methods. Duane Pickel, an instructor at Top Tier K9, was the first to train a dog to find cancer cells. Jeff Minder, the founder, holds a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.

How to Get Started!

Pet owners can join upcoming Pet Training programs, with the next one beginning July 10th. They can also download the Top Tier K9 Pet Training App to find a trainer near them. For those interested in becoming professional dog trainers or launching a certified location, information is available by visiting Top Tier K9 Franchising or signing up for a Top Tier K9 Franchise.