I want to become a dog trainer
Learn training theory, obedience, behavior work, and professional application through live mentorship and accountable feedback.
Explore trainer mentorship
K9 ProfessionalNetworkTrainer education & business mentorshipK9PN Trainer Education + Business Systems
Build the skill. Build the business.
Choose a direct path into professional dog training, or get the website, CRM, and business systems that help an established pet-service business grow.
08weeks of guided trainer development
15students maximum per class
02ways to build your future with K9PN
Real work. Real dogs. Direct guidance.Choose your starting point
What brings you to K9PN?
I need help with my current business
Get a professional website, CRM, inquiry follow-up, client intake, and business systems built around your dog training or pet-service company.
Explore websites + CRMEducation with accountability
Learn it. Practice it. Show the work.
Structured education
Build reliable foundations in puppy development, adult obedience, communication, and behavior.
Weekly feedback
Submit training videos every week and receive practical critiques you can apply in your next session.
Professional application
Turn knowledge into repeatable client work, then learn the systems behind a sustainable business.
The eight-week curriculum
Your training roadmap.
No equipment or dog ownership is required. Students are encouraged—but never required—to practice with a personal dog or a trusted friend’s or family member’s dog when available.
Learning principles, canine behavior, communication, motivation, timing, and responsible training practices.
Building reliable foundational skills for puppies and adult dogs.
Improving reliability, duration, distance, distractions, and handler precision.
Understanding behavior cases, assessment, training plans, progression, and client communication.
Exploring career paths, service models, client experience, pricing, marketing, and practical next steps.
No public training is required at any point in the program.
Why become a dog trainer?
A growing industry rewards trainers who can prove the quality of their work.
Demand for professional dog training continues to create opportunity—but enthusiasm alone does not build a lasting career.
Strong education, sound handling, accountable practice, and a clear client experience can separate you from the trainers in your area.
Past mentees$100K–$250K
Approximate annual business revenue achieved by previous mentees, depending on their market, living situation, pricing, capacity, and execution.
Mike’s Long Island business≈ $500K
Approximate annual revenue produced in each of three years operating in one of the country’s most competitive markets.
The program is designed to give you the professional foundation, feedback, and business direction to pursue your own opportunity with confidence.
These figures describe past experience, not promised results. Revenue and business outcomes vary widely and depend on skill, effort, market conditions, expenses, capacity, and execution.Choose your path
Two paths. One professional future.
Build your dog-training skills with six months of follow-up support, or choose a full year of training mentorship and complete business setup.
01 / Trainer development
Basic Dog Trainer Mentorship
8-week course + 6 months of follow-up support$1,999$2,999
Founding student savings: $1,000
- 8 live, instructor-led Zoom instructional sessions
- Dog training video library covering obedience and advanced obedience, with sport, protection, detection, and more being added
- 6 months of monthly class follow-up Zooms after the eight-week course—meet once a month to explore behavior and obedience training, bring your dog-training videos and questions, and review them together as a class
- 6 months of one-on-one dog-training help and coaching after the course—get guidance on dogs you are working with, troubleshoot challenges, and refine your training plans
- Weekly assignments with personal feedback and video critiques when training footage is available
- No equipment required to participate
- Guest speakers throughout the course
- Preparation for NePoPo® Silver
- K9PN Certificate of Completion
02 / Complete training & business setup
Ultimate Dog Trainer Business Mentorship
12-month complete business setup & mentorship$5,999$6,999
Founding student savings: $1,000
Complete business setup is initially limited to 10 enrollments. Additional spots will open as capacity becomes available.
- Everything in the Basic Dog Trainer Mentorship, including 8 live Zoom instructional sessions and the dog training video library
- Monthly class follow-up Zooms extended to 12 months—explore behavior and obedience training and bring your dog-training videos and questions for group review
- 12 months of one-on-one dog-training help, with guidance for every dog you work with throughout the program
- 12 months of integrated business setup, implementation, and ongoing coaching with Mike
- Complete business setup from A to Z, with a practical launch roadmap built around your market
- Services, offer design, pricing, business structure, branding, and sales messaging
- A professionally built website and professional online presence
- A personalized CRM and lead management system
- Client intake, contact, booking, onboarding, and customer communication systems
- Sales processes, automated follow-up, and business automation
- Lead generation, advertising, and marketing guidance
- Monthly private business strategy sessions throughout the full year
- Ongoing support to improve your systems and work through the challenges of building and operating your business
Financing is available for every package. Veterans receive an additional 5% discount. Optional continued business support is available after your included mentorship ends for $99–$499 per month, based on the level of support your business needs.
Important program note
You do not need to own or provide a dog to participate.
Working with a dog during the week is encouraged because practice helps reinforce the material, but it is not mandatory. If available, students may practice with their personal dog or a trusted friend’s or family member’s dog—even one session per week can be valuable. No public training is required at any point in the program.
Meet your mentor
Mike Leal
Dog trainer, business owner, Army Ranger veteran, and NePoPo® Gold graduate.
Mike founded North Shore Paws on Long Island in 2023. His business grew through an obsession with education, consistent standards, and the willingness to learn directly from respected trainers across the United States and Europe.
Over the years he has worked with puppies, adult dogs, and challenging behavior cases. That experience shaped this mentorship: students receive practical instruction, honest feedback, and support applying what they learn in real training and business situations.
Mike’s goal is to help developing trainers become capable, accountable professionals—and give them a business foundation they can be proud to put their name on.
Follow Mike on Instagram
Apply to K9PN
Tell us where you want to go.
Complete the short application below. We’ll review your goals, experience, availability, and program interest. An optional Zoom consultation may be recommended, but it is not required.
Maximum 15 students per trainer classNo dog ownership or public training requiredFinancing available for all packages5% veteran discount available