American K-9 Interdiction

AK9i was an incredible experience that provided me with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to continue pursuing a career as a working K9 handler/trainer. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to helping each student succeed. Throughout the course, we learned everything from canine behavior and training theory to odor detection, handling skills, and real-world application. The instructors did an amazing job teaching us how to understand our dogs, think like trainers, and build a strong partnership with our K9s. The K9 selection process was thorough and focused on creating the right match between handler and dog based on temperament, drive, and working ability. I truly appreciated the time and thought put into pairing us with our partners. I am grateful for the experience, the mentorship, and the foundation AK9i has given me as I continue my journey in the K9 field. Looking forward to coming back to train and being forever a part of the AK9i family! 🐾🐕☺️

I am sharing an honest review of my experience here as a veteran. While the dog I was assigned was excellent, the administrative practices, lack of structure, and room boundary issues ruined the process.The front office handles paperwork poorly. I was fully accepted by the school and my VR&E counselor, but after completing a month of training, everything changed. Out of nowhere, during the recent government shutdown, I was told they had not received the VA payment yet. I was told I had to leave immediately or pay their high fees out of pocket. At one point, management pressed me to sign an agreement taking on personal financial responsibility before the government funding cleared. Being a 14-hour drive from home, this unexpected situation caused massive, unnecessary stress. Management should handle delayed paperwork directly with the VA rather than forcing people into risky agreements during a federal funding pause.The training structure is also unreliable. We paid for professional instruction, yet we did not always have an instructor present for our classes. On one specific day, we went the entire day with no instructor at all. Leaving students without a teacher is unacceptable for a professional facility.There are also major personal space and security issues. Staff members entered personal rooms while students were away. During my time on campus, staff entered a student's quarters and removed items without telling him; he only found out after returning. Entering rooms without permission and moving belongings without notice is completely unprofessional.Furthermore, some kennel staff display poor attitudes, the housing facilities are run-down, and there are heavy, unsolicited religious pressures pushed on campus by staff. I came strictly to learn canine handling, not to be pressured into outside activities or have my personal space disrespected

I was not impressed with the certification process. There was a strong emphasis on making the dogs overly social and friendly with everyone around them. In my experience and belief, a working service dog should be focused solely on its handler, ignoring outside distractions unless given direction. The priority should be task performance and scent work—not social interaction. After going through the process, I chose to return to the company I had previously certified with, as their standards align more closely with real-world working expectations. This organization felt very close-knit, and it seemed like opportunities were limited to those already within their circle. Additionally, I did not feel the instruction was handled professionally. I was singled out for not following their specific training style, and the overall approach did not reflect the level of respect or values I expect in a training environment. sometimes I guess when you’re looking around for pricing, the lowest does not always the best Overall, this was not the right fit for me.