Hi, we're Kendall & Chan. ๐
A husband-and-wife team of professional dog trainers in Carson City, Nevada โ built on one belief: the best trainer your dog will ever have is you.
Coaching. Community. Consistency. That's not a slogan โ it's the whole method.
How this started
Thirteen years ago, in college, Kendall was diagnosed with epilepsy and hemiplegic migraines โ a condition that presents with stroke-like symptoms. Instead of waiting for help, she trained her first medical response and medical alert service dog herself. That dog changed her life. Teaching others to do the same became the mission.
We built Custom K-9 together around that mission: specializing in service dogs, training family pets, and never losing the urge to teach people how to train. Because when you understand your dog โ really understand them โ training stops being a chore and becomes the best part of your day.
No guilt. No judgment. No "what took you so long." Just clear communication, customized plans, and a community cheering for your ten-minutes-a-day wins.
Kendall
Dog trainer, author of award-winning dog training books, and founder of Custom K-9 Service Dogs. Kendall writes a regular dog training column for the Nevada Appeal, leads our free library seminars โ and doesn't just train service dogs, she lives with one: Boomer, her medical response service dog, is by her side every day.
Her superpower: explaining complex training in a way that makes you say "oh โ that's it?"
Chan
Co-trainer, Marine Corps Major (Semper fi), and the calm at the center of every session. Chan brings steady structure, real-world discipline, and a knack for helping nervous handlers โ and nervous dogs โ exhale.ย
His superpower: making "consistency" feel doable instead of daunting.
13 years of professional training together โ plus one very good dog named Boomer, a shared love of scuba diving, hiking, camping, teachingโฆ and the occasional rye whiskey. ๐ฅ
What we do
๐ Club Doghouse
Our online training membership โ short daily lessons, weekly structure, and a trainer in your corner while you raise your dog. Start here.
๐พ In-person training
Private sessions, group classes, and seminars around Carson City โ including workshops in the mountains we call home.
๐งญ Service dogs
It's in our name: owner-trained service dog coaching nationwide, plus fully trained placements. Ethical guidance, start to finish. Explore the program.
Community is the third C
Good training shouldn't be a secret. You'll find us hosting free educational seminars at the Carson City library, writing weekly for the Nevada Appeal, and working hand in hand with causes we believe in โ the Nevada Humane Society, Carson Trail Association, Carson Animal Services Initiative andย the Douglas Animal Welfare Group.
What's next for us: our third book is on its way to publication ("Life on Paws, a dog trainer's memoir"), we're putting the finishing touches on a documentary about dogs filmed overseas in Croatia and Germany (Paws Away) and we'reย finalizing the build on Club Doghouse, what we lovingly call the "Duolingo of dog training." Stay tuned. ๐พ
Whether you found us through the paper, the library, a friend, or a very good dog you met in a parking lot โ welcome. You're in the right place.
Ready to become your dog's favorite trainer?
Or just have a question? We'll listen first, then help.
๐ Start Your First Month โ $169