Tarheel Canine
School for dog trainersEmbark on an extraordinary journey into the world of dog training excellence where we open doors to an unparalleled future in canine education!
Empowering Dog Training Professionals
At Tarheel Canine, dog training is more than just a job or a hobby—it’s a passion.
For over two decades, we have been at the forefront of training dog trainers in private practice, police K9, and the Military. Law enforcement trainers come to us and go home and completely change the training curricula in their large institutional agencies to match our best practices. Pet trainers learn better ways to communicate with their clients and dogs, aligning expectations, and over delivering their services. Our mission is to empower dog enthusiasts like you and create professionalism by providing comprehensive programs that not only teach you how to train dogs and address behavioral issues but also help you understand the entire dynamic between dog and handler, and how to navigate and succeed in a very competitive industry.
There is simply no other school in the country where you can put hands on this number of dogs being trained for actual police agencies, or PPDs being trained for actual clients, or be around this many world class instructors and sport competitors in one place. The theory is cutting edge, and the experience you will get in terms of hand on time on dogs is unparalleled. The company you will keep while at Tarheel Canine will affect you for a lifetime. Your student colleagues will become friends for life, and your instructors will be mentors you can turn to throughout your career.
Our school is not for the weak or faint of heart. You will not spend most of your time in a classroom or on a computer, writing papers like you are in college, though you will receive theory lectures and participate in high level discussions about how to approach complex training progressions and problem solving. Our graduates thank us for instilling a work ethic second to none. For 6 months you are up early and training late, attending club training that runs until midnight on Tuesdays, and up early again on Saturday mornings for club training again. School is M-F all day, you are in and out of the bite suit, running tracks all over town in the hot and the cold, on the side of roads, fields and woods, detecting contraband in warehouses and at industrial sites. You will be tired and some days exhausted, you will be wet and dirty. You will take naps in your car when you have a spare 15 minutes. We show you what it takes to be world class. But when you graduate you will know you’ve done something unique and difficult and you’ve struggled to meet very high expectations. Hit the button below and join an elite group of professionals in the Tarheel Canine family.
Join us and be part of the worldwide Tarheel Canine community including police k9 instructors, military working dog trainers, pet dog and PPD trainers, and world class PSA competitors and decoys that share your passion for dog training. Our network is unparalleled and stretches across the globe from the US and Canada, Taiwan to Australia, from the UK to South Africa and India to South America. Our graduates are everywhere top quality training is taking place.
Tarheel Dog Trainers School Graduates
ebook: Becoming a dog trainer by Jerry Bradshaw
Exploring the Thriving Field of Professional Dog Training
Choosing the Right Training Program: Navigating the Options
Tarheel Canine Courses
Our Professional Trainer Courses go beyond dog training techniques. We believe in equipping our students with principles and processes upon which to build a well-rounded skill set. Each course encompasses essential training components in theory and practice as well as entrepreneurship and business building. We understand that success in the field requires expertise beyond training alone. That’s why we ensure our students gain knowledge in these vital areas, setting them up for a prosperous and sustainable career.
All courses offer an accelerated course option (2 weeks)
Master Trainer Courses
These courses are designed for those who wish to learn the theory and practice of professional obedience training without traveling away from home, yet are dedicated seriously to learning the art and craft of dog training. These courses are not a substitute for the practical experience gained through our hands-on apprenticeships, though they are designed to be as thorough and demanding as possible.
Professional Obedience & Behavior Correspondence Course:
- Comprehensive topics covered, including canine behavior, conditioning theory, and training methodologies for pet dogs.
- Proven training program for basic to advanced obedience, competitive focused heeling, and advanced training using the e-collar.
- Strategies for structuring successful training programs and behavior modification for common problems.
- Business aspects of dog training, including starting a business, marketing, and advertising.
- Includes self-study questions and a final exam.
Protection Theory Correspondence Course:
- Advanced module focusing on the selection and testing of prospects for sport and police K9.
- In-depth exploration of prey and defense development, courage testing, bite suit training, and more.
- Covers basic guarding, hold and bark techniques, and e-collar usage in protection training.
- Modules on focused heeling and control.
- Includes self-study questions and a final exam.
Price List:
- Core Correspondence Course (Non-interactive): $650.00
- Core Protection Theory Correspondence Course: $750.00
Join our Master Trainer Courses today and enhance your knowledge and skills in professional dog training from the comfort of your own home!
Protection Trainer & Decoy Course
This intensive program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in decoying for schutzhund, KNPV, and personal protection dogs.
Throughout the course, we delve into protection theory and training techniques, providing detailed instruction for working with dogs at various stages of development, from puppies to adults. You will learn how to effectively utilize tools such as the sleeve, full body bite suit, hidden sleeve, and muzzle to elicit the best performance from the dogs under your training.
Additionally, this course covers critical aspects of selection and testing when it comes to identifying potential protection prospects. We will provide you with the necessary insights and methodologies to make informed decisions in this regard.
By enrolling in this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of decoy techniques and protection training principles. You will be equipped to bring out the full potential of the dogs you work with, ensuring their readiness and effectiveness in various protection scenarios.
Join us in this exciting journey as we elevate your skills as a Protection Trainer & Decoy!
Police K9 Instructors Course
This comprehensive course offers certification for individuals interested in training and conducting in-service training for Police K9 functions. Upon completion, you will be equipped with the necessary skills to excel in areas such as obedience, practical agility, decoy techniques, variable surface tracking, evidence search, handler protection, criminal apprehension, tactical building and area search, felony vehicle stops, narcotics detection, explosives detection, and weapons detection.
The course is designed to cover various essential topics, including selection testing for police dog candidates, tactical deployment strategies, understanding relevant case law, and developing proficiency in record keeping and court testimony. To qualify for this course, you must either be a current or former law enforcement officer, or successfully pass a background investigation.
By enrolling in this course, you’ll gain valuable expertise and certification in Police K9 training, enabling you to make a significant contribution to law enforcement agencies and enhance public safety.
K9 Detection & Variable Surface Tracking Course
This specialized course is specifically designed for individuals interested in detection training for law enforcement or private security applications. The program focuses on developing expertise in key areas such as narcotics detection, explosives detection, and weapons detection.
The course comprises comprehensive instruction blocks that cover a range of essential topics. These include selection testing for police dog candidates, tactical deployment strategies, understanding relevant case law, and developing proficiency in record keeping and court testimony.
Participants will gain valuable insights into K9 selection testing and record keeping.
To qualify for this course, you must be a current or former law enforcement officer, or successfully pass a background investigation. By enrolling in this course, you will acquire advanced skills in all facets of detection training and variable surface tracking techniques, equipping you to contribute effectively to law enforcement or private security operations.
Tarheel Canine’s Training System
Central to our training philosophy is the renowned Tarheel Canine Training System. Developed by our esteemed Training Director, Jerry Bradshaw, this unique system has been refined over the years with the latest research and understanding of behavior and training methods.
When you enroll with us, you will receive the tools of the trade as part of the program. We will not only teach you how to use and apply these tools but also guide you through the application of the Tarheel Canine Training System—an unrivaled approach embraced by our successful graduates in various fields, including private training practice, police work, and military applications.
My experience at Tarheel K9 School was truly life-changing. Jerry, the owner, was deeply involved throughout the 6-month course, teaching me not only the technical skills needed for training police dogs but also imparting a deep passion for working with pet dogs. He emphasized the importance of patience and understanding their body language, encouraging me never to give up on any dog. Jerry’s holistic approach to training—seeing each dog as an individual and understanding their needs—has been invaluable.
Taylor and Abraham’s dedication further enriched my learning experience. Their hands-on instruction covered every aspect of canine behavior and security training. This comprehensive education not only equipped me with the necessary skills but also instilled a profound respect and love for these animals. The support and knowledge I gained at Tarheel K9 gave me the confidence to open my own business, Dog Principal, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As the founder of Dog Principal, I am now able to help dogs and their owners build strong, trusting relationships. Tarheel K9 is more than just a school; it’s a place where passion for animals and excellence in training come together. I am forever grateful for the guidance and support that have set me on this fulfilling career path.
With heartfelt thanks,
I am a proud graduate of Tarheel Canine School for Dog Trainers. I have taken multiple courses with Tarheel to further my Trainers education. Learning and Training at Tarheel has been transformative and essential to my success as a dog trainer. The education I received from the courses I took and the instructors I learned from at Tarheel made my successful career as a dog trainer possible. The formal dog training education you can get at Tarheel Canine is second to none and being a graduate of TK9 is a meaningful, impactful and recognized accomplishment in the dog industry. If you’re searching for a university level of quality Dog Trainer Education, you have found it with Tarheel Canine Training Inc. Do yourself and your career a favour and enroll!
This summer I went to Tarheel Canine and it was the best summer of my life. I did an internship and I learned a lot of new techniques and problem solving. I worked with military and police dogs and loved every minute of it. I made a lot of new friends and spent time with old friends. And if they will take me back I will be there first chance I get.
While attending the school, my life changed. I fell in love with the training of dogs in all areas; protection work, detection work, man trailing, obedience, etc. I knew that it was exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Jerry Bradshaw and his staff made the whole experience incredible for me, someone who had never owned a dog before, plunging head first into the training of these amazing animals. The staff was knowledgeable, courteous and professional and made sure I got proper instruction and lots of hands on time in all areas of training. While attending the school, I forged friendships that will remain forever in my life and I was even able to purchase my first dog, a female Belgian Malinois, from Jerry while I was there. Upon graduation after 3 months, Jerry was instrumental in helping me obtain my first dog trainer job…
When anyone asks me what school or program they should attend, I always say Tarheel Canine. I only learn from the best!