K9 Command

K9 Command K9 Command® located in Vale, North Carolina offers the most unique and advanced dog training programs in the area.

Our training comes with a lifetime support that is second to none. K9 Command® Dog Training Services offers the most unique and advanced training programs in the area. Our training comes with a lifetime guarantee that is second to none. Simply put, we offer a “one price for the life of the dog” package. We specialize in giving owners reliable control on or off the leash.

07/23/2025

Loose lead isnt natural. It’s a skill that has to be learnt. Biomechanically, dogs are built to move faster than us. Dogs choose to shift to a natural trot and on average walk at 2.5 - 4 mph (Hildebrand, 1966) where us naked monkeys on the otherhand average 2-3 mph walking (Kirtley, 2006). Do you know what 2.5 feels like? You should!

Because the mismatch alone creates tension — physically with the lead and emotionally in the relationship. Infact Dogs Trust found 30% of owners considered it a reason to rehome.

Now add in breed differences with research by Fischer & Lilje (2011) suggesting that Different breeds have different locomotive profiles based on original function. Malinois and Vizslas who are bred to move, track, cover ground; hearding breed like kelpies and collies who are bred to arc out infront; scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds - designed to follow their noses with purpose, drive and speed; and of course breeds like Huskies who are literally bred and built to pull - it’s in the actual job description.

Its not a suprise that Rooney & Cowan (2011) found Lead tension and restricted gait was specifically a negative welfare marker for working breeds.

So when we expect all dogs to plod beside us through a park at human pace, ignoring smells, distractions, and natural instinct…we’re arent asking for a behaviour: We’re asking for the dog to restrain their pace, suppress their instincts, and constantly self-regulate.

In my opinion loose lead is one of the three essential skills I believe every dog pro needs to understand in depth - gait, drive, motivation, mechanics, assessment, different technique and exercise, consequence gradients and all.

Because when you understand what you’re really asking for,
you stop calling it stubbornness
and start training it like the advanced skill it actually is. And this leads to way better pet dogs with way happier relationships. ###

Congratulations to my old classmate and friend from West Virginia Canine College way back in the 90’s. They are truly a...
07/23/2025

Congratulations to my old classmate and friend from West Virginia Canine College way back in the 90’s.
They are truly an impressive team!

🚨 Official Entry Alert! 🚔🐾
HAMPDEN COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Welcome back to the competition K9 Kino and Assistant Deputy Superintendent Wun!

Since Assistant Deputy Superintendent Wun is modest about his experience, we are going to share the following information from

“Victory Alert! 🎉🐾
We are beyond proud to share that Drac’s B’Kino BH PD — from the exceptional combination Graffight IPO3 x Lio — and his outstanding partner Assistant Deputy Superintendent Joel Wun have once again made their mark at the USPCA Region 4 PD1 Trials in Danvers, MA!

🥇 1st Place Obedience
🥇 1st Place Criminal Apprehension
🥇 1st Place Suspect Search
🏆 1st Place Overall — with a nearly perfect 638/640 points!

This marks the third consecutive year this powerhouse team has taken the top spot — a testament to their incredible bond, relentless training, and unmatched performance.”


If that doesn’t speak to this team’s remarkable capabilities, I don’t know what will! ADS Wun has been working dogs since 1998 and remains humble, passionate and just as dedicated to the art as ever!! We are excited to see how much Kino has grown since last year’s competition!

Catch them in action at the Connecticut K9 Olympics on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 285 Shaker Rd, Enfield, CT. The competition kicks off at 9 AM and runs until about 3 PM.

🎟️ Free admission — fun for the whole family!
🍔 This is a fundraising event! All money raised through the sales of T-shirts and food will be donated to charities that directly impact our community!
🚫 Please leave personal pets at home — this is to ensure the safety of all of our competitors and everyone attending!

Let’s cheer on K9 Kino and ADS Wun as they show what teamwork, training, and dedication look like in action! 🏅🐶👮‍♂️

Old news for many and eye opening for more.
07/19/2025

Old news for many and eye opening for more.

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

07/16/2025
07/16/2025

Another great day of training with Chapo. He is progressing extremely well!

Teaching your dog the “art of doing nothing” is one of the most important things you can teach.
07/13/2025

Teaching your dog the “art of doing nothing” is one of the most important things you can teach.

K9 Chapo getting in some ecollar conditioning today and learning to place on different objects.
07/11/2025

K9 Chapo getting in some ecollar conditioning today and learning to place on different objects.

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Who We Are

K9 Command was formed by Mark Connolly and Amy Henderson in 1994. The two met as students at West Virginia Canine College where they began their pursuit of a career as dog training professionals. The goals and aspirations of Mark and Amy were one in the same and thus began a relationship. Mark and Amy were married a year after their meeting at school.

AMY CONNOLLY With a love of all creatures for as long as she can remember, Amy began to pursue her dream of a career with dogs in 1992. Originally from Shelby, NC, she began her animal career in Charlotte. All of her life she was told that she needed to become a veterinarian. After several months of work at Mallard Creek Animal Hospital in Charlotte, she decided that her heart was too tender to work with sick animals. That is when she discovered the world of dog training. Through dog training, she is able to feel like the fictional Dr. Doolittle, one of her favorite children’s book characters. She has developed a way of communicating with dogs through her training. She sees dog training as learning a new language, one that the owner and dog learn together. While teaching herself Spanish, she has realized the importance of practicing a new language throughout daily life. If a new language(or activity) is brought into your everyday life, it becomes a routine, an integral part of your life, not just an activity you “used to do”.

MARK CONNOLLY A former Police K9 handler and K9 Training Director for multiple departments, Mark brings a lot of experience handling and training different types of dogs. During Mark’s law enforcement career he handled two dual-purpose German Shepherd dogs. K9 Janick and K9 Cliff have both passed over the “rainbow bridge”. Mark is active in the North American Police Working Dog Association and trained and had certified many dogs to the NAPWDA national standards. Mark has helped teach Police K9 officers how to handle and train their partners to certification levels and also turned suppressed K9 units into respected divisions of their departments. Mark has gained the respect of many veteran K9 trainers and handlers throughout the country. On April 11th, 2005 Mark and Amy’s life changed forever. Mark and K9 Cliff were involved in a vehicle pursuit of three gang members that came to an abrupt halt at a dead end road. The vehicle chase ended violently in a gunfight where Mark was shot three times by the armed and fleeing suspects. By the grace of God, the bullet that could have fatally wounded Mark was stopped by his bullet-resistant vest. Although his love for the job has never died, nor has his willingness to pursue injustice, Mark’s role as a Police Officer has changed slightly. Along with helping Law Enforcement agencies with their K9 teams, he also pursues each opportunity to make all dogs’ better members of their community through training and education of their owners.