Does it cost money to attend the SK9 Academy?
No!!! Our business model is to train incredible people that want to be part of our team long term. We do not charge people to attend our program and then send them on their way to look for a job. We do the opposite! We pay people well, while they are being trained, and then continue to support them long term as a member of the Suburban K9 family.
What is covered during my time in the SK9 Academy?
Your training will encompass every aspect of dog training, from easy cases to anxiety and aggression. We start off with everyday issues, then slowly teach you to be able to handle any training issue. Your manager will be there every step of the way to teach you and shadow you on your appointments. Our program includes the following:
- Over 100 in depth classrooms
- Weekly quizzes
- Progression and proficiency scoring sheets
- Mock training scenarios to get your ready for all types of issues
- Ability to shadow other trainers appointments
- Mentor program where you are connected with one of our senior trainers
- Managerial and Marketing training to prep you for your new location
How long is the program?
Our training program usually lasts around 6 months depending on your progression. We want to make sure you are an expert and able to handle anything when you open your new location.
What is a typical day in the life of a trainer in your program?
Trainers in our program have a busy but manageable schedule. Trainers in the academy will be given 40 hours of work per week, with the opportunity for overtime. We typically meet 5 days a week at our training facility for training time. You will also shadow many different types of appointments, have appointments of your own, and get to train a variety of dogs! Over time, your pay structure will change and you will be able to decide exactly how many hours you wish to work each week.
What changes when I am an established trainer?
Besides working with dogs, the best part about being a SK9 trainer is having a flexible schedule! Once you are an established trainer, you make your own schedule! You can regulate how many hours you want, have the ability to block off time, and more!
Who will instruct me during the program?
Your training will be led by Lenny Szatkowski. He is one of our most senior trainers, and the Director of our Suburban K9 Academy. Lenny has over 30,000 hours of dog training experience (10 years of dog training experience).
This training program was built from the bottom up by our company founder (Matt Covey), our other owner (Matt Wlos) and Lenny. This management team has over 40 years of dog training experience and is constantly monitoring and improving the program.
What can I do to be successful at this job?
We are looking for someone who is dedicated, passionate, willing to learn, and wants to be part of an ever growing team. People who are motivated and hardworking will thrive in this position! We can teach anyone to be an excellent trainer, but we are looking for individuals who fit into our fun and family oriented company culture!
What sets Suburban K9 a part from other dog training companies?
There are many things that set us a part, but there are two main points we like to explain to all new team members.
The first is our supportive team. Unlike a lot of businesses, we pride ourselves on having a fun and family oriented team who are committed to helping each other prosper. From day one, we preach our company culture, and you get to see it first hand by meeting our super-supportive crew. Our entire team is available for questions, help, and support and our trainers from all over the country engage with each other on a daily basis. We also have a top-notch mentor program!
On the dog training side, what sets us a part is that we approach every dog differently. Every dog is different, so having one approach is not appropriate in order to give the clients the best training possible. Combine this with the fact that we do the majority of our training inside clients' homes and it means we can address any situation and help dogs live their best possible lives!
Once I move back to my new market, how will the company support me and help me grow?
We have built an incredible team that is here to help you succeed. We send one of our most senior trainers to every market to make sure that each new territory gets the assistance that it needs. We also have a phenomenal Customer Service team that works seven days per week to book you clients and add them to your schedule. Our marketing team and IT team also work extremely hard to make sure that new clients are finding us and have a good experience on our website and during the booking process. Our goal is that trainers can spend their time doing what they do best. TRAINING DOGS!
Trainer Testimony
The best part of our job is our excellent supportive team! You may ask, “Is Suburban K9 a great company to work for”? I think an easier way to answer that is to ask some of our current team members!
Training Facility
Our training facility is perfect for the training we do! It even has two separate living spaces. Each space has its own amenities, including a full kitchen, private bathroom, bedroom, living space, and furniture. It also includes the following:
- A huge basement for training in inclement weather.
- A very large fenced in yard.
- A heated outbuilding.
- Acres of field area for walking and off leash training.
 Matt Covey, Company Founder, is Teaching |
 Lenny Szatkowski, Director of the Suburban K9 Academy is Teaching |
How to apply?