NEWS & PRESS

(click here)

Webcam &

Client Gallery

Click the pic above for our webcam and online photo / video gallery.

On Yelp at...

On You Tube at...

On Twitter at...

On Facebook at...

FEATURED ON: National Public Radio

About  
K-9 Coach

K-9 Coach^TM is not a “doc in the box” dog training company. We take time to listen to our clients needs and to address those needs with effective training solutions. This means that you will receive the one-on-one attention you and your dog deserve. We do not operate with a “one size fits all” approach.

• We are professional, experienced, certified trainers who maintain continued education in cutting-edge training techniques and methods.

• We are bonded and insured.

• We are privately owned and operated.

• We are recommended by numerous veterinarians, doggie daycares and rescue organizations throughout Atlanta.

• We offer flexible options to suit you, including group, private and in-board instruction.

• We use simple, effective training techniques tailored to you and your dog.

Our Mission... 

Our mission is twofold:

• To provide our clients with simple and effective training methods designed to make their dogs reliable, enjoyable companions.

• To contribute to the dog training profession by developing and hosting educational seminars and conferences for our colleagues, rescue and other dog service organizations as well as the general public.

Our Beliefs...

• We believe that every dog and handler team is unique, so our training methods are customized to suit your specific situation.

• We believe that no dog is un-trainable.

• We believe in training your dog the way your dog learns.

• We believe in providing simple and effective methods designed for you to get the results you need, fast.

• We believe that if you are a K-9 Coach client, you are our number one priority.

Our Trainers...

All of K-9 Coach’s trainers are certified professionals who have a passion for dog training. They each participate in at least 20 hours of continuing education every year and have worked with virtually every type of dog, behavior issue and training technique.

We are active members in IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals), APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), and numerous other volunteer organizations.

Amber Burckhalter, Owner

Amber Burckhalter is the owner and founder of K-9 Coach, LLC, an award-winning, Atlanta dog training and behavior modification company. Amber is also the founder of Bed & Bark, the only Atlanta doggie daycare and boarding facility to be owned and operated by a certified canine specialist. 

Amber grew up in a family that was very active with dogs and, in fact, rescued her first dog when she was just 7 years old. She spent much of her high school and college years working in the veterinarian field as a kennel technician, a veterinarian assistant and a surgical technician. After graduating with a Bachelors in Science from Georgia State University, she attended Tarheel Canine Training in North Carolina - a worldwide respected canine training facility. While there, she trained and worked with dogs in search and rescue, cadaver recovery, drug and explosive discovery, personal protection and basic and advanced obedience. In 1995, Amber receiving her Certified Master Dog Trainer certification and began training professionally.  

Amber is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and is recognized as a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), the only worldwide recognized canine trainer certification, by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is active in numerous pet rescue organizations  and the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen^® program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs.

As an expert in canine obedience and behavior modification, she believes that every dog and handler team is unique and their training should be designed to address their diversities. While Amber has spent almost 20 years working with all types of dogs on pack mentality, behavior modification and all levels of obedience, she is considered an expert in the canine aggression field, using positive training methods, and this is now her professional focus.

She has served as an expert witness in court proceedings and has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and other newspapers, both for her expert opinion and her call to action for other trainers. She has appeared in Women’s Day, Parents Magazine, The APDT Chronicle, CNN.com and numerous other publications. Amber has also appeared on local television programs including Good Day Atlanta, with Victoria Stillwell of It’s Me or the Dog and in a WSB-TV Channel 2 exposé that profiled Norred and Associates and Amber’s work with busting dog fighting rings and rehabilitating abused dogs. In 2008, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) named Amber 'Head Trainer' for the End Dog Fighting Campaign in Atlanta and she went on to co-design the curriculum for the nationwide HSUS program. She has appeared on National Public Radio and several other radio talk shows as a canine expert and is sought after by numerous organizations for her help using positive training methods to successfully train and rehab dogs. She is proud to act as a mentor to other trainers and regularly hosts CEU approved educational conferences with world-renowned trainers. Currently, Amber is working on her first book and training video and lives at home with her husband, her toddler son, three rescued dogs and one cat.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lisa Brodhead, Trainer

Lisa's passion for animals and animal behavior was evident from childhood.  By the time she was seven, she had trained her collie puppy to play dead, shake, and speak, and she had tamed and trained a litter of feral kittens (even teaching some of them to ride on skateboards).  Although Lisa pursued a business degree, she spent her spare time working with her own dogs and keeping up to date on the latest training techniques.  After 15 years in the corporate world, Lisa saw an opportunity to combine her passion for dogs, her keen interest in animal behavior, and her people skills into a new and enriching career.  Specifically, Lisa completed the necessary training and requirements to earn her certification in pet dog training from the Animal Behavior College.  Her experience in the boardroom directly translates to her ability to present and explain necessary concepts for basic training needs as well as behavioral issues.  On a personal note, Lisa and her Dogo Argentino, Luna, have passed the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen® test and are currently working together on agility and tracking exercises in the hope of competing in these areas in the near future.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kat Cunningham, Trainer

Kat - You may know Kat from Wag-a-Lot Midtown where she worked for the last several years. Kat's love for dogs and her active involvement with sheep herding competitions got her involved in the industry. According to Kat "My 6 yrs. of sheep herding experience with Dawn Boyce (US Stock Dog Trials) is what formed and shaped my future in the dog world.  What  honed  my craft was the many years I managed yards with dogs of every size breed and temperament." In 2008, Kat attended Animal Behavior College and mentored under K-9 Coach Founder Amber Burckhalter. From this, she received her Certification in Dog Training. K-9 Coach and Wag-A-Lot, now Dogaroo, have always had a positive relationship with each other and when Kat decided she wanted to train dogs full-time, it was important that we maintain that relationsip and so you may even still see Kat at Dogaroo from time to time. Kat has a special bond with dogs and specializes in working with our Nervous Nellies.  She is also extremely talented in teaching dogs and their owners doggie games to play and develop a better relationship.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ken Dupcak, Trainer

Ken Dupcak has been working with and training dogs in the Atlanta area for the last 10 years.  Spending the last 3 years apprenticing Certified Master Trainer Amber Burckhalter CPDT, Ken learned to focus primarily on bridging the gap between dogs and their handlers via simple, consistent and humane training methods.

Ken has held the positions of Head Trainer and Operations Manager of several of the most successful Training/Boarding Centers in Atlanta. He is well qualified in the areas of Basic Obedience, Behavior Modification, Operant Learning, Aggression, Clicker Training, CGC Preparation and Certification, Puppy Prep and has taught Hundreds of hours of classes.

Ken is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a full member of the APDT and has volunteered at and attended many functions benefiting animal health and welfare in the south east. He assisted Amber Burckhalter and The Humane Society in the start up of a local project rehabilitating dogs who were used for fighting as well as informing local youth on the pitfalls of dog fighting.

"I believe that simple does not mean easy in dog training. There are many micro-managed events when dealing with dogs and all of them require practice, timing and a good teacher." -KD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Susan Vaughn, Apprentice

Susan - Susan Vaughn grew up showing and training horses. After volunteering with Lifeline Animal Clinic and Atlanta Humane Society, Susan became fascinated with animal behavior. Her own pack grew to 3 dogs and Susan began working with several local trainers looking for help with her pack. Four years ago, she began her own dog walking and pet sitting business and wanted to learn even more. She began attending local dog training seminars and met Amber Burckhalter as a volunteer with the HSUS's End Dog Fighting Campaign. Susan's main interest lie in rehabilitating aggressive dogs. She is currently a "trainer-in-training" under K-9 Coach mentorship.