🐾 Pro-Trainer Academy: Phase 2
Phase 2: Where Training Becomes Professional Practice
Phase 2 is where foundational knowledge is applied under real-world conditions. This is the phase where training decisions matter, time matters, and responsibility increases.
Participation in Phase 2 is limited to students who have successfully completed Phase 1 and demonstrated readiness to move into immersive, hands-on work.
This page outlines what the in-person Training Academy looks like — the expectations, the time commitment, and the type of work involved. It is intended to give a clear, realistic picture of what participation requires.
Phase 2 is not an introduction.
It is where developing trainers are expected to work, decide, and progress at a professional level.
Phase 2: Intensive Hands-On Application
Where Knowledge Is Tested in Real Conditions
Phase 2 of the Gold Country K9 Pro Trainer Academy is a five-week, in-person immersion focused on applying training skills in real environments, with real dogs, under real constraints.
This phase is designed to close the gap between knowing how to train and being able to train efficiently, safely, and responsibly in professional settings.
Students are expected to work consistently, make timely decisions, and adapt training plans based on the dog in front of them — not on rigid formulas or ideal conditions.
This phase emphasizes:
-
Practical handling and safety
-
Clear decision-making
-
Timely progress appropriate for board-and-train work
-
Exposure to professional training environments
Phase 2 is demanding by design. It reflects the realities of professional dog training, where results, clarity, and accountability matter.
In-Person Training Academy (Phase 2)
The in-person Training Academy is a five-week immersive program requiring a consistent, structured time commitment.
Participants should expect to spend approximately 4–6 hours per day, five days per week, engaged in hands-on training, supervised work, and real-world exposure.
Board & Train Experience
During Phase 2, students will complete board-and-train work with multiple dogs, typically living with the trainer during the program.
This work emphasizes:
-
Efficient progression appropriate for professional board-and-train timelines
-
Clear goal setting and follow-through
-
Avoiding unnecessary delays caused by indecision or over-analysis
-
Producing meaningful, ethical results within a reasonable timeframe
Owners expect their dogs returned on time. Learning to move dogs forward confidently and responsibly is a core skill developed during this phase.
Shelter, Rescue, and Prison Program Work
Students will work hands-on with dogs from:
-
Shelter and rescue environments
-
The Rescue Dog Prison Program
This work provides exposure to dogs with varied histories, stress levels, and training needs. Students are expected to handle dogs safely, read body language accurately, and adjust training approaches based on each individual dog.
Participation includes active involvement — not observation only.
Client, Public, and Sport Exposure
To prepare students for professional practice, Phase 2 includes exposure to:
-
Client training sessions
-
Adoption events
-
Sport or activity-based lessons (such as dock diving or similar work)
Students learn how training decisions translate into real-world environments involving people, distractions, and expectations.
Working With Your Own Dog
Students may also work their own dog on advanced skills such as heeling, retrieving, or fluency in distracting environments. This allows for refinement of timing, mechanics, and handling under guidance.
Eligibility & Time Commitment
Phase 2 of the Pro Trainer Academy is an in-person, immersive commitment and is not designed to be completed alongside a full-time job or competing obligations.
Participants must be able to:
-
Commit to set dates for the duration of the program
-
Be present and engaged 4–6 hours per day, five days per week
-
Work independently with board-and-train dogs outside of scheduled time with me
-
Participate in hands-on training across a variety of real-world environments
This phase requires consistency, decisiveness, and the ability to move dogs forward within professional timelines. Indecision, prolonged delays, or lack of follow-through are addressed directly during this phase, as they do not reflect the realities of professional training.
Eligibility for Phase 2 is limited to candidates who have:
-
Completed Phase 1
-
Successfully passed the Readiness Assessment
-
Demonstrated readiness for immersive, hands-on professional work
Phase 2 is intentionally demanding. It is designed for individuals who are prepared to treat this as a focused professional commitment and who are ready to be evaluated on both their training decisions and their conduct as developing professionals.
Investment
The in-person Training Academy (Phase 2) is a five-week immersive professional training program with a significant time, skill, and instructional commitment.
Investment: $6,000
This fee reflects:
-
Direct, hands-on instruction and supervision
-
Structured immersion across shelter, rescue, prison, client, and public environments
-
Ongoing evaluation, guidance, and problem-solving support
-
Access to real dogs, real cases, and real professional settings
-
A level of mentorship that is intentionally limited in capacity
This is not a scalable program and is not designed for volume. Participation is limited to ensure the quality, safety, and depth of the training experience.
Payment secures a seat for the scheduled training dates and reflects the level of access, responsibility, and professional development involved. Phase 2 is an investment in developing professional-level judgment, handling skill, and real-world readiness — not simply in instructional hours.
Hybrid Participation Option
Not everyone can fully immerse in person due to distance, work, or other commitments — and that’s okay.
For those unable to attend the full in-person immersion, a hybrid participation option is available.
Hybrid participants complete a portion of the work remotely, including training dogs in their own environment and participating in structured discussions and reviews. This format allows for flexibility while maintaining consistent expectations.
In-person participation is still required to complete the program.
To graduate from the Training Academy, all participants must attend a five-day, in-person immersion at Gold Country K9. This time is used to evaluate live handling, decision-making, and professional conduct in real training environments.
Standards and outcomes are the same regardless of participation format. The hybrid option changes logistics — not expectations.
Start Your Journey Here
This Journey always starts with Gizzy's Membership. You must have completed that to enroll in Phase 2.
Join Gizzy's Membership $99/month