About Us
Black Anchor K9 was born out of founder Eric's desire to extend his expertise beyond the military. Established in early 2024, our mission is to provide top-tier dog training services that go beyond obedience. At Black Anchor K9, we prioritize building your dog's confidence through the proven NePoPo training technique. Whether you're looking for basic obedience training or specialized programs, our goal is to transform your dog into a well-mannered and self-assured companion.
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Our commitment to excellence, combined with Eric's extensive background in high-stakes training, ensures that your dog will receive the highest quality training available. Join us at Black Anchor K9, where we turn training into a journey of growth and confidence for both you and your dog.
Owner: Eric West
Eric West, the founder and head trainer at Black Anchor K9, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the world of dog training. With a remarkable 17-year career in the Navy, Eric specializes in basic obedience training as well as advanced skills specific to military needs, like detecting explosives, narcotics, and tracking individuals, honing his skills to perfection. Despite remaining active military, Eric's passion for dog training led him to establish Black Anchor K9 in early 2024.
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As a father of three sons, Eric balances his military duties and family life with his commitment to helping pet owners achieve well-behaved and confident dogs.
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Certifications:
The United States Air Force Working Dog Handler Course
NEPOPO Silver Program
AKC Canine Good Citizenship Program
Trainer: Bryon Lavin
My name is Bryon Lavin, and I have been working with dogs professionally since 2001. I began my career in Austin, Texas, training dogs in the pet retail industry, where I developed a strong foundation in canine behavior and obedience. After nearly a decade in the field, I started my own dog training company, specializing in fear-based aggression, behavior modification, and confidence-building through positive reinforcement methods.
My passion has always been helping dogs and their owners build stronger relationships by understanding behavior and creating clear communication. By focusing on positive reinforcement, I help dogs overcome fear, gain confidence, and become successful companions both at home and in public.
Today, I work with an organization that trains and provides service dogs to veterans living with PTSD, TBI, and MST. This work has allowed me to expand my experience in advanced obedience, public access training, behavior modification, task training, and service dog development.
Trainer: Colleen Strom
Colleen is a professional dog trainer and has a background doing animal husbandry and training with numerous different species of animals including marine mammals, canines, and primates. With over 12 years of experience helping build clear communication between humans and animals using positive reinforcement and balanced training methods. Specializing in puppy foundational obedience, reactivity, behavior modification, and using science-backed, positive reinforcement methods to resolve behavioral challenges and foster calm, confident dogs. Her passion is building strong relationships between owners and their pup. As well as educating families on not only training but breed specific information to ensure families have the best possible understanding of their canines.
Trainer: Mary Busch
Mary is a dedicated and skilled dog trainer specializing in Nepopo style K9 training and neuro-puppy training. With a background as an Army Intelligence Veteran and over 20 years of experience in education, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the training process, focusing on customizing her approach to meet each dog’s unique needs.
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Mary’s training philosophy centers around fostering long-term skill mastery, building confidence in both pets and their owners, and addressing aggressive or reactive behaviors. She is passionate about helping dogs and their families build strong, lasting bonds through effective and compassionate training techniques that ensure a positive, well-behaved companion.
She's a happy dog mom of a Belgian Malinois she is training for Detection/PPD and a sweet Staffy Mix rescue dog!