K9 COMMAND
  • Home
  • About
  • Private Lessons
    • Puppies (10-16 weeks of age)
    • Basic Obedience (16 weeks and up)
    • MOST POPULAR PROGRAM - Basic & Advanced Obedience (16 weeks and up)
  • Group Classes
    • Basic Obedience (16 weeks and up)
    • Advanced Obedience (20 weeks and up)
    • Trick Class & Nosework Class
    • Accountability Group Class
  • Board and Train
    • Board & Train Options
  • Consultations
    • Online Consultations
  • Remote Learning
    • Remote Learning - Beginner Novice or Novice Level Obedience
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
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About Us

Changing the relationship between dog and owner has been the cornerstone of our success.  K9 Command coaches owners how to become calm, assertive leaders through fair and effective methods of training.  Creating confident and knowledgeable dog owners establishes a relationship between dog and owner that has long term stability and reliability.  We work with all breeds and all ages.  
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Our History

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.

Who We Are

K9 Command is located in Vale, North Carolina.  K9 Command’s training center has a 4000 square foot  large indoor training room, .  We are located on right on NC 18 close to South Mountains State Park.  K9 Command also has 8.5 acres of outdoor training fields just 1.5 miles from the training center.  K9 Command’s list of satisfied clients are spread across the southeast and beyond. ​
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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”.

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                                                                                                                            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.
Mark actively volunteers for several local animal shelters and humane societies. He also volunteers as a board member on the Lincoln County Animal Advisory Board and the Dangerous Dog Board.
Mark has also volunteered his time to the International Association of Canine Professionals as the Secretary of the IACP Legislative Committee.

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Our up an coming assistant trainers, Mackenzie & Landon
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Contact Us

Location

By Appointment Only

870 NC 18 Vale, NC 28168

K9 Command has clients from all over the southeast and beyond.  Our local  area consists of Lincolnton, Shelby, Hickory, Morganton, Gastonia, and Charlotte.  
We are located in  Lincoln County and surrounded by Gaston, Cleveland, Burke, and Catawba counties.  We receive board and train clients and from all over the nation and online students from across the globe.  
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What Our Clients Are Saying

I am absolutely thrilled and amazed with my dog, Diesel, and his progress with K9 Command. Diesel and I went with the Gold Unleashed Potential program and now that we are finished I am excited with how well my dog behaves. I can literally take my dog anywhere and he is well mannered and behaves.

Amy and Mark are wonderful, they truly have a passion and put their all into what they do. I have learned if you listen to what they tell you and put in a little effort you can train your dog to do anything with ease!

K9 Command also offers a wide variety of healthy dog foods and treats. Diesel loves Acana and it is so much better for him!

I am truly satisfied with our success with K9 Command and I truly recommend it to anyone considering training for their dog from basic obedience all the way to advanced skills and more they are the place to go!
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AKC Approved Evaluator

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UKC Approved Evaluator

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​​Lifetime Member

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  • Home
  • About
  • Private Lessons
    • Puppies (10-16 weeks of age)
    • Basic Obedience (16 weeks and up)
    • MOST POPULAR PROGRAM - Basic & Advanced Obedience (16 weeks and up)
  • Group Classes
    • Basic Obedience (16 weeks and up)
    • Advanced Obedience (20 weeks and up)
    • Trick Class & Nosework Class
    • Accountability Group Class
  • Board and Train
    • Board & Train Options
  • Consultations
    • Online Consultations
  • Remote Learning
    • Remote Learning - Beginner Novice or Novice Level Obedience
  • Testimonials
  • Contact