By John Sorosky | K-911 Training
When I first started training dogs over forty years ago, I never imagined that one day I’d be teaching shelters and rescues from coast to coast. Back then, it was just me, a leash, and a deep belief that no dog is beyond saving.
Today, that belief has become a mission — to give every shelter and rescue in America the tools, training, and confidence to rehabilitate dogs humanely and effectively. Through K-911 Training, we’re now offering nationwide behavior programs, online courses, and hands-on certification to help save more lives, one dog at a time.
Why I Took K-911 Nationwide
Over the years, I’ve seen the same problems repeat in shelters everywhere — stressed dogs, overwhelmed staff, and too few resources for real training. Many of these dogs end up mislabeled as “aggressive” or “unadoptable” when what they truly need is structure, calm leadership, and consistent communication.
That’s why I built K-911’s shelter training programs to reach beyond Santa Barbara. The need is too great to stay local. With today’s technology, we can now support shelters anywhere — from small rural rescues to large urban facilities — giving them direct access to proven behavior methods that work in the real world.
What the K-911 Shelter Training Program Includes
Whether in person or online, every K-911 program is designed for results. We focus on building calm, confident handlers and reducing stress for both dogs and people.
Our national training initiative includes:
Online Behavior Courses for Rescues – step-by-step video lessons and printable guides that teach safe, effective handling techniques.- Shelter Staff and Volunteer Seminars – live or virtual sessions covering body-language reading, leash control, enrichment, and reactivity management.
- Certification for Trainers and Fosters – for those who want to bring K-911 methods to their local communities.
- One-on-One Shelter Consultations – custom plans to reduce incidents, improve adoptability, and create a safer, calmer kennel environment.
Every tool and technique I teach is humane, relationship-based, and built on trust — the same approach I’ve used for decades to help thousands of dogs.
From Santa Barbara to Every Corner of the U.S.
It started here in California, working with local shelters like Santa Barbara County Animal Services, where we’ve seen how structured, compassionate training turns chaos into calm. Now, those same principles are being shared nationwide through online learning, mentorship, and partnerships with rescues that want lasting change.
I believe that every shelter — whether in a big city or a small town — deserves access to the same quality of behavior support that private clients receive. No dog should lose its life because no one had time to teach it differently.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re part of a rescue, foster network, or municipal shelter and want to bring K-911’s nationwide behavior programs to your organization, I’d love to connect.
Together, we can build calmer kennels, safer walks, and more adoptable dogs — and train the next generation of handlers who will carry this work forward.
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