Professional Mentorship Program
Fulton Strong K9 Professional Mentorship Program
Professional Canine Training & Handler Development Mentorship
The Fulton Strong K9 Professional Mentorship Program is a hands-on immersive educational experience designed for aspiring dog trainers, working dog enthusiasts, handlers, and behavior-focused professionals seeking real-world mentorship in canine behavior, obedience training, working dog development, client coaching, and business structure.
This is not a traditional dog training class.
This mentorship was designed to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application through practical experience, live dog handling, behavioral problem solving, and professional mentorship.
Training takes place in a One-on-One environment to allow individualized coaching, discussion, and hands-on development.
Program Structure
6 Month Mentorship - broken into levels
2 Saturdays Per Month
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Hands-On Practical Instruction
One on One Format
Limited Enrollment
Hosted at Fulton Ranch in Homosassa, Florida.
Practicum & Knowledge Assessments
To maintain the professional standards of the Fulton Strong K9 Professional Mentorship Program, all mentorship levels include both practical and written assessments throughout the course.
Participants will be required to demonstrate competency through practicum examinations, which evaluate hands-on skills working with dogs, handlers, and clients in real-world training scenarios. Practicum evaluations may include areas such as leash handling, reward delivery, timing and marker use, obedience instruction, behavior modification strategies, client coaching, training plan development, and professional communication.
In addition to practical evaluations, participants will complete written examinations covering course content, learning materials, assigned readings, training theory, canine behavior, learning principles, equipment applications, client management, and other topics relevant to their mentorship level.
Advancement through the program is based on demonstrated competency rather than attendance alone. Participants are expected to actively engage in supplemental learning assignments, complete homework between sessions, and maintain a professional standard of conduct throughout the mentorship.
Certificates of completion are awarded only to participants who successfully satisfy the practical and written requirements associated with their enrolled mentorship level.
LEVEL I — PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS MENTORSHIP
$5,200 - 4 weeks ( 2 Saturdays per month for a total of 2 months)
Designed for individuals seeking a strong foundation in professional pet dog training, obedience, behavior modification, handling skills, and client interaction.
Topics Covered
Foundations of Training
Marker training and clicker conditioning
Reward timing and reinforcement mechanics
Food, toy, and environmental rewards
Engagement building
Motivation and relationship development
Obedience & Manners
Sit, down, recall, place
Loose leash walking
Door manners
Household structure
Public neutrality
Social expectations
Equipment & Handling Skills
Leash handling mechanics
Long lines and training leads
Slip leads
Prong collar foundations
E-collar introduction and ethical application
Behavior Modification Foundations
Reactivity basics
Fear and avoidance behaviors
Threshold identification
Arousal management
Environmental management strategies
Conflict prevention concepts
Client & Professional Development
Coaching dog owners effectively
Understanding family dynamics
Managing expectations
Structuring lessons
Communication skills for trainers
Program Structures
Understanding the differences between:
In-home lessons
Group classes
Board and train programs
LEVEL II — ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS MENTORSHIP
$7,800 Total - (4 additional weeks, total of 8 weeks: 2 Saturdays per month for 4 months)
Includes Level I + Advanced Professional Development
Designed for trainers looking to deepen their handling skills while developing the structure and systems necessary to build a sustainable dog training business.
Advanced Obedience & Handling
Off-leash reliability
Distance obedience
Environmental proofing
Advanced leash pressure concepts
Public handling skills
Drive & Behavioral Theory
Drive development
Reward placement
Arousal management
Structured play systems
Behavioral clarity through reinforcement
Business Mentorship
Starting a dog training business
Program development
Pricing structures
Contracts and policies
Client screening
Building sustainable systems
Managing difficult clients
Professional boundaries and burnout prevention
Family Dynamics & Human Behavior
Household consistency
Human behavioral patterns
Coaching overwhelmed owners
Conflict reduction strategies
Long-term maintenance planning
Applied Behavior Analysis Perspectives
Reinforcement systems
Antecedent arrangement
Functional assessment perspectives
Differential reinforcement
Generalization and maintenance
LEVEL III — WORKING DOG & ADVANCED HANDLER MENTORSHIP
$11,500 Total - 4 additional weeks (total of 12 weeks: 2 Saturdays per month for 6 months)
Includes Levels I & II + Working Dog Development
Designed for trainers and handlers pursuing deeper understanding of high-drive working dogs, operational handling concepts, drive development, and advanced canine communication systems.
Working Dog Development
Belgian Malinois & Dutch Shepherd characteristics
Genetic drives and selection
Puppy development stages
Environmental exposure progression
Building confidence and resilience
Protection & Drive Foundations
Lure work foundations
Grip development concepts
Reinforcement through prey systems
Possession and outing concepts
Structured drive work
Drive capping foundations
Advanced Reward Handling
Toy mechanics
Marker precision under arousal
Reinforcement clarity
Conflict reduction and prevention
Reading behavioral escalation
Handler Development
Becoming a handler, not just an owner
Emotional regulation during handling
Building relationship through structure
Environmental awareness
Communication under pressure
Applied Behavioral Perspectives
Functional approaches to behavior
Species-specific reinforcement systems
Behavioral contingencies in working dogs
Environmental arrangement
Long-term behavioral stability
Optional Mentorship Add-Ons
Shadow Days
Spend additional one-on-one time observing real client sessions, training flow, troubleshooting, and business operations.
Starting at $350/day
Private Mentorship Coaching Calls
Individualized mentorship calls for case discussion, troubleshooting, business guidance, and handler development.
$150/hour
Case Review Sessions
Submit videos or case details for individualized feedback and behavioral analysis.
Starting at $125/session
Business Development Audits
Review of:
Training programs
Pricing structures
Website development
Client communication
Social media presence
Contracts and onboarding systems
Starting at $500
Internship Continuation Opportunities
Advanced mentorship opportunities may become available to select participants upon completion of the mentorship program.
Availability is limited and application-based.
Who This Mentorship Is Designed For
This mentorship may be a good fit for:
Aspiring dog trainers
Existing trainers seeking structure
Working dog enthusiasts
Protection sport handlers
Behavior-focused professionals
Veterinary or behavioral support staff
Individuals seeking a deeper understanding of canine behavior and communication
Program Philosophy
The Fulton Strong K9 mentorship philosophy emphasizes:
Ethical training application
Clear communication
Behavioral understanding
Real-world reliability
Conflict prevention
Handler education
Long-term relationship building
Structured, evidence-informed training systems
Enrollment Information
Limited enrollment
Application or interview required
Must be 18 years or older
Individual One-on-One Format
Certificate on Completion Given
Completion acknowledgment provided upon successful participation