METHOD K9
WORLD LEADERS IN
BEHAVIORAL DOG TRAINING
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dog trainer Certifications
The intensive Dog Trainer Certification program is designed for people looking to start a career as dog trainers, for established professional dog trainers looking to sharpen their skills, and for shelter staff looking to better help the dogs in their care.
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In-person services
Method K9 offers several in-person services including board and train programs, private sessions, and group classes.
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subscription videos
Access our Subscription Videos and join our community for in-depth subscription instructional videos, live feeds, tips, tricks, and how-to tutorials updated regularly!
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Guided online courses
Take your knowledge of canine behavior and training to the next level with Guided Online Courses. Our renowned instructors teach for every behavioral issue, learning level, and any budget.
Behavioral training for all skill levels
Whether you're an average dog owner or professional trainer we have courses to meet all of your needs.
over 850+ Lessons
One of the largest tutorial libraries in the world.
lifetime access
All certification libraries and online courses never expire!
go at your own pace
Work through your certifications or courses anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace
Meet Our Team
Stephanie Vichinsky is the Owner of Method K9 and Method K9 Institute, a professional dog training school dedicated to canine behavior rehabilitation and dog trainer education.
With more than 15 years of experience as a professional dog trainer and canine behavior specialist, Stephanie has built a reputation as one of the leading experts in dog behavior modification and advanced dog training programs.
Throughout her career, she has successfully rehabilitated thousands of dogs with behavioral challenges while also focusing on training and mentoring the next generation of professional dog trainers through the Method K9 Institute’s dog trainer certification and education programs.
Julius is the Owner and General Manager at Method K9 and Method K9 Institute. A New York native with a strong background in business, entrepreneurship, and economics, Julius has been building and managing businesses from a young age.
At Method K9, he oversees sales, marketing, accounting, staff management, public relations, and IT, helping ensure that dog owners and students have a smooth experience when enrolling in dog training programs, behavior services, and dog trainer education courses.
Julius is passionate about building strong relationships with the community and works to ensure Method K9 continues delivering high-quality dog training services and professional dog trainer education.
Hope is the Head Trainer at Method K9 and Method K9 Institute, where she specializes in canine behavior modification, advanced dog training, and rehabilitation of complex behavioral cases.
After a life-changing motorcycle accident ended her career as a corrections officer, her Husky/Shepherd, Murphy, helped her through recovery and inspired her to pursue a career helping dogs and their owners.
For more than a decade, Hope has worked with aggressive, reactive, and difficult behavioral cases, successfully rehabilitating thousands of dogs. At Method K9 Institute, she also plays a key role in educating and mentoring students enrolled in the dog training school’s professional trainer programs.
Karrie is the Office Manager at Method K9 and Method K9 Institute. She is often the first person dog owners or aspiring dog trainers speak with when reaching out to Method K9 for help. With more than 30 years of customer service experience, she helps guide clients through the process of finding the right dog training program, behavior consultation, or dog trainer certification course.
Karrie manages scheduling, student enrollment, billing, and communication, making sure every client and student feels supported as they begin their journey with Method K9’s professional dog training and education programs.
Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and their Australian Shepherds: River, Cooper, and Maddie.
Aurora Bacowsky is the Marketing Director at Method K9 Institute, where she creates the digital marketing, website design, and media content for the dog training school’s education programs. She manages video production, website updates, and marketing materials that help connect dog owners and aspiring trainers with Method K9’s professional dog training and dog trainer certification programs.
Alongside her design background, Aurora has experience raising German Shepherd Dogs and working in dog boarding facilities.
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors with her son and her dogs.
" Words can’t summarize the impact Stephanie and Method K9 has had in my life as a dog trainer and even more as a person. After attending both shadow programs I gained so much knowledge as a dog trainer, even more as a business owner wanting to become the best. There’s a handful of people I admire in life. Stephanie is one of those people. I’ll forever be grateful for meeting you, learning from you, and your honest advice about being a business owner. (...) " - Aaron Robinson
" We just wrapped up a five-day aggression and reactivity seminar at Method K9 for Off Leash K9 Training and I brought out 30 of my trainers to learn from Stephanie. Every single one of them left absolutely blown away—not just by the depth of knowledge, but by the professionalism, structure, and hospitality we received. (...) " - Nick White
"From the start, I was blown away by how much information was packed into the course. It’s not just theory or highlight reels, it’s real people learning with real dogs. You see the messy, unpredictable parts of training, not just polished demos with easy breeds. That transparency builds trust (...) " - Erica Miller
" I’ve been a professional trainer for over 10 years. Wanting to continue learning and always be a student, I’ve completed the level one certification and working towards the level two! The level one challenged me to go back to basics and strength my foundational training, handling techniques. (...)" - Lindsey Ward
Have Questions?
At Method K9 Institute we believe in a balanced approach to training by
addressing everything from genetics, environment, diet, learning patterns,
and more!
We have options for most students and situations.
Please fill out a contact form, call, or email us at
Yes we do, feel free to visit www.methodk9.com or fill
out a contact form and we will be in touch shortly.
If you don't want to join our certification program but are wanting to gain more
knowledge we offer a variety of services including in-person, guided online
courses, and our subscription page.