Specialty Dog Training

What Specialty Dog Training does

Specialty Dog Training (legal entity: Specialty Canine, Inc.) is a family-owned, private dog training business headquartered at 2909 San Luis Rey Road, Oceanside, California, with a secondary site in Poway, CA. The company is led by CEO and Training Director Graham Bloem, who has 25+ years of professional experience including 18 years of working-dog training for law enforcement and federal agencies (DEA, FBI, Border Patrol). Its core products span three groups: (1) trained-dog sales, including a three-tiered Protection Dog program (Level 1 Alarm & Deterrent at $30,000–$55,000, Level 2 Personal & Family at $50,000–$75,000, Level 3 Executive & Business at $60,000–$85,000) and Pre-Trained Family Companion Dogs at $15,000–$35,000; (2) training services, including Board & Train programs ($3,740–$10,890 over 3–10 weeks), Service Dog training (12–24 month programs), Emotional Support and Facility Dog training, Private Lessons, and a Custom Dog Program; and (3) recurring services, including VIP Dog Boarding at $115/night. The underlying methodology is a balanced, results-driven approach combining positive reinforcement, drive exhaustion, structured routines, and consistent discipline, with every program customized to the dog's breed, age, genetics, environment, and personality.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, consultative sales model: customers reach SDT through its website catalog, paid search/SEO, earned media, and a phone-based discovery call (855-287-8659) conducted by senior certified trainers, with financing available via in-house payment plans and a LendingUSA personal-loan partnership. Primary customer segments are high-net-worth families and professional athletes/public figures seeking elite personal protection, with secondary segments including pet owners needing behavioral and obedience training, post-9/11 veterans served through the Shelter to Soldier® nonprofit partnership, and healthcare and educational institutions procuring facility dogs. SDT is the founding partner of Shelter to Soldier, a registered trademark nonprofit pairing trained rescue dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. The company holds the registered Specialty Dog Training™ trademark, advertises 55+ years of combined team experience, and reports cumulative placements of hundreds of protection dogs and rehabilitation of thousands of dogs that would otherwise have been rehomed or euthanized.

Name

Specialty Dog Training

Legal name

Specialty Canine, Inc.

Website

https://specialtydogtraining.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Specialty Dog Training is a family-owned Southern California dog training company (Oceanside, CA) that trains and sells protection dogs ($30K–$85K), pre-trained family companions, board-and-train programs, service/ESA/facility dogs, and VIP boarding, serving high-net-worth families, public figures, veterans, and pet owners nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training and Protection Dog Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (459910)

akta.pro primary industry

Training-Integrated Dog Daycare (Day Training) (HSANAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dog Daycare with Boarding Add-On (Daycare + Overnight) (HSANAFAM), Overnight Kennel Boarding (Dogs) (HSANADAA), Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries) (AFAEALAA)

Keywords

• Protection dog training
• Service dog training
• Behavioral dog training
• Family companion dogs
• Dog boarding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oceanside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Trained Protection Dogs: One-time sale of fully trained protection dogs at three levels (Level 1: $30,000-$55,000, Level 2: $50,000-$75,000, Level 3: $60,000-$85,000). Dogs are hand-selected, temperament-tested, and professionally trained.
2. Trained Family Companion Dogs: Sale of pre-trained family companion dogs ranging from $15,000-$35,000 depending on age, breed, and training level.
3. Board & Train Programs: Immersive boarding and training programs where dogs stay at the facility for structured training. Pricing ranges from $3,740 (3-week foundation) to $10,890 (10-week advanced behavioral).
4. VIP Dog Boarding: All-inclusive overnight boarding services at $115 per night (discounted to $103.50 with promotions). Includes spacious indoor climate-controlled rooms, private yard time, treats, premium food, medication administration, and bath upon departure.
5. Service Dog Training Programs: Comprehensive service dog training programs typically spanning 12-24 months. Programs include psychiatric service dogs, mobility assistance dogs, seizure response dogs, autism service dogs, and dementia support dogs.
6. Emotional Support Dog Training: Training programs for emotional support dogs (ESA/ESD) including evaluation, training, and placement services.
7. Facility Dog Training: Training and placement of facility dogs for healthcare, education, and visitation settings. Programs include sourcing/training or evaluation/training options.
8. Payment Plans and Financing: In-house payment plans and third-party personal loan programs through preferred lenders for high-value purchases and training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Specialty Dog Training provides canine training and placement services including three-tiered Protection Dog Programs (Level 1-3), Pre-Trained Family Companion Dogs, and immersive Board & Train Programs (Puppy Boot Camp, Obedience, Behavioral Rehabilitation) priced $3,740-$10,890, alongside Service Dog, Emotional Support Dog, and Facility Dog Training programs. The company also operates VIP Dog Boarding at $115 per night and offers Private Lessons plus customized dog selection, with all offerings delivered via in-facility training at its Oceanside, California headquarters and shipped/sourced nationwide.

Product overview

Specialty Dog Training is a family-owned Southern California dog training business offering a comprehensive portfolio of canine training services and pre-trained dogs. The core offerings include Protection Dog Programs with three certification levels (Level 1 Alarm & Deterrent at $30,000-$55,000, Level 2 Personal & Family Protection at $50,000-$75,000, and Level 3 Executive Protection at $60,000-$85,000), alongside Board & Train Programs (Puppy Boot Camp, Obedience, and Behavioral Problem programs ranging 3-10 weeks and $3,740-$10,890), Pre-Trained Family Dogs ($15,000-$35,000), and specialized Service Dog Training for psychiatric, mobility, seizure response, and autism assistance. Additional services include Emotional Support Dog Training, Facility Dog Training for healthcare/education settings, VIP Dog Boarding ($115/night), Private Lessons, and Payment Assistance programs. The company also offers a Custom Dog Program for clients seeking specific breed or training requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protection Dog Programs Training and placement of personal and family protection dogs with three certification levels (Level 1-3) for detection, deterrence, and defense capabilities; sale of fully trained protection dogs priced $30,000-$85,000.
• Pre-Trained Family Companion Dogs Sale of trained family companion dogs (puppies and adults) that are housebroken and well-mannered, priced $15,000-$35,000 depending on age, breed, and training level.
• Behavioral Problem Board & Train Programs Immersive rehabilitation programs (4-10 weeks, $4,840-$10,890) for dogs with behavioral challenges including anxiety, aggression, reactivity, and fear-based behaviors, with structured socialization and confidence-building.
• Obedience Board & Train Programs Immersive 4-8 week obedience training programs ($4,840-$9,020) for adult dogs covering loose leash walking, calm guest greetings, house manners, advanced commands, and real-world application.
• Puppy Boot Camp Training 3-8 week immersive training programs ($3,740 and up) for puppies aged 16 weeks to 11 months covering house manners, potty training, basic obedience, and socialization.
• Service Dog Training Programs Specialized 12-24 month training programs for psychiatric service dogs, mobility assistance dogs, seizure response dogs, autism service dogs, and dementia support dogs, with graduation through AKC Canine Good Citizen, Community Obedience Exam, Public Access Test, and task-specific performance tests.
• Emotional Support Dog (ESD/ESA) Training Customized programs that evaluate, train, and place emotional support dogs prepared to pass AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Community Canine (CGCA), and AKC Urban CGC (CGCU) certifications.
• Facility Dog Training Training and placement of facility dogs for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, colleges, counseling centers, and courtrooms working alongside professional handlers, with options for sourcing/training or evaluation/training.
• Private Dog Training Lessons One-on-one private training sessions for pet owners working with SDT trainers on specific behavioral or obedience needs.
• VIP Dog Boarding All-inclusive overnight boarding service at the Oceanside facility ($115/night standard; $150/night with daily tune-up training session) including climate-controlled indoor rooms, private yard time 5-7x daily, treats, premium food, medication administration, and bath upon departure.
• Custom Dog Program Custom-curated dog selection service sourcing and training dogs (including German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois breeds) for clients with specific protection requirements not met by listed available dogs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of protection dogs successfully placed with high-profile families, executives, and public figures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Shelter to SoldierflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialty Dog Training is the founding partner of Shelter to Soldier, a nonprofit organization that pairs trained rescue dogs with post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries. SDT donates time, space, staffing, and funds to support this initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• K2 Solutions Inc. K2 Solutions is a direct competitor in protection dog training and law enforcement/military working dog training, with similar federal agency clientele and a comparable geographic base in the Carolinas. Offers protection dog sales and K9 handler training that overlap directly with SDT's core offerings.
• Vohne Liche Kennels: Vohne Liche Kennels is a leading protection dog training company and one of SDT's most direct competitors, offering pre-trained personal protection dogs with multi-level training programs at comparable premium price points. Both companies emphasize military/law enforcement trainer credentials and hand-selected dogs.
• Tarheel Canine Training: Tarheel Canine offers protection dog sales, K9 security training, and police/military working dog services with a similar three-tier or graduated certification approach. Strong overlap with SDT in protection dog placement and federal agency trainer experience.
• Highland Canine Training: Highland Canine provides protection dog sales, police K9 training, and detection dog services with comparable trainer credentials. Directly competes with SDT in the personal/family protection dog niche and shares law enforcement training heritage.
• Wildhaus Kennels: Wildhaus Kennels is a direct competitor in the trained protection dog market, offering personal protection dogs with comparable certification tiers and premium pricing. Both companies focus on hand-selected, temperament-tested dogs for high-net-worth clients.
• Worldwide Protection Dog Services (Jeff Schettler): Worldwide Protection Dog Services is a long-established direct competitor in pre-trained personal and executive protection dog sales, with international delivery and a celebrity/high-profile client base that mirrors SDT's positioning.
• Shallow Creek Kennels: Shallow Creek Kennels specializes in trained protection dogs, personal protection dog sales, and police K9 training with a similar three-tier structure. Directly comparable to SDT in product offering, customer segment, and trainer credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Off Leash K9 Training: Off Leash K9 Training is a large national dog training franchise offering obedience, behavioral, and some protection-adjacent services. While not focused on elite protection dog sales, it competes for board & train and obedience training customers at more accessible price points.
• Dog Training Elite: Dog Training Elite is a multi-state dog training franchise providing obedience, behavioral modification, and protection training. Overlaps with SDT's board & train and protection offerings but at a broader, franchise-driven scale with lower price points.

Regional players

• Canine Companions for Independence: Canine Companions is a large nonprofit service dog organization providing mobility, hearing, and psychiatric service dogs. While non-protective, it competes in the same service dog training space and represents an alternative procurement path for institutional and disability service dog customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialtyDogTraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialty-dog-training

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Specialty Dog Training