Blue Line K-9
Blue Line K-9 is a private, Joppa, Maryland-based dog training franchise founded in 2007, operating 6+ locations across MD, NC, and TX. It offers in-person programs (Gold, Platinum, Camp board-and-train), an online platform with 500+ videos, and sells branded training equipment to individual pet owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersJoppa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Blue Line K-9 does
Blue Line K-9 is a privately held, Joppa, Maryland-based dog training company founded in 2007 by Michael J. Soler, a Marine veteran with over 20 years of industry experience. The company operates through a franchise model with 6+ independently owned and operated locations across Maryland (Joppa, Bel Air), North Carolina (Garner, Clayton), and Texas (Katy, Cypress), as well as a digital learning platform. Its franchise operating entities include Tarheel Dog Training, Inc. (NC/TX) and BLK9 Pet Resorts, Inc. (MD), with the parent Blue Line K-9, Inc. incorporated in Delaware.
The company's core offering is a multi-format dog training curriculum built on a balanced training methodology combining positive reinforcement with corrective e-collar technology (effective up to 400 yards). In-person programs include Gold (6 one-on-one lessons), Platinum (7 drop-off sessions), and Camp Blue Line K-9 (2-week intensive board-and-train), plus puppy classes, group classes, and behavior modification. The digital platform, Blue Line K-9 Online, provides 500+ training videos, the Puppy Jump Start course ($97 lifetime), and a Lifetime Membership tier ($597) with access to a 1,000+ member online community. Ancillary revenue comes from branded training equipment ($19.97-$29.97), apparel, an authored book (Puppy Training Made Easy, $14.99), and Dog Talk podcast/video content.
Blue Line K-9 generates revenue through four streams: in-person training service fees at franchise locations, online course one-time/lifetime purchases, e-commerce product sales, and franchise licensing fees for new operators. Customer acquisition combines local SEO, free phone consultations, community events (pet expos, home shows, ribbon cuttings), social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), and paid remarketing via Google Ads and Facebook. Customer financing is offered through a partnership with All Pet Financing. The company primarily serves individual pet owners seeking obedience, behavior modification, and puppy foundational training, with a secondary audience of experienced dog trainers interested in franchise ownership.
Blue Line K-9 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Line K-9
- Legal name
- Blue Line K-9, Inc
- Website
- https://bluelinek-9.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Line K-9 is a private, Joppa, Maryland-based dog training franchise founded in 2007, operating 6+ locations across MD, NC, and TX. It offers in-person programs (Gold, Platinum, Camp board-and-train), an online platform with 500+ videos, and sells branded training equipment to individual pet owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Blue Line K-9 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Joppa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Blue Line K-9 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- In-Person Training Services: Gold, Platinum, and Camp Blue Line K-9 training programs offered at franchise locations. Programs include private lessons, board-and-train, and puppy classes. Revenue generated through program fees with financing options available through All Pet Financing.
- Online Course Subscriptions: Puppy Jump Start course sold as one-time payment ($97) with lifetime access. Lifetime Membership at $597 provides access to 500+ videos, FB Group access, video contests, and gear/software discounts. 30-day refund policy with 97% satisfaction rating.
- Product Sales: E-commerce sales of training equipment (15-foot leash $29.97, 6-foot leash $19.97), books (Puppy Training Made Easy $14.99), and branded apparel (t-shirts $19.97-$24.97).
- Franchise Fees: Franchise opportunities for experienced dog trainers to own Blue Line K-9 locations. Franchise owners receive brand licensing, training methodology, marketing support, and operational systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Puppy Jump Start Online Course - One-time payment for lifetime access to 5 modules, 27+ videos |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lifetime Membership - Full access to 500+ videos with community access |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gold Training - 6 one-on-one lessons training side-by-side with dog |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Platinum Training - 7 drop-off training sessions with exit lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camp Blue Line K-9 - 2-week intensive board and train program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training Equipment and Products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
Blue Line K-9 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Line K-9 provides professional dog and puppy training services through a franchise network of physical locations combined with an online learning platform. Core offerings include in-person training programs (Gold, Platinum, Camp Blue Line K-9 board-and-train, puppy classes, group classes, and behavior modification), online video courses (Puppy Jump Start, Lifetime Membership with 500+ videos), and proprietary training equipment and merchandise.
Product overview
Blue Line K-9 is a dog and puppy training company operating through a franchise model across multiple U.S. states (Maryland, North Carolina, Texas). Its offering is a multi-format training platform combining in-person instruction (Gold, Platinum, and Camp Blue Line K-9 programs, plus puppy classes, group classes, and behavior modification) with a digital subscription platform (Blue Line K-9 Online with 500+ videos and the Puppy Jump Start online course). The company also sells proprietary training equipment, branded apparel, and an authored book. Financing, speaking engagements, and a franchise opportunity round out the business. The flagship online product is Puppy Jump Start ($97 lifetime), while in-person training ranges from group classes to intensive 2-week board-and-train. Dog Talk is a free weekly content series used for marketing and community engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Blue Line K-9 Online: Online training platform offering video courses, member access, and virtual training resources for dog owners.
- Puppy Jump Start
- Camp Blue Line K-9
- Dog Talk
Products and services
- Puppy Jump Start (Online Course) Online puppy training course with 5 training modules, 27+ instructional videos, and 4+ hours of video content covering foundational obedience, leash control, housebreaking, socialization, and behavior shaping. Sold as a one-time lifetime membership purchase ($97).
- Gold Training (In-Person) In-person training program featuring 6 one-on-one training sessions where owners train alongside their dogs. Includes 1-year access to open trainings, Blue Line K-9 Online, and pack walks.
- Platinum Training (In-Person) Drop-off dog training program with 7 sessions for busy owners. Dogs are dropped off for training daily and returned home each night, with exit lessons for owners and ongoing support.
- Camp Blue Line K-9 (2-Week Board & Train) Intensive 2-week board-and-train program where dogs stay at the training facility and receive daily professional training sessions focused on obedience, behavior modification, and off-leash skills. Includes exit lessons and ongoing lifetime support.
- Puppy Classes In-person group puppy training classes held at physical locations covering foundational obedience commands (sit, stay, come, down), socialization, common issue handling, and confidence building for puppies.
- Group Classes Group training sessions running 6-8 weeks with weekly classes focused on basic obedience and socialization with other dogs and people. A more affordable alternative to private lessons.
- Behavior Modification Programs Tailored one-on-one programs addressing specific behavioral challenges such as aggression, anxiety, excessive barking, and fear. Duration varies based on issue complexity and incorporates the balanced training methodology.
- Blue Line K-9 Online (Lifetime Membership) Online learning platform with streaming access to 500+ training videos, an exclusive online community of 1,000+ members, weekly Dog Talk tips sessions, gear discounts, and downloadable resources. Available as a lifetime membership ($597) or bundled with in-person programs.
- Blue Line K-9 Franchise Opportunities Franchise business opportunity for independent entrepreneurs to own and operate a Blue Line K-9 location. Franchisees receive brand licensing, training methodology, marketing support, and operational systems.
- Training Equipment Proprietary branded training gear sold through the company's online store, including the 15-foot BLK9 training leash ($29.97) and 6-foot loop leash/lead ($19.97). Designed to complement and be used alongside training programs.
- Branded Apparel / Swag Branded merchandise sold through the online store, including the Red, White and Blue Line K-9 T-Shirt (originally $24.97, currently 20% off at $19.97).
- Puppy Training Made Easy (Book) Book authored by Michael J. Soler titled 'Puppy Training Made Easy: 15 Easy Steps to have complete control of your dog in any situation.' Sold for $14.99 through the online store. Serves as a companion resource to the training programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% satisfaction rating for online training products
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Blue Line K-9
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Blue Line K-9 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
Blue Line K-9 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- All Pet FinancingcoreAll Pet Financing is a financing company that provides payment plans for pet training services. Blue Line K-9 is an approved service provider through All Pet Financing, offering 'Train Now, Pay Later' options to customers. The partnership enables customers to spread payments over time rather than paying full price upfront. Blue Line K-9 locations recommend All Pet Financing to customers seeking flexible payment options.
- Stripe and PayPalcoreThird-party payment processors used for billing and processing customer payments for training programs, online courses, and products. Stripe and PayPal handle credit card transactions and payment processing on behalf of Blue Line K-9 franchise locations.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Line K-9 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- SpiritDog Training: Online-focused dog training company offering subscription courses, online consultations, and live courses. Competes most directly with Blue Line K-9 Online and Puppy Jump Start on price and self-serve content.
- Camp Bow Wow: Franchise dog daycare and boarding brand with training add-ons. Comparable franchise economics and customer demographic, though its core offering is boarding/daycare rather than training-led services.
- Dogtopia: Franchise dog daycare, boarding, and spa chain that has expanded into training-adjacent services. Comparable to Blue Line K-9 on franchise-driven pet services and multiple revenue streams, though training is not its primary offering.
Others
- Animal Behavior College: Vocational training institution that certifies aspiring dog trainers, including via online coursework. Adjacent rather than directly competitive—it serves the trainer-supply side of the same ecosystem in which Blue Line K-9 operates.
Broad incumbents
- Petco: Major pet retailer with in-store training services and curated dog training content. Overlaps with Blue Line K-9 on training services and e-commerce pet product sales, though training is one of many categories.
- PetSmart Dog Training: Pet retail giant offering obedience training at its store locations nationwide. Competes with Blue Line K-9 for the same pet-owner customer but operates as a broader retailer rather than a focused training franchise.
Direct peers
- Bark Busters Home Dog Training: Global franchise dog training company offering in-home obedience and behavior modification services. Closely comparable to Blue Line K-9 in franchise-driven services model, target customer (pet owners), and multi-format delivery (in-person + online content).
- Dog Training Elite: Franchise dog training company with a multi-state footprint offering obedience, behavior modification, and protection dog services. Direct competitor to Blue Line K-9 in the franchise training category.
- Sit Means Sit Dog Training: Franchise dog training company operating across the U.S. with both group classes and board-and-train programs. Highly comparable to Blue Line K-9 on franchise structure, in-person program mix, and balanced-training methodology.
- Off-Leash K9 Training: Franchise dog training network specializing in off-leash obedience using e-collar technology. Direct competitor to Blue Line K-9 in methodology, franchise model, and emphasis on off-leash communication—arguably the closest single competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Blue Line K-9 social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Line K-9 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Line K-9 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Blue Line K-9 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Line K-9 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blue Line K-9
What does Blue Line K-9 do?
Blue Line K-9 provides professional dog and puppy training services through a franchise network of physical locations combined with an online learning platform. Core offerings include in-person training programs (Gold, Platinum, Camp Blue Line K-9 board-and-train, puppy classes, group classes, and behavior modification), online video courses (Puppy Jump Start, Lifetime Membership with 500+ videos), and proprietary training equipment and merchandise.
Is Blue Line K-9 a public or private company?
Blue Line K-9 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Blue Line K-9 founded?
Blue Line K-9 was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Line K-9 based?
Blue Line K-9 is headquartered in Joppa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blue Line K-9 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. In-Person Training Services are the primary driver. The others are online Course Subscriptions, product Sales and franchise Fees.
Who are Blue Line K-9's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are SpiritDog Training, Camp Bow Wow and Dogtopia. Animal Behavior College is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Petco and PetSmart Dog Training. Direct peers are Bark Busters Home Dog Training, Dog Training Elite, Sit Means Sit Dog Training and Off-Leash K9 Training.
Does Blue Line K-9 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Line K-9.