What K9 University does

K9 University is a privately-held, founder-owned dog training and boarding school operating from a single facility at 9217 Northwest Expy in Yukon, Oklahoma. Founded by Angel Soriano, the business has operated for nearly 30 years and positions itself as a premium regional authority, claiming to have trained more dogs than any other trainer or organization in the Midwest. The company serves individual pet owners across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Yukon, Edmond, Moore, Mustang, Norman, Midwest City, and Del City.

The company's core offering rests on a proprietary behavioral sciences methodology called "Perfect Balance," which combines positive reinforcement with established boundaries. This methodology is backed by a written training protocol refined over almost three decades, a multi-language command system, and a structured trainer certification program requiring monthly continuing education. Service delivery is organized into three primary modalities: boarding school (immersion training at $150/day, typically 3-14 days), private one-on-one lessons ($150/hour), and tiered group classes ($135-$200 per 4-6 week course). Additional offerings include puppy training, behavior curbing, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen certification, therapy dog training, trick training, day camp, and an "Avoid Dog Bites" program targeting service personnel.

K9 University monetizes exclusively through direct-to-consumer professional services at a single physical location. Pricing reflects a premium positioning versus low-cost ($30-80) and mid-range ($80-120) regional alternatives. Customer acquisition relies on a multi-channel local marketing approach including website/SEO, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter), Google Business Profile, Yelp reviews, email newsletters, and a gift certificate program. A referral relationship with the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association serves as a key professional endorsement channel, and a free $100-value consultation is offered as a top-of-funnel conversion mechanism.

Name

K9 University

Legal name

K9 University

Website

https://myk9u.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

K9 University is a founder-owned premium dog training and boarding school in Yukon, Oklahoma, serving the Oklahoma City metro area. It delivers science-based obedience, behavior correction, boarding school, and certification programs through its proprietary "Perfect Balance" methodology refined over nearly 30 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

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)

Keywords

• Dog obedience training
• Dog boarding school
• Puppy training classes
• Behavior modification training
• Therapy dog certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Yukon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Dog Training Services: Revenue generated from various training programs including group classes, private lessons, and boarding school programs. Group classes range from $135-$200 per course, private training at $150/hour, and boarding school at $150/day.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

K9 University delivers professional dog training services through three primary delivery modes: Boarding School (immersive residential training at $150/day), Group Obedience Classes (multi-tier curriculum including Puppy Foundation at $135, Basic Obedience at $200, Intermediate Obedience at $200, and Advanced Obedience at $200), and Private Lessons at $150/hour. Specialized offerings include Behavior Curbing, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen certification, Therapy Dog Training, Trick Training, Day Camp, and an Avoid Dog Bites safety program. All services are delivered on-site at the 2-acre Yukon, Oklahoma facility and use the proprietary "Perfect Balance" behavioral sciences methodology.

Product overview

K9 University is a dog training service company offering a comprehensive suite of training programs delivered through three primary training modalities: Boarding School (immersive residential training), Private Lessons (one-on-one sessions), and Group Training (classroom-based learning). The core offerings include Puppy Training, Obedience Classes (spanning Puppy Foundation through Advanced Obedience), Behavior Curbing, Canine Good Citizen certification, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Trick Training, Day Camp, Therapy Dog Training, and Avoid Dog Bites safety education. All programs are grounded in science-based behavioral sciences methodology called 'Perfect Balance,' emphasizing positive reinforcement techniques. The company operates from a two-acre facility with a 5,000 sq ft climate-controlled building in Yukon, Oklahoma, serving the greater Oklahoma City metro area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boarding School Immersive, residential dog training program where dogs stay at the Yukon, OK facility for extended periods (typically 3-14 days) and receive intensive, hourly training sessions focused on obedience, house manners, and behavior correction. Priced at $150 per day.
• Puppy Training Foundation training program for puppies (8-10 weeks and older) focused on early socialization, basic commands, and establishing good behavioral patterns during critical developmental stages.
• Group Obedience Classes Structured group classes offering socialization opportunities and obedience training across four tiers (Puppy Foundation, Basic Obedience, Intermediate Obedience, Advanced Obedience) taught over 4-6 week sessions at prices ranging from $135-$200 per course.
• Private Lessons One-on-one personalized training sessions for dogs with specific behavioral issues, special needs, or temperament concerns. Priced at $150 per hour with most goals met in 1-3 sessions and flexible scheduling.
• Behavior Curbing Behavior correction program addressing simple to severe behavioral issues including aggression, anxiety, barking, jumping, chewing, and destructive behaviors using science-based, positive reinforcement methods.
• Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program training preparing dogs for responsible pet ownership and good manners certification across 10 key skills, serving as a pathway toward Therapy Dog status.
• AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program focused on early training and socialization for puppies, emphasizing responsible pet ownership and preparing dogs for Canine Good Citizen certification.
• Trick Training Trick training classes teaching entertaining and impressive tricks while providing mental stimulation and strengthening the bond between dog and owner.
• Day Camp Program Daytime dog training program providing supervised activities, training exercises, and socialization for dogs while owners are away during the day.
• Therapy Dog Training Specialized training program preparing dogs for therapy work in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, with certification pathways through Human Animal Link of Oklahoma (HALO), Pet Partners, or Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
• Avoid Dog Bites Safety Program Safety training program for service personnel who need to enter properties with dogs present, teaching them how to avoid dog bites through proper body language and interaction techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most dogs meet training goals in 1-3 private sessions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association refers complex cases and seeks advice from K9 University, indicating a recognized expertise relationship. This mutual professional respect positions K9 University as the authority in the region for dog training matters that veterinarians encounter.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart: National pet retailer offering in-store group dog training classes at lower price points — broad incumbent competitor for K9 University's group class revenue in the OKC market.
• Petco: National pet retailer offering group and private dog training across many locations — broad incumbent competing for the same mid-market dog training customer K9 University addresses.

Regional players

• Camp Bow Wow: Dog daycare and overnight boarding franchise with training add-ons — overlapping boarding school / day camp service lines with K9 University, though training is secondary rather than primary.
• Dogtopia: Dog daycare, boarding, and spa franchise with optional training services — comparable boarding/daycare infrastructure and franchise model to K9 University, though training is less central.

Direct peers

• Zoom Room: Multi-location dog training franchise offering group classes, private lessons, and board-and-train programs using a structured curriculum — closely comparable in service mix and delivery model to K9 University.
• Bark Busters Home Dog Training: In-home dog training franchise with a proprietary behavioral methodology and certified trainer network — directly comparable methodology-and-network approach to K9 University's 'Perfect Balance' and certified trainer program.
• Dog Training Elite: Franchised dog training company delivering private in-home lessons and board-and-train programs — comparable service portfolio and franchise-style expansion model to K9 University.
• Sit Means Sit: Dog training franchise providing group classes, private lessons, and immersive board-and-train programs with a proprietary methodology — directly comparable to K9 University's training modalities and methodology-led positioning.
• Off Leash K9 Training: Franchised dog training company offering private lessons and board-and-train with an off-leash obedience focus — comparable service lines and franchise-style scaling potential to K9 University.

Others

• Animal Behavior College: Online and on-site training certification provider for aspiring dog trainers — adjacent ecosystem participant that influences the trainer talent pipeline K9 University relies on for its certified trainer program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/k9university
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@K9University/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/MyK9U
• Instagraminstagram.com/myk9u
• TikToktiktok.com/@k9_university_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k9-university

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 K9 University