Our Story

Kyle, the founder of Elevate Canine Academy, has been passionate about dogs most of his life. As a former police officer, Kyle once aspired to work with K9s. He may have left the police force, but his love of dogs never wavered. After many years, he pursued his passion for training dogs.

In 2016, he bought his dog, Tucker. He hoped to train Tucker in the sport of Schutzhund, a discipline involving tracking, advanced obedience, and protection. However, Tucker developed severe aggression issues, leading Kyle to delve deeply into dog training, ultimately discovering balanced training methods. However, before Kyle really grasped balance training, Tucker was euthanized, a decision that deeply impacted Kyle and motivated him to help others avoid similar situations.

In 2019, Kyle launched Elevate Canine Academy with a mission to rehabilitate even the most challenging dogs. Over the years, he has worked with over 1,000 dogs, rarely recommending euthanasia. In 2022, Kyle left his 25-year IT career to train dogs full-time. Building on the success of the Bismarck location, he opened a Fargo, ND, branch in 2023 and continues to expand services, including scent detection, advanced obedience, and bite work, often led by former K9 handlers. In 2024, Kyle launched Elevate Canine Kutz, a grooming business, further enhancing services for dog owners.

Kyle's journey has come full circle, fulfilling his dream of training in Schutzhund and serving his community through his dedication to dogs and their well-being. Contact us now to learn about our programs and dog gym!