Kilo 9iner Dog Club is more than just dog training. It is an educational experience. It has given me the skills and knowledge to take my dog to the next level.
The understanding of a dog’s behavior and health by the trainers at Kilo 9iner is vast. They understand why a dog is behaving in a certain manner and know the steps to correct that behavior. They have an amazing holistic approach to a dog’s health and relay their knowledge to their students.
Without Kilo 9iner, my dog would just be a house pet. But now he is my trusted companion. Through hard training days in the rain, snow, and sunshine, pushing him to do things he didn’t know he could do, we have created an unbreakable bond. When I take my dog in public I get complements left and right. People are so impressed with how well behaved he is. Sometimes I’m impressed myself. It was a lot of work to get my dog to where he is now, and I have a lot more work in the future, but it has been worth every minute of training.
– Zach Kayrouz
“At the end of 2020, I got my first working dog—a Mal/Dutch. At the time, the only training I could find that seemed worthwhile was online. I went with it, but I knew something was missing. I needed that in-person connection, the hands-on side of training that can’t be replaced by a screen.
As a brand-new handler, I started following others in the space on Instagram, just trying to learn however I could. That’s when I came across Alex Lausterer’s page. What I didn’t realize then was that he was Joe’s mentee, and would later become a trainer himself. After a few conversations, Alex encouraged me to reach out to Joe at Kilo9iner Dog Club. So I did.
What started as a couple of questions turned into a 12+ hour drive from Dallas, TX to Louisville, KY. For that first trip, I booked two days of private sessions and rounded it out with a group class. From the very beginning, it was clear that Joe’s perspective was different. Training wasn’t just about the dog—it was about me, the handler. That shift in thinking was exactly what I had been searching for. Saying I was hooked is putting it lightly.
Nearly four years later, I’m still making that drive at least twice a year. Every time, it’s worth it.
People sometimes ask, “Why don’t you find someone closer?” The truth is, no one else approaches dogs the way Joe does. His philosophy is simple but powerful: the dog already has everything they need inside of them. It’s the handler’s responsibility to learn how to bring it out. That means putting in the work yourself—not expecting shortcuts. That’s why I keep going back. To keep learning. To keep drinking from that deep well of knowledge.
Each trip leaves me motivated to push further in my journey as a handler. And one thing about Joe—he doesn’t sugarcoat. If you’re slacking, he’ll call you on it. That kind of honesty is rare, and it’s exactly what makes his teaching so effective.
If you’re serious about becoming a better handler—and seeing those results reflected in your dog—I can’t recommend Joe and Kilo9iner Dog Club enough.”
-Mike Leiato
I have known Joe for close to 10 years. We started training dogs together with another trainer. At that time, I had never had a dog nor knew how to be a handler or a good owner. That all changed when I started training my GSD. Years passed and my first GSD unfortunately passed away. With my love of dogs and the journey I had been on with my first, I decided to get another GSD. So, almost 6 years ago, I began training with Joe and now my husband as well.
Our dogs (2 GSD’s) are amazing but with Joe’s training, our dogs are even more amazing. They are stable, obedient, and respectful. We can take our dogs anywhere and they are the most well behaved. We get compliments all the time on our dogs and how well mannered they are. You can’t put a price on that. We can live our life WITH our dogs. They get to experience life outside of the house and the yard. WE go on adventures, hiking, the beach etc. I can bring them to work with me and no one even knows they are there. For us, that is priceless.
And the last few years I have been able to bring my second love into the dog space. I train and teach Krav Maga (self defense). And some of the defenses we do bleed into what we do for protection work with the dogs. So to be able to show that aspect of protection along with our dogs has been one of the coolest things for me. It has also been very cool to take what I do in Krav and do it with my dog and watch others do it as well. Makes for an awesome all around dog and handler!
-Meghan Herp
Joe with Kilo 9iner Dog Club changed my perspective of dogs and dog ownership in a positive way. I met him through a mutual friend and traveled to train at his facility , mainly for decoy work as I was the decoy for my friend’s dog. One of the main things I learned from Joe was almost always the dog is never at fault; any failures the dog has in most cases can be linked back to a handler error whether it be timing or just outright doing something wrong. Joe is quick to identify these issues and is an excellent teacher when it comes to teaching someone the proper way to handle their dog. Between the tracking, obedience , bite work and agility it would be impossible for me to list everything I have learned from him. He truly is a wealth of knowledge. My involvement with dogs is much different and a niche compared to most; I have a small terrier that hunts and goes to ground etc. With that being said, using his training methods I feel like I have one of the most well-rounded small terriers that actually hunts. He allowed me to mold not only a solid worker but a companion that I can take anywhere with me and I do. Until I met Joe my dogs never really traveled with me, now it is rare I leave the house without them. Overall, thanks to Joe and Kilo 9iner Dog Club I get to enjoy my dogs more, impress my friends and as a result my dogs also have a much better life as well which is something any dog lover wants for their dog.
-Adam M. , Nashville , Tn
I first met Joe in early 2020 when I was searching for a trainer as a first time malinois owner( for obedience and protection training).We had visited or researched several other local trainers and decided on Kilo9iner as they came recommended through a friend as a highly experienced working dog trainer. The first thing that got my attention was the extreme loyalty his students had for him, as many had been training under him for years. The second was his mantra of building a bond with your dog through fairness, consistency, and above all getting down in the dirt and doing everything alongside your dog ( no treats or bribery here !) The third thing was his personal demo dog, Echo. The more time I spent around that phenom of a dog, the more I knew I had found the right trainer if he can turn out that kind of quality of trained partner. That dog can go from being the sweetest dog with the softest eyes excitedly showing you her toy to the scariest damn dog you’ve ever witnessed just with a word from Joe, then back again . That kind of on/off switch is just insanity.
Fast forward 5 years, not only do we have a mal that everyone claims is a unicorn because he is so damn well behaved,level headed and trustworthy, we also are the very proud owners of one of Echo’s pups , Lilith.
Lilith is absolute perfection. Even as a tiny pup she showed so much heart, grit and attitude . She’s not the biggest dog out there , but she is definitely the copy and paste of her momma . I know the saying “ ready for anything “ is used rather frequently and loosely, but she truly is. She is super intelligent, engaged and lightning fast . She will even work through injury if you didn’t catch it and make her stop. There isn’t a thing we have challenged her with that she hasn’t succeeded in yet. Though bred to be a soul snatching protection dog, she is also so stable through Joe’s tutelage that she has done school visits for education, excels in dock diving ( currently in the Top 5 Dutch shepherds worldwide ) and travels the US doing hiking, competitions and obstacle courses/races. What good is a protection dog if you can’t take the thing safely out in public ? That’s my biggest point I’m getting at though, is without Joe’s training I honestly believe Lilith would have been a dangerous dog if we weren’t shown how to properly handle her .
We are forever grateful for everything he has taught us and the dogs he has helped us build . It is so nice to be able to travel the US and enjoy life with our dogs constantly by our side . Hearing all the compliments and astonishment from people over how well behaved the dogs are just further cements that we made the right choice in trainer all those years ago! -Krista S.
I have personally known Joe for eight years now and have trained under him at Kilo 9iner Dog Club for the entirety of those eight years. I have been involved in obedience, personal protection, agility, and tracking with my German Shepherd and Dutch Shepherd from beginner to advanced in all areas of work, and both of my dogs began their training journey as thirteen week and eight-week-old pups, respectively.
Over the span of eight years, I have witnessed Joe’s training methodology achieve incredible things with a vast variety of dog breeds and different handlers. Whether it was Labs, Malinois, Shepherds, Cane Corsos, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Terriers, Mixes, etc., every dog and every handler went home after class each week with a greater understanding of how to communicate and work together than when they showed up. Each dog gained not only invaluable skills and confidence from their training, but also an immense bond and a much happier and healthier relationship with their handler.
On top of this, what Kilo 9iner offers regarding niche training opportunities such as SAR tracking and personal protection, in my opinion, is second to none. Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with and equipping numerous LE SWAT K9 units, SAR teams, SOF units, MWD units, etc., being able to participate in their K9 training and gain an understanding of their work and expectations. Having worked with Joe for eight years and personally witnessing numerous professional K9 handlers across tier one units work their dogs, I can say in full and complete confidence that Kilo 9iner offers incredible training opportunities that K9 professionals would benefit from immensely and would thoroughly enjoy.
All in all, Kilo 9iner offers incredible training that both beginners and professionals would greatly benefit from, regardless of breed, prior knowledge, or background.
-Alex Lausterer
When my husband first mentioned wanting to bring a German Shepherd into our family, I truly had no idea what to expect — and to be honest, I was nervous. A working dog? How could we give it the life it deserves while balancing our already busy lifestyle?
Finding Kilo9iner erased every doubt and worry I had — including many I didn’t even realize were possible. With Joe’s help, I’ve watched Maverick grow from a wild puppy into my best friend, guardian, teammate, and family dog. His life knows no bounds thanks to Joe’s knowledge, passion, and commitment to both the dog and the handler.
In the beginning, we drove over two hours one way every Sunday, and it quickly became the highlight of our week. In just two years, the training has given me so much more than I expected: confidence, safety, and true partnership with my dog. Maverick now goes everywhere with me — from riding my horses, to running errands, swimming, to traveling with my family. He’s just as reliable flying across the country for work as he is quietly lying under the table at a restaurant, unnoticed by anyone around us.
What sets Joe apart is that he doesn’t just teach you how to train your dog — he teaches you how to be the best handler for your lifestyle and your situation. Because of him, I’ve learned more and accomplished more with Maverick than I ever dreamed possible. I look forward to every group training session , one on one, and every call with Joe, because there’s always another opportunity to strengthen our bond and build the best life together.
Kilo9iner has been life-changing for me, my family, and my dog.
-Savannah Sloan
My husband gifted me and our precious canine with training lessons. We both knew I had no control, out sized and out strengthed. The thought of going outside of our yard gave me palpitations.
Our first class, we definitely let everyone know, we were the newbies on the block. Joe began training as soon as I got out of the car as he could hear the unruly pupper in the back seat. To ensure safety for everyone and hers, they loaned me a muzzle and instructed how to exit the vehicle, dog and leash placement, and began walking the outer boundary.
We observed the class and it was transparent, we where exactly where we needed to be. Everyone was so friendly, relatable, and encouraging. To witness the number of various canines from breeds to sizes was purely amazing to watch them work.
By the second class (seven days later) and homework from week one, we were walking without the muzzle and incorporated with the group.
Know that not only is the dog receiving training and confidence, the handler is too. I went from avoidance going outside our yard to teaching her siblings the commands to now walking three dogs at once in our neighborhood.
Trainees and Kilo 9iner are for life. When we have one off concerns regarding food, health, and/or behaviors, Kilo 9iner is there for the assist outside of class. Just a call away.
I highly encourage others to join the Kilo9 family. You will not regret it, more than anything, you will be giving out referrals. The tools you learn are truly impactful.
Thank you!
-The Phillips Family
When I started this journey, I had the desire and passion for a dog that is obedient, driven, protective and just well-rounded enough to take everywhere. I came to this training class just to observe and see if this would be a good fit for me and Damascus. What drew me to the training class was the information and communication from Joe. Information on raw feeding, at-home training, and who or what should be around Damascus, plus tons more.
Though Joe is not a vet, he has knowledge of holistic remedies, supplements, digestive changes, and flea/tick alternatives. Joe always tries to be prompt when returning messages and has an amazing willingness to help. Also, the insight from Joe on how a human and their dog should communicate is always easy to understand. What is expected of you as well as what is expected of your dog.
The several types of training are incredible. Tracking is a fantastic way to start a day. Early morning tracking is an amazing bonding tool for you and your dog. As well as the tracks that Joe lays for the dog to follow and the lessons in how scent carries through terrain and weather make tracking an exciting activity for me to learn. Obedience training is essential for any dog and his owner. It is the foundation of this entire training. Overall, this training is the greatest investment I have made in my dog as well as myself. Joe does an excellent job at evaluating us as a team and tries to help bridge the gap of communication between owner and dog.
As in any training, you must put the time and effort into your dog and that relationship to see results. Taking Joes’ guidance seems like we learn something new every time we meet. Damascus has gone above and beyond and is such an amazing dog. We have been with Kilo 9iner for 4 years now and every training we are improving, being challenged and learning so much. Damascus and I look forward to every weekend. I would highly recommend Kilo 9iner to everyone.
-Josh Krages
