The K9 Training Institute shows up in a lot of paid ads and has a fairly large following online. I wanted to see whether the product actually delivers before including it in my course comparison. After going through the material, here is my honest take.
What K9 Training Institute Is
K9 Training Institute is an online dog training program created by Dr. Alexa Diaz, a certified applied animal behaviorist, and Eric Presnall, a professional trainer. The program markets itself around what it calls “Invisible Dog Leash” training, the idea that you can train your dog to behave as if on a leash even when off-leash, through relationship and attention-based work rather than physical management.
The free workshop is how most people find it. It’s a 45-minute video that introduces the philosophy and gives you a taste of the training approach. From there, the paid program goes much deeper.
The Training Philosophy
The core argument is that traditional obedience training, teaching sit, stay, come in a drill format, creates a dog that obeys commands but doesn’t genuinely pay attention to you. K9TI’s approach focuses on building engagement first: getting your dog to choose to pay attention to you because that’s more rewarding than the environment.
This is a legitimate point. A dog that is tuned in to you will respond to commands more reliably than one that only performs when explicitly cued. The method is positive reinforcement throughout, with heavy emphasis on marker training and value-building exercises before commands are even introduced.
The approach has real theoretical backing. Dr. Diaz’s applied behavior analysis background is evident in how the program is structured.
What the Program Covers
The main program walks through foundation attention work, then builds obedience behaviors on top of that foundation. You get video lessons, written guides, and access to a community. The pacing is gradual and the explanations are clear.
The off-leash focus is genuine. If reliable off-leash behavior is your main goal, this program addresses it more directly than most competitors. A lot of programs teach sit and stay and call it obedience without ever seriously addressing off-leash reliability. K9TI does.
Pros
- Strong theoretical foundation backed by applied behavior science
- Engagement-first approach produces dogs that are genuinely attentive, not just command-responsive
- Off-leash reliability is built in from the start, not an afterthought
- Clear instruction from credentialed trainers
- Free workshop lets you evaluate the approach before paying
Cons
- Heavy marketing funnel, lots of upsells and email sequences before you get to the product
- The free workshop is effective but functions as a sales pitch
- Results require significant consistency and patience, especially early on when it feels like slow progress
- Less coverage of specific behavior problems compared to Brain Training for Dogs
Who K9 Training Institute Is Best For
If your primary goal is a dog that is reliably attentive and behaves well off-leash, K9TI is one of the better programs available online. The engagement-focused approach genuinely works and the instruction quality is solid.
If you want to fix specific behavior problems (chewing, jumping, barking, aggression) or you need a structured program with clear milestones, Brain Training for Dogs has a better fit for that. K9TI’s approach requires patience and a longer runway before you see dramatic results on behavior problems.
Final Verdict
K9 Training Institute is a solid program with a credentialed team and a legitimate training philosophy. The main friction is the sales-heavy presentation: the free workshop is genuinely useful but it’s also a funnel, and the upsells can feel relentless. Don’t let that put you off if the approach resonates, because the actual training content is good.
For owners focused on off-leash reliability and building a dog that genuinely pays attention to you rather than just responding to commands, it’s worth considering. For general behavior problem-solving as the primary goal, I’d still start with Brain Training for Dogs.
Want to see how it compares to every other course I’ve tested? See my full breakdown of the best dog training courses.
Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn us a commission at no cost to you. See our full disclosure here.
If you are comparing options, I also did a full write-up on Brain Training for Dogs, which takes a completely different approach focused on mental enrichment rather than obedience drills.
For a side-by-side comparison of the main programs I have tested, see the best dog training courses roundup.