Blue Cord K9's Founder, Veteran Kevin, launched Blue Cord K9 after discovering how to work through his PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury with the support of dogs. Kevin waited three years for a Service Dog through a VA program, to no avail, and through determination, went on to train his Service Dog Jekyll.

​

After waking up with a new passion, Kevin attended a local school, graduated as a Master Trainer, and later completed his Tracking/Article Search Training.

​

Having a soft spot for "lost causes," Kevin specializes in Behavioral Modification, working with dogs with behavioral issues such as dog-to-dog aggression, resource guarding, and dominance aggression. 

Blue Cord K9's owner, Larinda, has worked in Public Safety for over 15 years as a Firefighter/EMT and 911 Dispatcher. Seeing the positive impact dogs can have on the mental health of people who work in Public Safety, she trained a puppy, Pearl, donated to the company by a fellow dog trainer based out of Washington state. Pearl worked as a therapy dog visiting 911 centers, the VA, and recovery meetings before Pearl's training advanced, and she became a Service Dog for the Founder, Kevin.

Larinda took her passion for helping others and has trained dozens of Service Dogs for Veterans, children, and those who truly benefit from the aid a Service Dog can provide. She continues to provide that service for future and current clients; she also runs Mia, a retired Search and Rescue K9, as a therapy dog. 

 Larinda continues her education in K9 Training and follows her passion for public service. Larinda is Blue Cord K9's Lead Service Dog Trainer and operates the business and customer service aspects.  

Blue Cord K9

  Dustin is a Veteran who found his passion for training dogs after training his Service Dog, Ryker. He is a graduate of Sky Ranch K9 Training Academy, where he graduated with a K9 Handler Certification. He also shadowed the owner and aided in training Tactical K9s for Police forces nationwide. The owner of Amazing K9 360, formerly based out of WA state, Dustin, brings a vast amount of passion and knowledge to the team. Looking to bring affordable and well-rounded training to more people, he joined our team to help reach that goal.

Tay joins Blue Cord K9 as a Pet Dog Trainer with the goal of becoming a Service Dog Trainer. She first joined the Blue Cord family as a client for training for her Service Dog, Gator. Finding joy in training, Tay advanced her education, took the Online K9 Education Course, and began her Internship here at Blue Cord K9. Her passion, enthusiasm for training, and compassion for others made it easy for her to join the Blue Cord team!

Tay's dedication to her long-term goals is truly inspiring. She runs a daycare for special needs kids and is excited to combine her love for working with children with her passion for dogs. She's well aware of the joy and help dogs can bring to an individual's life, and her ultimate aim is to provide well-trained Service Dogs for children.

Anita joined the Blue Cord family in Feb 2023 to train her Goldendoodle Henley as a Therapy Dog. Anita had observed the positive impacts of animal-assisted intervention while helping to care for her mother who was suffering with severe Dementia. After her mom passed, she decided to find and train a dog to become a therapy dog to help bring calm, joy and comfort to others.

As a Volunteer Therapy Canine Team, Anita and Henley serve as Pet Support Hospice Volunteers. They also make visits to the EMS and 911 call center, nursing homes, rehab centers, retirement centers, memory care facilities and recovery meetings. 

A life long learner, she continues to expand her skills by working with the Blue Cord Family and taking the Blue Cord Online K9 Education Course. Her goal now is to help build our therapy dog team and increase awareness of the positive mental and physical effects of animal assisted interventions.

Anni is a recent Army Retiree transplanted from the Midwest who has made NC home for over 10 years. She has a passion for all animals and operates a 12-acre homestead that includes horses, cows, chickens, and pigs. 

Anni came to Blue Cord K9 as a client looking for assistance in training her Livestock Guardian, Patches, as a mobility Service Dog due to the sudden onset of chronic knee issues requiring multiple surgeries, resulting in lifelong joint instability. Upon Service Dog training completion in April of 2023, Anni and Patches travel regularly for DOD Warrior Games, USA Paralympic Bobsled camps, road trips, baseball games, concerts, camping, and even a trip to Disney.

With over 20 years of experience in training horses and riding students, Anni has developed a natural connection and common-sense approach. This experience easily translates into her work with K9s and their handlers. Anni's versatility is further demonstrated by her completion of an internship in-house with Blue Cord K9. She looks forward to continued military family advocacy and community engagement through training rescues, pets, livestock guardians, and Service Dogs.

Anthony is a dedicated dog trainer with extensive experience working with pet dogs, service dogs, and behavioral modification cases. With a deep passion for canine behavior and a calm, confident approach, Travis helps dogs and their owners build stronger, more trusting relationships.

​

Before becoming a professional trainer, Anthony served as a volunteer firefighter for 11 years, earning multiple certifications in the fire service. His background in emergency response has shaped his calm demeanor, problem-solving skills, and commitment to helping others.

​

Anthony is a devoted family man who brings patience, integrity, and compassion to every training session. Whether helping a pet learn basic manners or guiding a service dog through advanced tasks, his goal is always the same: to improve the quality of life for both dogs and their humans.

Steven is a retired, disabled Army veteran who found a new purpose through dog training after training with his service dog, Miss Dolly. His journey began as a client with Blue Cord K9, where the life-changing impact of a well-trained service dog inspired him to give back by helping others find the same healing and support.

Before entering the world of dog training, Steven served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, dedicating much of his life to serving his community. Now, as a passionate pet dog trainer at Blue Cord K9, he's working toward his ultimate goal: becoming a service dog trainer to assist fellow veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Steven believes in the power of patience, consistency, and compassion—principles he brings into every training session. With Miss Dolly by his side, he’s committed to guiding others through their own journeys with their dogs, just as he was once guided himself.

Marie is a Veteran with decades of experience in business administration.

Marie lives in Oregon and provides online support services for Blue Cord K9 in several aspects of their administration, including bookkeeping, editing, customer service, and social media.

After several decades of volunteering in various community programs, Police, and Fire Departments, working for Blue Cord K9 is a natural place for her. Supporting people who work to help others is a mission she has embraced in life.