Chris Altier
National K-9 President and Certified Professional Trainer
Chris has extensive experience working with pet dog owners in the areas of obedience, behavior modification, and puppy development. Chris has trained dogs and their handlers for law enforcement, scent detection, cadaver detection, tracking, personal protection, retrieval, and service/assistance. He also has experience training his personal and clients’ dogs for therapy dog certifications. Chris also enjoys speaking to outside groups of adults and children about dog training, behavior, and safety.
Chris served as the School for Dog Trainers’ Director and one of its primary instructors. He is also the President of National K-9, Inc. and responsible for supervising its training and boarding facility. Chris coordinates and assists with the professional development of the staff and certified professional trainers. He is responsible for the continued enhancement and implementation of National K-9’s training and behavior programs.
Chris is a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, and the National K-9 Dog Trainers Association. He is also an evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test.
Chris was a dog walker, pet sitter, kennel attendant, and kennel manager before becoming a full-time professional dog trainer in 1995. Before joining the National K-9 staff, Chris established and operated his own professional dog training and dog care business in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the National K-9 School for Dog Trainers during this period to expand upon his knowledge of dog training and behavior. After completing the six-week course he was invited to join the staff as a certified professional trainer and then became a school for dog trainers’ instructor. Chris mentored under National K-9’s founder Scott Mueller and former school director Bob Jervis. Throughout his career, he has attended numerous training, behavior, and other dog related conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Chris is originally from Wooster, Ohio and received a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Chris and his wife, Katie, have two children. They also have a rescue Belgian Malinois named Otto.
Cassie Smith
Head Trainer and Certified Professional Trainer
Cassie grew up on her family’s ranch in a small town in Northern California and has had a passion for working with dogs from a young age. She grew up training family dogs, training horses and working with livestock. After high school Cassie raised two puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind in California and worked in a grooming shop for a few years. Cassie also apprenticed with stock dog trainers in the area for a few years and this is where she acquired her first Border Collie.
Cassie’s early experiences with dogs resulted in her attending National K-9’s School for Dog Trainers six-week course. After completion of the course, she joined the National K-9 staff. Cassie’s interests in training are obedience, behavior modification, puppy development, agility, trick-training, utility, scent detection, service work, and personal protection.
Cassie is a Pet Tech® Instructor that teaches first-aid, emergency care, and health information for dogs and cats. She is also an evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen. She is a professional member of National K-9 Dog Trainers Association.
As head trainer, Cassie is responsible for supervising the National K-9 staff trainers and boarding facility employees. Cassie is originally from Northern California and currently has a Belgian Malinois named Brom, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis named Zuzu and George, two cats, and a yard of chickens and ducks.
Alissa Heckert
Certified Professional Trainer
Alissa’s passion for dogs started at a young age. She explored this passion starting in middle school when she started pet sitting family members dogs. This passion continued to grow into her freshman year of high school when she began working in a local boarding facility. These early experiences helped her improve her skills and knowledge about dog behaviors and personality types.
While working at the boarding facility, Alissa’s passion for dogs continued to grow and her interest in training dogs started. That is then when she decided to further her education and go through National K-9’s School for Dog Trainers four-week Professional Obedience/Behavior Course. Alissa is also certified in pet emergency and first aid care through PetTech. After completing the course Alissa, she joined National K9’s staff as a certified professional trainer.
Alissa’s primary interests in training include basic and advanced obedience, dog agility, puppy development, retrieval, scent work, therapy dogs, and group class activities.
Alissa is originally from central Ohio and lives with her two Pembroke Welsh corgis Evie and Norman.
Carson Pfeiffer
Certified Professional Trainer and Office Manager
More information to come…