About Jon Brinkley

With over two decades of hands-on experience in the dog industry, Jonathan "Jon" Brinkley has built a career rooted in a deep passion for canine behavior and training. His journey began as a professional groomer, where he developed a special interest in working with dogs that were less cooperative or exhibited behavioral challenges. This curiosity led him to pursue a deeper understanding of canine psychology and behavior.

Jon earned his certification in dog training from National K9, marking the beginning of his professional training career. He soon launched Brinkley K9 Training and Behavioral Modification, offering in-home lessons while continuing to groom part-time. His commitment to helping dogs and their families navigate behavioral hurdles quickly earned him a reputation for both empathy and results.

In 2009, Jon became the Director of Training at Kennel Club USA, where he spent 16 impactful years. There, he developed and managed all training programs, oversaw staff development, created socialization protocols, and worked directly with clients. From puppy development to complex behavioral rehabilitation, Jon trained thousands of dogs through services like day-training, private lessons, classes, and board-and-train programs.

Jon’s areas of expertise include obedience, manners, confidence building, socialization, reactivity and aggression rehabilitation, bird dog training, assistance functions, tracking, nosework, retrieval skills, and more. He is a firm believer in continuing education and has spent years learning from seminars, workshops, online courses—and most importantly, the dogs themselves.

Following the closure of Kennel Club USA in June 2025 due to the sale of the facility’s land, Jon chose to return to his roots and relaunch his own business, continuing to provide expert training and behavioral services while awaiting the construction of a new facility.

Whether working with family pets or dogs with complex behavioral needs, Jon brings experience, patience, and a problem-solving mindset to every session—helping dogs and their people build lasting, trusting relationships.

Jon owns two dogs currently. Arlo is a cattle dog mix, and Juniper a lab/heinz 57 mix