FTI K9, a division of Force Training Institute, is renowned for importing, breeding, and training the finest European German Shepherds in the world - from puppies to full-grown experienced dogs. The FTI K9 team, lead by Raul Hernandez, is driven by two core values: Our love of dogs and our dedication to improving people’s lives.

FTI K9 selectively imports and breeds European German Shepherds for their intelligence, courage, temperament, and dependability. Our dogs are carefully selected from our long-established network of the finest German Shepherd kennels in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Austria. In fact, our partner kennel in Slovakia is the highest rated kennel in the world for working-line German Shepherds.  The German Shepherds that are part of the FTI K9 Breeding Program consistently produce well balanced, driven, dedicated dogs with the solid temperament and grace that exceeds even the highest German standards required for the breed.

FTI K9 German Shepherds are trained to exact standards at our 32 acre facility in North Central Florida. Our proprietary “real life” training methods prepare our dogs for family protection, obedience, law enforcement, military, sport, and agility. But first and foremost, an FTI K9 German Shepherd is a loyal, obedient, and trustworthy companion to you and your family - a friend that will give you the peace of mind that comes from having a vigilant protector for your home.

Raul Hernandez, Co-founder & Director

Raul is a former K-9 Sergeant with a major U.S. law enforcement agency.  During his distinguished law enforcement career, Raul was assigned to the FBI Task Force, assisted in K9 training, and performed searches for the U.S. Customs, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy.  Raul enjoyed much success working with his loyal K-9 partner, Boye, in the fight against drugs. The pair accomplished several high profile drug seizures, receiving many commendations, and setting numerous arrest and drug seizure records during their tenure.  Raul retired from law enforcement in 2000, but remains the current K-9 unit trainer for the Key West Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Raul is certified with D.E.L.T.A. Society (Pet Partners) and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). He is also an instructor in law enforcement high liability training areas, including defensive tactics.  

With over 30 years of experience working with canines, Raul has a worldwide reputation as one of the top quality importers, breeders, and trainers of European German Shepherds.  He has developed and perfected unique and proprietary training methods, which consistently produce the finest trained European German Shepherds in the world. Beyond his skills as a trainer, Raul has an innate ability in selecting exceptional canines, based on their temperament, drive, health, and sociability.  But, even more, he instinctively knows how to match the “right” dog to the “right” owner and/or job.

Colby Hernandez, Assistant Director & Lead Trainer

Colby was raised on a horse farm in New Jersey, and has over 15 years experience in equine competitions.  Within her show jumping career, Colby competed all over the United States and Germany, as well as trained in many countries such as Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

After her retirement in 2005, Colby made a logical transition into animal photography and dog training.  She received numerous awards for her photography, and many of her photo’s are published in dog magazines, books & calendars. Photography has always mostly been a glorified hobby for her since her passion is purely with the German Shepherds. Her initial specialty was in the field of canine agility, an English sport based on equestrian show jumping. Under the guidance of Raul, Colby works and trains dogs for both law enforcement and personal protection, implementing the training system Raul has dedicated his life to create and refine.

The FTI K9 Team

Raul and Colby lead a team of highly dedicated canine trainers, handlers, breeders, and kennel staff in the United States and Europe.  The FTI K9 team pride themselves on improving the lives of individuals and families bringing an FTI K9 dog into their home and/or work environment.  The team is passionate about preparing dogs for any situation.

Both Colby and Raul maintain memberships with the German Shepherd Club of America, Deutscher Verband Der Gedraunchshundsportvereine (DVG), German Shepherd Working Dog Club of America (GSDCA-WDA), Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluators (CGC) and the United States Schutzhund Club of America (USA/SV).

The FTI K9 facility is located on 32 beautiful, expansive acres just outside the “Horse Capital of The World,” Ocala, FL . The facility is approximately a one-hour drive northwest of Orlando, FL.  When visiting us, many of our clients vacation in Orlando, home to over a dozen theme parks and attractions.

The FTI K9 private compound includes sprawling training fields, wooded areas for tracking and searching, agility course, protection training areas, top-of-the-line kennels, and office space.

In addition to our North Central Florida facility, FTI K9 has partner kennels in Europe and administrative/support offices in Los Angeles, California.

FTI K9 is a division of Force Training Institute.  Force Training Institute (FTI) is a training and consulting firm that exists to advance the safety and security of people, information, and property. FTI offers full-spectrum approach in the areas of crisis management, and personal and organizational safety and security. Our team is comprised of experts with legal, corporate, risk management, security, military, and law enforcement backgrounds. Our mission is to bring the level of expertise gained from these backgrounds to those that will benefit from such knowledge. We are dedicated to the idea that knowledge increases confidence, confidence increases decisiveness, and decisive action in a critical incident is what saves lives.

Force Training Institute works with and advises hundreds of private and public organizations in the United States and abroad, including retailers, Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, educational institutions, airports, security teams, military units, and law enforcement agencies . We have extensive experience providing unique assessment, consulting, training, and certification programs designed for use in critical infrastructure and national assets, which offer solutions to well-defined public safety threats, and those that are newly emerging.

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