Family-Owned Dog Training in Central Florida
Fort K9 is a family-owned and operated professional dog training center with nearly 30 years of experience.
Located in Palm Bay, FL, the Fort K9 team has trained dogs across the nation with one goal:
Treat every dog like family.
Each dog is cared for with professionalism, structure, and genuine love — because training works best when dogs feel safe, understood, and valued.
Meet Rina
Rina Sullivan is the founder and head trainer of Fort K9, bringing nearly 30 years of hands-on experience in dog training, behavior, and care. Her background as a master trainer spans obedience training, personal protection, scent work, and police K9 training, giving her a deep understanding of both working dogs and family companions.
Rina’s career is rooted in compassion as much as expertise. She served as a director of a dog rescue, saving countless dogs from euthanasia, and has rehabilitated wildlife—often providing intensive, around-the-clock care. She is also a certified veterinary technician, with 10 years of experience supporting canine health and behavioral wellness.
Her training philosophy is simple and effective: teach dogs how to live successfully in a human world, and teach owners how to understand their dogs. Rina believes that true training goes beyond commands, incorporating mental stimulation, physical exercise, and enrichment to build confident, balanced dogs.
Having worked in large working kennels with over 100 dogs, Rina intentionally built Fort K9 as a small, family-run training center where each dog receives individualized attention. Her specialty is rehabilitation and behavior modification, particularly with dogs labeled “aggressive” or misunderstood. She is known for transforming behavior—and strengthening the bond between dogs and the families who love them.