Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Barlow.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with various dog breeds and had a very strong bond with them. I was always training our family pets and they would sleep with me at night in my bed due to creating a great relationship with them.
I got into K9 competitive sports in 2006 by joining a Schutzhund Club, that was located in Ogden, where I learned the skills of dogs in tracking, competitive obedience, and protection.
In October of 2006, I joined the Utah National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in 2010. While deployed I was able to work with some of the Military K9s teams who were on the same base. I became great friends with the K9 handlers and learned their methods of training their K9 partners.
In 2008, I started my Law Enforcement career as a Corrections Officer for Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Officer. In 2010, I moved from Utah to Lubbock, Texas just prior to being deployed to Iraq. While living in Lubbock, I worked for the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer and Crisis Negotiator. While in Texas I was able to work with and assisted in training police dogs and was taught the art of detection work. I also started a K9 sports club, which trained dogs for Protection Sports Association (PSA) while I was in Lubbock. I was able to help several people and their dogs accomplish titles in PSA from 2012 to 2015.
In 2015, my wife graduated from Texas Tech University with a PhD in Clinical Psychology and wanted to return to Salt Lake City. So, we moved back to Salt Lake City in the Cottonwood Heights area and I started working for the Draper Police Department. In 2016, I was selected as a K9 Handler and was given K9 Judge (a Belgian Malinois). I was able to get K9 Judge certified in narcotics detection and patrol (apprehension work). As a team K9 Judge and I were very successful on the streets of Draper and assisting other agencies throughout the Salt Lake Valley in finding narcotics and dangerous felons who had fled from Law Enforcement. K9 Judge and I were also very successful at the Utah Peace Officers Association K-9 Trials winning several trophies in our last two years as a team. K9 Judge is currently retired and living his best life at my home.
While being a K9 Handler for Draper I was able to work my way through the Utah POST K9 program to become a certified instructor and certifying official under Wendell Nope, a K9 expert in the Law Enforcement community.
I also plan and put on the Utah Peace Officers Association K-9 Trials, as a volunteer. I believe strong Police K-9 Teams help provide a valuable service to our community and putting on the competition helps build stronger teams on the street.
I started and currently run a PSA club called Salt City Hellhounds. My club trains dogs to compete in obedience and protection work. K9 Judge currently holds a PDC and PSA1 first leg in PSA and my personal dog, Reaper (a Dutch Shepherd), holds a PDC and a PSA1. Reaper and I will be competing on May 28 and 29, 2022 for our PSA2.
During this time frame of training dogs, I am also certified as a Schutzhund Helper under DVG and the United Schutzhund Club of America, a certified AKC Fitness 1 & 2 instructor, a certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a National Scent Work Association Trial Judge, and a certified World Scent Dog Association Instructor and Judge.
I constantly look for ways to improve my training methods and educate myself in the science and art of dog training. This way I can provide the best training to any dog, no matter the breed, and his/her owner.
I started B-Hyve K-9 in 2020 to help provide quality dog training for our community. I love working with people and dogs. It makes all the work and sacrifices worth it when I see people bond and enjoy their dogs after training with me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been lucky to be around top dog trainers throughout my adulthood. So, being able to learn from them has been a blessing.
The one challenge that I am facing now is finding a location to provide more services to the dog community, like, overnight boarding, doggy daycare, obedience classes, fitness training, agility equipment, and scent work detection. Finding the right size and open area is difficult as well as the zoning needed for this type of facility. Very few cities allow this type of facility and most have multiple dog businesses in those cities. So, trying to not compete right next to other businesses offering some of the same types of services has been difficult.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about B-Hyve K-9?
B-Hyve K-9 offers dog training in the Salt Lake County area. We offer group classes, private (one on one) sessions, and board & train in order to get your dog on the right track to becoming a fun-loving member of your family. We use science-based training that is balanced.
Our specialty trainings include K9 Fitness, Personal Protection, Scent Work (for UKC, AKC, NACSW), Narcotic/Explosive detection, Tracking, and competitive Obedience/Protection training for a variety of dog competitions.
What sets B-Hyve K-9 apart is I’ve been competing and training in these areas for 16 years and still very active in competing and training of competition dogs in various venues and Law Enforcement K9s. In my classes, I help you obtain your goals and continue to support you and your dog when going to your first to your last competition.
If you do not want to compete with your dog but just want a nice mannered friend, we are also available to our clients by phone and troubleshooting issues by the use of videos our clients have sent to us.
Our goal is to have people enjoy living with their chosen breed of choice.
How do you think about luck?
I’ve been lucky to be around and learn from some of the best dog trainers in the K9 sport and law enforcement world. I also have a supportive family and friends. I have also been blessed with being able to read the body language of dogs and understanding what they need to perform the task being asked of them by their owners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bhyvek9.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhyvek9/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BHyveK9
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/b-hyve-k-9-cottonwood-heights
Anne Hunsinger
June 9, 2022 at 1:41 am
Wish you could come to the northern part of Utah from Farmington North.