Hello! My name is Jillian Rohde, I am the owner and trainer behind Vitality K9 Dog Training. I’m so glad that you’re here!

How It Started

My journey into dog training began in 2018 with my first service dog. What started as a personal need quickly became a lifelong passion as I trained her in advanced medical alert and response work, including scent detection and a variety of medical response tasks. Through that experience, I discovered not only the incredible capabilities of dogs but also the profound impact that thoughtful, intentional training can have on both ends of the leash.

In 2020, my heart dog, Sven, entered my life. Originally trained to become my first service dog's successor, Sven ultimately became so much more than that. He introduced me to an entirely new side of dog training, opening the door to competitive dog sports and pushing me to continually expand my knowledge. Together we've explored rally, obedience, dock diving, agility, and scent work, and to this day he remains my greatest teammate, teacher, and inspiration.

That same year, I attended school to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician and became licensed in 2023. My education not only strengthened my understanding of canine health and behavior but also connected me with incredible trainers and mentors who encouraged me to pursue professional dog training. Under the guidance of experienced working professionals, I began training professionally and eventually joined a company where I spent several years helping dogs and their owners succeed.

During that time, I taught private lessons, instructed group classes, worked board-and-trains, and started competing in dog sports. Every dog, family, and behavioral challenge furthered my experience and reinforced my belief that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to training. Every dog deserves a plan tailored to their individual temperament, motivations, and goals.

As my experience grew, I was presented with an opportunity to create something of my own—an opportunity to reach more people, develop my own programs, and provide the kind of personalized training I had always envisioned. In 2024, Vitality K9 was born.

Since then, I've had the privilege of helping families throughout Northern New York build stronger relationships with their dogs, overcome behavioral challenges, and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach. Watching those transformations is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

In early 2025, life introduced me to another incredible canine teacher: Hiro. From the very beginning, Hiro challenged me to think differently about channeling drive, developing engagement, and building purposeful work through training. Every day with him has expanded my understanding of what dogs are capable of and continues to shape me as both a trainer and competitor.

Later that year, I relocated to New York's Capital Region and stepped back from offering public training services for a period of time. That break allowed me to focus on my own dogs, deepen our relationships, study canine professional programs, and further develop my skills before returning to clients with an even broader perspective.

In 2026, I made the decision to leave my career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician and pursue dog training full-time. It was a leap fueled by passion, purpose, and the belief that helping dogs and their people is exactly where I'm meant to be.

Today, my mission remains simple: to help as many people and dogs as possible build stronger relationships through clear communication, practical training, and mutual understanding. I'm committed to continuing my education, competing with my own dogs, and constantly refining my skills so I can provide the highest level of training for every client who trusts me with their journey.