About Forte K9 Academy

What they offer

Forte K9 Academy is a family-run training business in Chattaroy, north of Spokane, owned by Todd and Leah Belitz. It trains dogs of all breeds, from family pets to working dogs, in obedience and specialized tasks, and tailors training to each dog. The academy also tests, selects, trains and delivers dogs for home protection.

About the trainers

Todd has almost 21 years in law enforcement, eight of them as a police K9 handler, has served as vice president of the Washington State Police Canine Association, and is described on the site as a Master K9 Trainer recognized by Washington State; he works on problems from obedience to aggression. Leah spent 18 years as a police officer, including three as her department's K9 sergeant, and completed a master trainer course at Highland K9 in 2021. She specializes in pet dogs at basic and advanced obedience, service dogs trained for specialized tasks, behavior modification and puppies. A consultation is the first step, and the team helps owners choose the right training package.