About Cobra Canine

Cobra Canine is the unusual case in Hampton Roads of a working-dog outfit that also takes pet clients, and the site does not hide which side came first.

The agency side

The about page states the core business plainly: "Cobra Canine is trusted by the U.S. Military, Police and Government Agencies for canine training and currently has dogs and dog teams working in many locations throughout the US and abroad. Cobra Canine also trains pet dogs in obedience and behavior modification." The navigation carries a Police and Military section and a Dogs for Sale section alongside the pet training pages, and the contact page runs a standing note that "Experienced canine trainers and handlers needed for CONUS and OCONUS operations."

The pet side

The pet page is built around one trainer: "Meet Jeff Franklin – a world-renowned K9 trainer with over 35 years of unmatched experience." The claims made for him are specific enough to check on a call – "35+ years of hands-on K9 training experience", "Worked with over 20,000 pet dogs and families", and a "Proven background in military and law enforcement canine training as well as pet dogs". The framing is a return to local work: "Now he's returned to his roots, focusing on helping local families raise obedient, well-mannered pets!"

Where it is

Its address is 392 Princess Anne Rd in the 23457 ZIP – the rural southern end of Virginia Beach rather than the resort strip – and the contact page uses a mailbox, "P.O. Box 7010, Virginia Beach, VA 23457". The about page also references dog teams in California, so ask which trainers are working locally when you book.

What to ask

The pitch rests on experience and agency work rather than on a named training philosophy, so ask about certifications and the training method. Ask too about group classes and prices.