Learn from nationally recognized K9 expertise

Mark Kaufmann is the owner and operator of Function First K9 based in Tacoma, WA. Mark has spent nearly 20 years preparing, handling and training multi-purpose canines for world-wide deployments from selection-day to retirement for the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Mark's "mission-first" mentality and philosophy has taken him all over the world to train and deploy with the most capable canine teams and units the world has to offer. It is that mission and determination to discover and optimize training protocols that are substantiated by real-world success and failure. Mark operates off of the grounding principle, "the dog will tell us what is working", enabling him to innovate tactics and techniques to train dog teams efficiently and to the highest standard to be true assets for their teammates in complex situations. The experience has allowed Mark to establish bonafide systems to prepare for deployment, intersecting traditional philosophy with modern behavioral processes and tools. Mark's passion for teaching and coaching these valuable skills and lessons learned motivated him to start his own company, Function First K9, in 2023. FFK9 has conducted dozens of seminars nationally, handler schools, canine procurement, and contracted maintenance training for agencies in his region. His knowledge and experience has assisted teams and organizations to sift through a world of opinion and conjecture to solve real-world problems with real-world solutions. FFK9 also specializes in providing program management consultation and services encompassing training methods and strategies, unit mission and vision, personnel management, culture development, budgeting and fundraising, and policy and SOP updates.