Meet the Forresters

We're Blake and Sarah Forrester, the family behind Iron Paw K9.

Iron Paw K9 was built from a passion for dogs, people, and the relationships they share. As a husband and wife team, we are committed to helping dogs become confident, obedient companions while giving owners the tools they need to continue that success at home.

Outside of Iron Paw K9, our biggest priority is our family. We are followers of Jesus, parents who love being involved in our kids' lives, and we enjoy coaching, traveling, and spending time with family and friends whenever we can. Family means everything to us, and we care for every dog that comes through our doors with that same mindset.

Where It All Began for blake

Growing up, I always wanted a dog, but because of my mom's allergies, we were never able to have one. Everything changed in 2018 when I was partnered with my first police K9, Timo.

That partnership changed everything.

I had already been in law enforcement since 2014, but getting my first K9 opened a whole new world for me. I fell in love with every part of it. I loved the training, the challenge, the discipline, and especially seeing a dog finally understand something after spending hours working on it. Watching that hard work pay off in real situations was something I knew I wanted to keep doing.

Why I Love Training Dogs - Blake

Throughout my career, I saw a lot of dogs that people labeled as bad dogs. Most of the time, that wasn't really the case.

Many of those dogs simply hadn't been given the training, structure, or exposure they needed to succeed.

That changed the way I looked at dog training.

Whether I was training a police K9 or working with a family dog, my goal became helping each dog become the best version of itself. I enjoy challenging dogs, building their confidence, and preparing them for real life situations instead of only training in perfect conditions.

There is nothing better than seeing the training come together and watching a dog succeed when it matters most.

Why We Started Iron Paw K9

We started Iron Paw K9 because we wanted to help more dogs and more families.

One of the most rewarding parts of this job is watching a dog completely transform. Seeing a dog that was once difficult to handle become calm, obedient, and able to enjoy life with its family never gets old.

To me, training has never been about forcing a dog into submission.

It is about building trust, creating clear communication, showing consistency, and becoming a leader your dog understands and wants to follow.

I also enjoy teaching owners. A well trained dog is only part of the equation. Helping owners understand how to communicate with their dog and continue that training at home is just as important.

Watching both the dog and the owner grow together is what makes this work so rewarding.

The Meaning Behind Iron Paw K9

People often ask where the name Iron Paw came from.

To us, it represents relationships that are forged in iron. Strong relationships are built through trust, consistency, patience, and leadership. We believe that when you build that kind of relationship with your dog, everything else starts to fall into place.

That belief is the foundation of everything we do at Iron Paw K9.

“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

What Makes Us Different

Iron Paw K9 is truly a family business.

My wife, Sarah, is an incredible part of what we do. Her background as a veterinary technician gives her extensive knowledge when it comes to the health and wellbeing of every dog in our care. She genuinely loves every dog that comes through our doors and makes sure each one is cared for as if it were our own.

My experience comes from years of working and training law enforcement K9s. I have trained dogs from the ground up in detection, tracking, obedience, and controlled aggression before putting them to work in some of the highest stress situations imaginable. That experience taught me that every dog needs clear communication, consistency, and a handler they can trust.

Whether your dog needs basic obedience, behavior modification, or has been told they are too difficult to train, I will always give them my best. Every dog is different, but I believe most dogs can succeed when they are given the right structure, clear expectations, and someone willing to put in the work.

Our goal has never been to simply train dogs.

Our goal is to help people build stronger relationships with their dogs so they can enjoy life together for years to come.

We look forward to meeting you and your dog.