Rick Klassen has been handling, kenneling, and training dogs since 1977, and he has been a Certified Master Dog Trainer since 1983. There are only a handful of Certified Master Dog Trainers in California.

After receiving his certification in 1977, Rick began training dogs in basic obedience, police K-9 work, and narcotic and bomb detection. Rick has also trained dogs to assist those with disabilities.

The original Black Forest Training Kennels were opened in Rockwell and Clear Lake, Iowa in 1987 and 1992, respectively. While in Iowa, Rick was contracted by the following law enforcement agencies to provide K9 services:

The Iowa Highway Patrol

Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department

Winnebago County Sheriff's Department

Franklin Counties County Sheriff's Department

The Cities of Fort Dodge, Ventura, and Rockwell Police Departments and Animal Control agencies

These services included the use of two of Rick's personally trained German Shepherd K-9s as well as a Mantrailing Bloodhound.

Rick trained the team of narcotics detection dog "Mike" and his handler, Sergeant Kevin Benson for the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa. "Mike" was named the United States Police Canine Association's Region XXI "Dog of the Year" in 1995. While this accomplishment is remarkable in it's own right, it had never been accomplished before by a Boarder Collie.

Rick is also a Certified Animal Control Officer, specializing in the handling of dangerous and vicious dogs. He is also a presenter to the Midwest Animal Control Academy. Rick was also Chief Animal Control Officer in the City of Ventura, Iowa from 1983 to 1987. From 1983 to 1994 he served as the Chief of Humane Investigations for the Iowa Federation of Humane Societies and the North Iowa Humane Society.

Rick also worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to provide regional search and rescue training, and he worked with Fire Departments in Southwest Iowa to train emergency services personnel how to approach an incident that involved dogs or other animals. Additionally, Rick worked with Iowa Show Productions during it's annual Sports Show at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa where he provided a demonstration with Narcotics Officer "Mike" and his own team of working dogs.

Dog World magazine and the National K-9 School of Dog Trainers awarded Rick with the "Man's Best Friend" award. Rick was the first civilian ever to be awarded the "Distinguished Service Award" by the then Governor of Iowa, Terry E. Branstad in 1992. Also in 1992, Rick was inducted into the Iowa Volunteerism Hall of Fame for his tireless work on behalf of the welfare of all animals and those who are assisted by the canine training he provided.

In 1993, Rick participated in the organization and escorting the Governor of Iowa in his Annual Pheasant hunt in North Central Iowa. The guides in this annual event are hand-picked, and every upland game dog that participated was trained by Rick and Black Forest K-9 Training.

The following year, Rick, his family, and the Black Forest operation moved from Iowa to Southern California. Since establishing his presence in the Palm Springs area, Rick has served as a contract consultant in matters of animal control and animal welfare to the Cities of Desert Hot Springs and Palm Desert.

Over the past 26 years, Rick has trained literally thousands of dogs, and has never been bitten! This is an unheard of accomplishment in the dog training industry, and even more so in Rick's case because he has worked so extensively with viscous and highly dangerous dogs.

There has not been a breed he hasn't worked with or a dog-related problem he hasn't solved. Now the benefit of his expertise is available to you, even if you don't live in Southern California through our expert lessons. Please visit the Testimonials page to see what others are saying about Rick and the results of his training !