About Us

Established in 2024, K9.5 Training Academy offers a range of services to meet the diverse needs of dog owners.

Our boarding services provide a safe, comfortable, and engaging environment for your dog when you’re away. Unlike traditional kennels, we focus on maintaining your dog’s routine, offering personalized care, regular exercise, and plenty of attention to ensure they feel at home.

Our doggie day play program is perfect for social dogs who thrive on interaction. With supervised group play sessions in our secure, spacious facility, your dog can burn off energy, make new friends, and enjoy a fun-filled day while you’re at work or running errands.

For those looking to keep their dogs looking and feeling their best, our grooming services offer everything from baths and brush-outs to full grooming sessions, tailored to your dog’s breed and coat type. Our experienced groomers use gentle techniques to ensure a stress-free experience, leaving your dog clean, comfortable, and happy.

Of course, our training services are where our expertise shines brightest. Our expert trainer works closely with you to understand your dog’s unique needs and your specific goals. We know that no two dogs or owners are alike, which is why our approach is highly personalized.

Like to Tour Our Campus?

Of course you can tour our campus before deciding to schedule boarding.

Feel free to drop in during our normal business hours. We will be happy to show you our top-notch facility and all the amenities we offer. Our goal is to provide peace of mind to any pet owner. Our care of top notch!

Schedule Now!

Schedule your boarding, day play, grooming, or training experience now. We’re happy to answer any of  your questions or concerns, simply call us at 812-227-6499.

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Highly recommend K9.5 for boarding!! It’s a beautiful new facility. The owners are very involved with the dogs and so kind. It’s obvious that they care about every dog that comes in. Our dog Toby can be a lot to handle, and they did amazing. He gets anxious and overstimulated when he’s not in his regular environment, and he came back to us the calmest he’s ever been after being boarded. Cannot say enough great things! We’ve already booked him for our other upcoming trips and will feel comfortable being away with him at K9.5!
Nicole Thraen
I cannot recommend K9.5 enough for anyone who has a hard time leaving their fur babies! This was the longest we had left our Mia girl since getting her almost 4 years ago, so to say we were nervous is an understatement. However, knowing we left her in such good hands was a relief! We got daily pictures/updates of our girl, and when we picked her up we got a report on exactly how the week went! She was given lots of love and attention throughout the week and felt right at home. We will definitely be more at ease going on trips in the future knowing we have such a safe place for our girl to stay!
Paige Weaver

Our Owners

Larry Hopper

Owner / Master Trainer

Larry Hopper, is the K9 Commander of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. Larry is a Master Trainer with Dogs for Law Enforcement (DLE) and is a former trainer with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA).

Missy Hopper

Missy Hopper

Owner / Office Manager

Missy has been a teacher with the Vigo County School Corporation for 24 years! She is thankful that Larry has introduced her to another new passion-loving on dogs! Whether in the classroom teaching a child or at K9.5 working with dogs, she pours her whole heart and soul into caring for others.

Our Groomers

Years of Experience

6 years 

Favorite Service Offered

Desheds and teddy bear haircuts.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5 

Great atmosphere

Fun Fact

I have a hobby farm.

Katie Puckett

Groomer

Years of Experience

6 years

Favorite Service Offered

Teddy bear haircuts and painting nails.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Everyone is so friendly!

Fun Fact

I have a Pitbull/Jack Russell terrier mix named Titus.

Addison McCullough

Groomer

The Rest of Our Team

Leah Hamm

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I ride horses and am interested in vet medicine.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Tailoring to every dog’s individual needs. We truly care for each and every dog, and I think that is something special about us.

Fun Fact

I am a junior in college and studying Equine Preveterinary Medicine.

Charlie Marter

Kennel Technician / Day Play

Special Skills

I consider myself to be a “Jack of all trades, master of none”.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Being one on one with the dogs which is as much therapy to me as it is relief to the dogs.

Fun Fact

I am retired from the Air Force. My career dealt primarily with explosives.

Maeli Bolton

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I am good at painting, but I really love all art!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Getting to play with all the pups. It always makes the day a little better!

Fun Fact

I am going into my junior year at ISU. I am double majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology.

Emma Maupin

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

Being able to diffuse certain types of situations, making sure to stay calm in the storm.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Having the opportunity to make a dog feel loved and safe.

Fun Fact

I love smelling candles. If I could professionally become a candle smeller, all of my dreams would come true!

Nicole Barnes

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

My interests are working with dogs!  I have always wanted to train dogs too!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Spending one on one time with each dog.

Fun Fact

I have been working with dogs for 4 years. I have 4 animals at home-2 dogs and 2 cats.

Emily McKinney

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I am a decent photographer, I guess! I also like to paint.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

All of the sweet and precious fur babies that come in. I love getting to play and love on them.

Fun Fact

I have a wild rabbit as a pet.

Jillian Griese

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I love watching and playing sports!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

I love getting to spend time with the dogs,and always getting to see new ones everyday.

Fun Fact

I have been to Hawaii!

Zach Reisinger

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I can weld just about anything.  I like all kinds of motorsports and anything related to riding or working on motorcycles.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Getting to spend time with all the different dogs and learn their behaviors.

Fun Fact

I worked on helicopters for the Army.

Rachelle Boltinghouse

Day Play

Special Skills

I love photography and crafts!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

I get to play with dogs all day! I love it when I see a shy dog come out of its shell!

Fun Fact

I AM A PROUD NAVY WIFE!
Megan Reisinger
Kennel Technician

Special Skills

Taking care of animals, especially those who need extra attention (special needs).

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

I love being a temporary family for the dogs while their family is away.  I also love the family atmosphere at K9.5.

Fun Fact

I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was 17.  I’m finishing up my bachelor’s in PreVet.

Maddie Dowers

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I enjoy the outdoors, going fishing, and walking trails.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Meeting new people and playing with the amazing dogs are truly a highlight of my life.

Fun Fact

I’ve played volleyball for about 10 years. I also have a fur baby that we adopted from the Terre Haute Humane Shelter in January of 2024.

Emma Hopper

Office

Special Skills

I studied aboard in Peru and learned a hidden talent of mine is making balloon animals.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

All the puppy kisses and love are the best thing about K9.5.

Fun Fact

I am a huge adrenaline junkie and have been sky diving. I am also in my senior year of nursing school at ISU and hoping to become an RN in a critical care unit.

Adie Sitler

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I have great leadership skills, and I enjoy working within a team.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Giving love to all the fur babies while they are on vacation with us.

Fun Fact

I am an EMT. 

Riley Kingery

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I’ve done construction for 2-3 years now for my grandpa and know how to run wires, roofing, water lines, and heating/cooling.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

The friends I’ve made and the fun work environment, and of course seeing and playing with all the dogs.

Fun Fact

I’m the oldest sibling, but I’m the shortest one in my family.

Reagan Ealy

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors in the sun, swimming, playing pickleball, and hiking. However, of course, I LOVE hanging out with dogs all day!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

The positive culture it provides me every day I work: whether that be from the dogs or the coworkers! It’s always a great day!

Fun Fact

I play volleyball in college!

Nevyn McCullough

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I love playing my guitar and doing my own nails.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Getting to see all of the cute dogs — and play and take care of them.

Fun Fact

I am a big Swiftie, and I’ve been to two of the Eras tour shows!

Savannah Sinders

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I like making fun drinks all the time. I also enjoy painting.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Getting to love on all the dogs.

Fun Fact

I play soccer and do track.  

Laya Walker

Lead Kennel Technician

Special Skills

 I have too many hobbies!  Taking care of my aquariums, reading, anything dinosaurs, kayaking, art!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

I love meeting new dogs and getting to see the dogs I know again!

Fun Fact

When I was little I LOVED Steve Irwin and was outdoors all the time catching animals.  (We don’t board crocodiles at K9.5, but I would be open to it.)

Kyra Mullens

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

I like to paint and play piano when I have time.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

When we get Bernese Mountain dogs staying with us!

Fun Fact

I also work as a PCT at Union Hospital.

Brayden Hopper

Kennel Technician / Day Play

Special Skills

I have a passion for electronics, games, and art.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

All of the friends I’ve made with the other employees.

Fun Fact

I like legos.

Kathryn Rader

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

My special interest is fostering! I have fostered 10 dogs and currently am fostering 3 others!

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

My favorite part of working here at K9.5 is getting to meet new client dogs all the time.

Fun Fact

A fun fact about me is that I am a mommy to (almost) 3 little girls and we also own goats.
Jade Uhey

Kennel Technician

Special Skills

Over the past few years, I have gathered an interest in the conservation of big cats around the world.

Favorite Part About Working at K9.5

Not only the amazing staff I get to work with but getting to work with the best dogs.

Fun Fact

I have 5 dogs myself and we enjoy hiking and swimming together.