Founder | Curious K9 | KiloNiner Solutions

LeAnne Schilling didn’t find dog training—she built her life around it.

A second-generation professional dog trainer, LeAnne took on her first client at just nine years old. What began as an early passion quickly evolved into a lifelong pursuit of understanding canine behavior, communication, and performance at the highest level. From sport fields to operational environments, her experience has been built through decades of hands-on work, continued education, and real-world application.

In 2010, after the training facility she worked for unexpectedly closed, LeAnne took a leap of faith and founded Curious K9 in what she describes as a “five-day whirlwind.” What started as a boutique training operation quickly evolved into a respected training center focused on building not only reliable dogs, but educated, capable handlers and a strong community rooted in growth, accountability, and purpose.

Today, LeAnne is the founder of both Curious K9 and KiloNiner Solutions, where she specializes in obedience, behavior modification, sport obedience, service dogs, personal protection, detection, tracking, and law enforcement K9 development. Her work ranges from helping family dogs overcome behavioral challenges to developing high-drive working dogs capable of performing under pressure.

Her philosophy is centered on one core belief:
Influence over authority.

Rather than relying solely on control, LeAnne focuses on clarity, engagement, accountability, and purpose. She believes dogs thrive when given structure, meaningful responsibility, and communication they can clearly understand. The result is not suppressed dogs—but confident, reliable dogs capable of operating successfully in the real world.

LeAnne is educated in multiple training methodologies and continues to pursue advanced education yearly, believing that evolution and continued learning are essential to becoming a better trainer. She also mentors up-and-coming trainers and works alongside Department of Defense SkillBridge programs, helping veterans transition into the canine industry through mentorship, structure, and hands-on development.

Alongside training, LeAnne operates a breeding program focused on working-line German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, carefully selecting for stability, drive, nerve, and functional capability. Her background in protection sports spans years of competition and development work, including PSA (Protection Sports Association), tracking, personal protection, and detection training. Her current Belgian Malinois, T’shuka, is a certified explosives detection dog actively training in advanced working disciplines.

More than anything, LeAnne has built her career around one mission: helping dogs and humans understand each other at a deeper level. Through Curious K9, she has consciously cultivated a team and community that values honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect for both people and dogs alike.

LeAnne doesn’t train dogs to simply obey.
She develops dogs—and handlers—that can live, work, and perform with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

"Building better dogs" is the last thing on my mind when I go to bed and the first thing I’m thinking about when I wake up. For me, this isn't just a job; it is a deep-seated passion that drives me to constantly evolve as a trainer. I live for those "lightbulb" moments where a dog and owner finally click—that breakthrough is what fuels every hour I spend on the field.

While pet training is my bread and butter, I thrive on the precision and intensity of Dog Sports. I have a particular interest in PSA (Protection Sports Association), where the combination of high-level obedience and controlled protection work creates a truly unique challenge. My background also includes extensive experience in nose work and personal protection training, giving me a diverse toolkit for any canine-human team.

I am a firm believer that every dog possesses an incredible amount of untapped potential. I bring an obsessed level of focus to every session to help you uncover it. Training is my life’s work, and I’m here to help you and your dog build a level of communication you didn't think was possible.

Jayson Southmayd is a professional dog trainer and service dog program leader with Curious K9, specializing in public access reliability and the development of purpose-driven service dogs for veterans and children with special needs.

He returned home injured from Iraq in 2009 and faced significant barriers to obtaining a service dog through the VA due to a lack of available resources. As a combat medic, Jayson witnessed loss during deployment, but he ultimately lost more brothers to suicide after coming home than in combat. During his own recovery, he came close to becoming one of those losses himself.

In 2011, his wife purchased him a golden retriever puppy so he could train a service dog for himself. With no formal guidance, Jayson taught himself the foundations of service dog training—researching tasks, good citizenship, and real-world reliability. Through that process, he experienced firsthand how a well-trained service dog could restore stability, independence, and purpose. That experience revealed both a natural aptitude for training and a calling to help others find the same freedom he had found through his own service animals.

Over the past four years, Jayson has received specialized training and mentorship as a volunteer with Curious K9. Their instruction and training ideology—centered on clarity, structure, and relationship-based communication—shaped him into the trainer and leader he is today.

Jayson’s work focuses on developing emotionally stable, reliable service dogs capable of thriving in real-world environments. He believes service dogs are not tools, but teammates, and he is committed to building programs that serve veterans, children with special needs, and their families with integrity, purpose, and hope.

My journey with dogs started early through 4‑H, where I learned not just training skills but the importance of education, patience, and compassion. After graduating high school, I returned as a leader for the very same group I grew up in, helping young handlers build confidence and connection with their dogs.

When I moved to the Eugene/Springfield area, I continued expanding my own training experience with my personal dogs—working on obedience, carting, service dog tasks, therapy work, and more. Each new skill deepened my appreciation for how capable and eager dogs are when we communicate clearly and train with intention.

I was once a client of Curious K9 myself, so I truly understand what it feels like to reach out for professional guidance. That experience shaped the way I support others today. Helping people reach their training goals isn’t just something I do—it’s something I value deeply.

My hope is to see every dog become a confident, well‑mannered canine good citizen in real‑life situations. Whether you’re starting fresh with a puppy or working through challenges with an adult dog, I’m here to help you and your dog grow together.

Junior Trainer | Curious K9

Adilynn may only be 10 years old, but dogs have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Growing up surrounded by training, working dogs, and hands-on experience, she has naturally developed a strong understanding of canine behavior, communication, and handling well beyond her years.

For several years, Adilynn has actively assisted with training dogs and currently helps handle many client dogs through both classes and private lessons at Curious K9. Known for her calm demeanor, patience, and natural connection with dogs, she has become especially passionate about helping families and children better understand how to safely and confidently exist alongside their dogs at home.

Within the next year, Adilynn plans to begin leading her own children-focused dog education classes designed to teach kids how to properly interact, communicate, and build healthy relationships with dogs in everyday life. Her goal is to help create safer, more confident interactions between children and dogs while making learning fun and approachable for families.

Adilynn’s current dog is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Hazmat, who is certified in mold detection and excels in tracking work. Together, the two continue to train and grow as a team, building skills through real-world training and hands-on experience. Adilynn has even partnered with Hazmat for school presentations, including demonstrations teaching children how to safely and respectfully greet dogs they do not know.

With a passion for dogs, a heart for teaching, and years of practical experience already behind her, Adilynn represents the next generation of knowledgeable, compassionate dog trainers.