Our History

The history of CANIS goes back 16 years to 2008, when an 18 year old boy named Brent LaBrada got his first job at a dog training facility called K9s Only in Tarzana, CA. It was there he would meet his lifetime mentor Bobby Dorafshar and begin his journey in becoming one of the most innovative and inspiring dog trainers in Los Angeles. Neither of them could imagine the amount of lives they would improve, save, and change forever.

Brent’s first job at K9’s Only was cleaning kennels and caring for dogs. Driven by a passion to help them, he quickly became interested in the world of dog training and behavior. A far cry from his background in film and performing arts, his interest in dog training would transform the trajectory of his life by the age of 23.

During his tenure at K9s Only, he climbed the ranks from training assistant all the way to Chief Academic Officer. He used his expertise to found CANIS Consulting in 2016, a company to help consult with and train dog trainers, his first ever client for trainer coaching being K9s Only. Brent later went on to open the K9 Trainers School for dog trainers in 2017. However, in January of 2018, K9s Only was acquired by a corporation, bringing this chapter to a close.

Brent & Bobby at the new CANIS Facility (2024)

Brent & Christiana with a Training Graduate (2020)

CANIS Behavior & Training was born in fall of 2018. Brent’s mission to make quality dog training and education more accessible to dog owners and rescuers was the force that shaped what CANIS is today. CANIS hired it’s first trainer in Christiana Stoner, who is currently head trainer and training manager. Brent and Christiana’s hard work and dedication to their dogs and clients allowed CANIS to blossom.

The CANIS Team has evolved and grown over the years, each one helping the company get to the next level. The first of which being Jennifer Jamieson, who is now kennel manager and lead trainer. Following Jennifer was Damara Ganyo, Operations & Marketing Coordinator. Next was Jamie Penfil, trainer and current Day Camp coordinator. Lastly, were CANIS’ trainers, Carter Biddle & Kaitlyn Prisk. The culmination of this team’s passion for animals, hard work, and belief in the vision lifted CANIS to be one of the best training facilities in Los Angeles in a short span of 5 years.

Finding their work limited by space available, CANIS needed to expand its operations to serve their community better. In 2023, Brent began to explore different locations available in the area but to no avail. Later that year, however, opportunity came in the form of a Facebook post; The original K9s Only facility needed a new tenant. The owner of the building? None other than Bobby Dorafshar, founder of K9s Only and Brent’s mentor. Brent seized the opportunity to let CANIS grow where its seeds had been sown and where his story began.

In a true ‘full circle moment’, Brent and Bobby formed a partnership and began the process of reviving the Topham Street facility, bringing new life back to the historical building. Brent, Bobby, and the original CANIS team moved into its Topham Street location in June of 2024.

Today, CANIS continues to thrive as a leading provider of dog education and care in Los Angeles.