Trainer Maria

Maria co-founder of MAK9 academy, trainer and avid dog lover, has two happy pups of her own! Riggs a field line Golden Retriever, and Hoyt, a Black Labrador Retriever. She previously owned a German Shepherd named Atticus that will forever be in our hearts. 

Maria has a son, Michael, who loves to train his own doggies while Mommy is training hers. When you see them out and about, you can guarantee he has one of his pups along too!

Maria is married to Michael who was formerly a dog handler in the Marines. He had an Explosive Detection Dog, Hitch, that he adopted afterwards and hiked the Appalachian Trail with.
Michael was Maria’s inspiration to start dog training.

Maria loves to work with obedience training but greatly enjoys her therapy dog clients and plans to get a new pup of her own in the new year, to train for therapy work. She also has additional plans to get into Service Dog work, specifically diabetic alert dogs.