Dog Commander was founded by Robert Kornfeld, who began his career as a K9 police officer and received his police dog training from the world-renowned Canine Unit of the Connecticut State Police.
Robert has 30 years of experience in dog training and problem solving and was trained by people with over 150 years of collective experience. When training police dogs, you train as if your life and the other officers' lives depend on it because they do. Basic training is intense - 4 months, 7 days a week full time. K9 Officers don't train dogs to be robots. They train them to be almost human.
The CSP K9 Unit is the twelfth oldest program in the United States, and is widely regarded as a leading in-service training program for service dogs from across the country and the world, training dogs for Greece, Egypt, Israel and Chile (learn more).
Credentials
Since 1992 more than 35 dog teams have participated in The Connecticut K9 Regional Olympics, the Dog Commander and his canine companions placing highly in each of those years. An East Hartford canine team placed first in fourteen of the seventeen years of the competition, with a K9 Unit in one of the top three places each year except the eleventh.
During these 17 years, the East Hartford K9 team was under Robert's guidance. In 2011, the East Hartford K9 unit competed in a national K9 competition in Las Vegas, and completed 2nd overall behind Las Vegas PD.
In its tenth year, the East Hartford K9 unit swept the competition. Officer Kornfeld and K9, Friday, placed first in 2005 in tactical obedience and third in 2002 and Officer Kornfeld and K9, Luke, placed first in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Kornfeld and Luke retired from competition in 1994.
Officer John Wright and K9 Shep - 1970
Officer Robert Kornfeld and K9 Luke - 1990
Officer Robert Kornfeld and K9 Friday - 1997
Officer William Proulx and K9 Bruno - 1992
Officer William Proulx and K9 Dakota - 1999
Officer John Zavalick and K9 Raven - 1998
Officer John Zavalick and K9 Axel - 2006
Detective William Turley and K9 Miranda - 1996
Officer Pietro Cortese and K9 Meko - 1999
Officer Stephen Grossi and K9 Odin - 2003
Officer Stephen Grossi and K9 Hades - 2012
Officer Jay Malley and K9 Max - 2005
Officer Todd Mona and K9 Primo - 2006
Officer Todd Mona and K9 Casus - 2015
Officer David Rhoades and K9 Charlie Brown - 2007
Officer Juan Rivera III and K9 Capo
Additional Credentials
North America Police Work Dog Association – 9/5/05
First Place Dog Obedience 2005 – Partner Day
Resolution of the East Hartford Town Council – 9/16/03
Town of East Hartford Proclamation – 9/11/01
Resolution of the Town of East Hartford – 9/4/01
Certificate of Training – 9/20/99
North America Police Work Dog Association – 4/22/94
Connecticut Police Work Dog Association – 4/18/94
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test – 6/6/92
North America Police Work Dog Association – 5/8/92
Connecticut Police Work Dog Association – 5/8/92
Connecticut Police Work Dog Association – 5/4/92
Connecticut Valley Dog Training Service
Love & Respect
Robert's service in protecting the communities of East Hartford since 1986 was just the beginning of his life with dogs. He has a deep love, respect, and appreciation for a dog's individuality, skills, and dedication to their handlers.
Robert will tell you that the bond formed with his K9 partners is as strong a bond as one could ever have. They look out for each other, protect and serve together, and communicate in an impressively clear and concise manner during times of elevated stakes and stress in pursuing criminals and providing safety to citizens.
You can search the earth over and you will find that Robert has as much respect and love for our K9 companions as any of us do. His K9 partners trusted him and you can too.
Kornfeld #178 & K9 Friday, Zavalick #223 & K9 Raven, Proulx #137 & K9 Dakota 9/11
