Kingdom K-9
Call us: 1-256-492-3030
Interested in learning more about us?
About Kingdom K-9
We are located at 1803 HWY 431 in Glencoe, Alabama. We're just a short drive from Birmingham, Alabama and are very near Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.
We are in the country and have LOTS of room to work the dogs in all kinds of training.
Welcome to the Kingdom.
Where everything starts with Obedience.
Our main office and class room with our kennels to the right.
One of our training fields; this is one is set up for obedience training & for agility training.
Kingdom K-9's Owners and Master Trainers...
Willie (Joe) Simmons is a local Alabaminian. He has been in the dog training business for three decades preparing dogs for obedience, personal protection, security, and tracking.
After graduating from Jacksonville State University he moved to Birmingham. He spent his spare time there working at kennels owned by Dick and Donna Lovelady. He helped out in any way they needed in order to gain knowledge about the business of dog training.
Through the Lovelady family he was led to the Lord and also Schutzhund training. (Schutzhund is a German word meaning “protection dog.”) This is a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners, rather than just rating their appearance.
After moving to Gadsden to be close to family, Joe teamed up with Sidney Washington combining their years of dog training experience. The result was Kingdom K-9, a training and boarding academy.
Joe and Sidney use the German style of authority training in their work with canines. The dog wants to identify with the Alpha leader, Joe says. That’s how he will survive. If he can’t do this, it causes the dog stress. Your dog is asking “Who is the pack leader?” Once he knows, he settles into a quality life.
“Animals have instincts to know how to live in a pack. They thrive in a social order,” Joe said. “People do not have this instinct. Dogs first try to identify who the leader of the pack is; not clearly knowing this causes them stress. Dogs need order. Their instincts are ingrained; you don’t have to tell a dog how to be a dog. In the pack, a dog would never jump up on his Alpha partner. We teach the establishment of discipline by getting into your dog’s head. We step into the dog’s world and lead him into our world. You’ve got to tap into a dog’s instincts by establishing that you are the leader of the pack. When you do that, you have successfully laid the groundwork to begin the training of your dog.”
Since coming to Gadsden, Joe can also be found pastoring his church - Liberty Tabernacle of Praise Assembly of God when he is not working with dogs.
Master Trainer and Owner
Brother Willie J. Simmons
Master Trainer and Owner,
Sidney Washington
Cell 205-706-8871
Born in Chicago, raised in Alabama, Sidney Washington spent many hours working on his Grandfather’s farm as a youngster. Watching his Grandfather work with the farm animals inspired in young Sidney a lifelong passion for communicating with dogs. He tried to convince his father to allow him to bring home a Doberman Pinscher at a young age, but when his father refused he instead got and trained his first German Shepherd puppy.
After serving his country as an Army medic, followed by 25 years in the nursing profession working in cardiology, emergency medicine and in assisted living Sidney continued to pursue his childhood passion for communicating with canines at every opportunity.
Sidney started at the bottom rung of the dog training ladder by cleaning kennels and doing whatever tasks needed to be done. He kept a sharp eye out for the knowledge he would need to acquire about the dog training process.
Early in his career he trained guard dogs for businesses. He then bought his first Doberman Pinscher from a trainer who also provided mentoring in the best techniques of dog training.
“Having your dog under control, regardless of the size or breed, makes for happier owners and happier dogs.” says Washington. “A dog under the control of its owner can help you feel more secure and safer twenty-four hours a day. Many people will see your obedient dog and think twice before ever causing trouble!”
Sidney, along with Joe Simmons, has a wealth of experience in the dog training field. Sidney’s personal goal is working with owners so they can communicate and establish the proper authority with their dogs.
Today, Sidney is raising and training quality Doberman Pinscher puppies for his clients. He now works full time in the training of all types, sizes and ages of dogs in obedience, personal protection as well as other more custom applications.
“Watch your dog, if you understand their behavior, they are telling you what they need” says Sidney. “Watch your dog.”
