Our Staff

Matt Hammond - Is the Founder of Quality K9 Concepts, with a decorated 11-year career in the U.S. Army as a K-9 handler were he built an extensive foundation of knowledge through situational and combat experience. Matt is a combat veteran having served in Bosnia , Kosovo , Afghanistan , and Iraq . If there was a need for a dog team in the past decade Matt was there. Weather it was protecting the front lines standing next to Special Op's operators in Afghanistan or providing security for the President of the United States. Matt was also called on to work at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City , UT.

Matt brings experience in obedience, protection, tactical work and narcotic/explosive detection training. He also possesses considerable knowledge in the evaluation of canine disposition, conformation and trainability. Matt has trained under some of the best trainers in the world. If you ask him he will easily credit William McClure and Lewis Lundy with teaching him the craft of Schutzhund helper work, and Ken Hungerford for teaching him the art of Suit work. Being able to call upon these guys is more then a blessing. Matt conducts decoy seminars around the country and will be the first to pass credit to these three great men.

Matt is a member of the USA (United Schutzhund Clubs of America), a board of director's member for APPDA ( American Patrol and Protection Dog Association ) and a certifying authority for the EGWDA (East Georgia Working Dog Association), an AKC canine good citizen evaluator, a Schutzuhnd trial helper, Director of Decoys for the APPDA , and a ASR Certified Decoy.

Dena M. Hammond - Is the CO-Founder of Quality K9 Concepts and heads up our breeding program.

Dena has gained knowledge and experience in the areas of breeds, breeding, bloodlines, medical care, marketability, trainability and disposition of desirable canine partners.

Dena has been around working dogs her whole life, starting with hunting labs as a child. After Marring Matt in July of 1999, she was thrown into the world of working dogs and has never looked back. Dena is an accomplished Handler and trainer in her own right, Training and titling dogs in Schutzhund and ASR. Dena is a board certified Physicians Assistant (PA-C) Working in Vascular care and intervention.

Dena is also a member of the Schutzhund USA and is an active judge for APPDA .

Jerry Lyda - Is our head obedience instructor and Division Chief for the South East. Jerry is a Master Trainer with over 40 years experience in companion, bird hunting and protection training. Matt will joke and tell people that Jerry has forgotten more about dogs then most will ever know. Jerry has an incredible gift being able to understand what dogs are thinking, and communicate this to the handler making Obedience training quick and painless. Not to mention he is the nicest person you will ever meet.

Jerry is also an AKC Canine good citizen evaluator and the Obedience and tracking certifier for the EGWDA. Jerry and his GSD Bentley won the 1999 team obedience championships in Perry , GA beating out all dogs from USA and Canada .

Jerry currently sits on the board of director's for the APPDA and is the Head Judge in the Protection division. He has competed and titled dogs in Schutzhund and ASR (American Street Ring).

Jay Lyda - Is the main decoy at QK9C where he has gained the knowledge and understanding of training dogs in patrol and protection work. Jay picked up Decoy work fast and has never looked back. Being able to read dogs and work them in a manner needed and consistent with that of the handler's wishes.  

Jay is also a proven obedience and detection trainer.  He brings tremendous skills and dedication to our team.  He has helped train and has decoyed countless dogs that have gone on to work with police departments, private security companies and dogs that have gained various titles in k-9 related sports.

Jay is the head decoy and assistant training director of the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) Working Dog Club, and currently sits on the board of director's for the APPDA , as the assistant director of decoys.

Mel Helmick - Mel started training horses and dogs about the time she learned to walk.

Mel owns and operates K-9 Kampus is Malvern, AR. K-9 Kampus merged with QK9C in February of 2008 as partner kennel in the south. Mel is one of the best Search and Rescue trainers in the business today.

She has an innate sense of handling and training the dogs that no one thinks can be fixed. Mel is our resident Expert for Search and Rescue, and is in charge of our detection services section.

Mel is published author and her current E-Book on K-9 Psychology is available now.

Mel is certified thru FEMA and Homeland Defense in bomb scene management, crisis intervention, grid search techniques and human remains detection. Mel and her Cadaver dog Tish have been called upon numerous times to assist local and federal law enforcement. Mel is one of our master trainers that runs our handlers course.

Alfred “Mac” McClendon - Mac is a 27 year Army veteran (13 years active and 14 years Reserve). Serving in some of the most elite units provided Intel for Special Forces units.

Mac joined the Homestead Police Dept and retired with multiple decorations after 21 years. Having dogs his whole life, Mac became involved in The French Sport in 1999, and attended several Ring Sport seminars and Trials in Lattacttachee , FL.

Mac started Tops K-9, a small training facility in Homestead FL , but had the dream and the vision for something bigger. Soon after his retirement from the South Miami Dade Area he relocated to Augusta , Ga.

Mac owns what is now the primary location for QK9C, 62 acres of land and 16 dog climate controlled kennels Tops' K-9 merged with Quality K-9 Concepts in December of 2008. Mac brings with him the ability to fix behavior problems, train and handle the “hard dogs”. Mac is working with Matt and Dena Hammond in developing a top notch breeding program that will produce strong social working line Malinois and Cane Corsos. Mac is currently competing in and is a judge for APPDA.

Our History and Overview

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