In 1973, my life was a blur of high school graduation, full-time employment, and fast motorcycles. While formal education was not my primary focus, I felt a strong calling to serve my country in the military for several years. Seeking both adventure and practical skills, I chose to join the United States Marine Corps during the final chapters of the Vietnam era. On September 27, 1973, I officially enlisted, trading my motorcycle helmet for a combat one that very same day. It was a pivotal moment of transition and commitment. This chapter of military service instilled in me the discipline and dedication that I bring to my dog training today. I would go on to service more than 20 years in the Marine Corps retiring in 1993 at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Those formative years shaped my character and professional journey, teaching me the importance of clear communication and unwavering patience—values that remain at the heart of Cadence K9 Dog Training LLC.
U. S. Army Military Police & Correction Officer Training
In January 1974, my Military Police class convened, and I graduated at the top of a group comprising 20 Marines and over 50 Army students. I was then offered the chance to pursue Corrections Officer training, an opportunity I readily accepted. My first official assignment as a Marine Military Policeman was at Camp Lejeune, NC, located near Jacksonville—just 30 miles from my current home in New Bern. Since 1974, I have called Eastern North Carolina my home, even throughout various overseas deployments and sea duty aboard U.S. Navy warships. After settling at Camp Lejeune and getting married, I finally acquired my first personal working dog, a female Doberman Pinscher named Bella. She was the first dog I ever attempted to train from the ground up. While the Marine Corps did not offer further opportunities to work with canines until 1977, things changed when we began experimenting with military working dogs at the Camp Lejeune correctional facility. It was during this time that my earlier specialized training with Army working dogs proved to be an invaluable asset to my career. At Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps first started experimenting with dogs to search for prisoner contraband in the base correctional facility and that new at the time search and seizure of cannabis in particular. My previous Army training with scent dogs to find Viet Cong and their tunnels was easily transferrable to working with dogs finding anything using their scent as this is truly the most powerful attribute of almost any dog compared to a human. As the years went by in the Marine Corps I continued to train my own personal working dogs and the dogs of many friends in obedience. For a time period of about 6 years I also worked a quite successful breeding program of Boxer dogs. At the top menu click on "My Life of Dogs" to see many of the great dogs I have owned and trained over the years.
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I am Robert Masters, the Lead Trainer and owner of Cadence K9 Dog Training LLC. With over forty years of dedicated experience living and working with dogs, I provide a lifetime of professional expertise in every training session. At 72 years old, I have worked with nearly every temperament and breed imaginable. I believe that effective training is essential for a dog to thrive in our modern world. Beyond teaching good manners, training is a vital responsibility. As an owner, ensuring your dog is well-behaved is the ultimate key to safety, community harmony, and a happy life together. Though my early training experiences were military-based, they built the foundation for my deep commitment to canine excellence today.
From Civilian to U. S. Marine
The foundation of my dog training abilities started by mere chance in December 1973. Fresh from Marine Corps Boot Camp, I was assigned to become a Military Policeman (MP). A unique twist of fate occurred during the quiet Christmas holiday season at Fort Gordon, Georgia; while the MP School was closed, I was assigned to a veteran Army Sergeant for on-the-job training. This mentor happened to be a Military Dog Handler. My very first day on duty wasn't spent in a patrol car, but at the military working dog kennel. This introduction to miitarty K9 canines forever changed my relationship with dogs although I did not reaize it as the time. The kennel was quite large but was in disrepair and home to only 5-6 dogs. These dogs wre not at all friendly to each other or a human. But these dogs had all been trained as scent dogs used to detect enemy Viet Cong tunnels in Vietnam. Although not friendly, if properly handled and the right commands given, they could be managed. My Army Sergeant mentor was very eager to share his knowledge of dog handling and deployment tactics with a 19 year old Marine Private. But, the Army was dismantling all of its dog training for service in Vietnam because the war was winding down and our prsence in Vietnam was being diminished every day. In fact, Fort Gordon had already formally closed down the military dog training at the Fort and the Army had already started moving dogs and facilites to Fort Benning, GA about 100 miles away. Indeed it was a very conusing time for the Army. Meanwhile, all Department of Defense dog training was being transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Also, for yeas the Marine Corps had been training its own dogs for service in Vietnam on the Island of Okinawa, Japan but that faciltiy was also going to close and be transfered to Lackland Air Force Base. My Sergeant mentor told me that most likely all miitary dog training might come to an end coinciding with the end of the Vietnam Wa. He further advised me that it was probaby best that I stay in the Military Police field versus becoming a dog handler. It was aparent to me that possibly the Marine Corps had forgotten about me because my Miliary Police Class was delayed more than four weeks. So for six days a week and more, I spent my time at the Fort Gordon dog kennel caring for and working everyday with these few dogs who the Army didn't seen to know what to do with. But, I made the best of the delay in my school start date and enjoyed my time working with the dogs. I witnessed firsthand how precision, discipline, and clear communication could forge an unbreakable bond between handler and K9. Today, I bring that same elite-level foundation to your home, helping you unlock your dog's full potential through proven techniques born from the highest standards of service. Let me show you how these professional insights can transform your pet into a focused, reliable companion.
Although I had only a minimal education when I entered the Marine Corps in 1973, by the time I retired in 1993 I had earned a B.S. Degree in Business. My first stop was in New Bern, North Carolina, where I worked for several units of local government and briefly for the Chamber of Commerce. By this time, I had gained considerable experience training my own working dogs and a wide variety of dogs belonging to friends and others for small fees. I considered my dog training at that time to be nothing more than a hobby. Nonetheless, I have always loved training dogs and took the task very seriously. Over the years, I have worked with several Dobermans, a German Shepherd, and a handful of Boxers, which were my favorite breed for quite some time. I have two sons and I once dreamed that one would own a pet store and train dogs while the other became a veterinarian. Neither of those dreams came true exactly, but in 2010 my eldest son began training dogs professionally under the name "Dogs Listen to Us." He trained dogs in Kansas City, Portland, and finally Durham, NC. His business focused only on companion dogs and he did not attempt higher-level training. I was surprised that despite focusing on just one level of training, the business did quite well. When available, I helped with the training and kennel work, and I paid close attention to his clientele. I realized that while nearly everyone wants to own a dog, very few understand the responsibility, time, and effort required for proper training. This explains the rise of professional trainers. Typical household dog owners seeking help should realize that there is currently no certification or license required to practice professional dog training. My son trained dogs to a level he felt comfortable with and qualified to undertake. However, most potential clients never asked to see a dog he had trained, not even his own, to gauge his skills. Here at Cadence K9 Dog Training, we have dogs on-hand that you can observe to see exactly how well they are trained. I would never recommend a trainer without first observing their own dogs or those they have trained. My clients are always welcome to spend time with my current dog, Luna, and others I have trained. To me, these dogs are a living billboard of what I can do with your dog and what I can teach you, the owner, to achieve. Go to the Main Menu and select the My LIfe of Dogs to see many of the great dogs I've had the pleasure to own over a course of nearly 50 years.
U. S. Army Military Working Dogs
A Lifetime of Training Dogs
