Metro K9 Academy is a family-owned and operated training and placement center in Randolph, New Jersey. For more than 30 years, Metro K9 Academy has helped families and professionals bring home German Shepherds and Dobermans with clear temperaments, steady behavior, and real-world reliability. Our work is rooted in responsibility—to the dogs we raise and to the people who live with them every day.
We are selective by design. Whether we are breeding, developing, or placing a dog, every decision is made with long-term success in mind. Dogs are raised and prepared for real life with people, not just for performance in controlled settings. We place dogs locally and nationwide and remain involved long after the handoff, offering guidance and support as families settle in.
Our Facility
Dogs learn best in environments that reflect real life. Our campus is designed to support calm, structured development—not just training on a field.
The facility includes a full-size working field, obstacle and agility areas, clean indoor and outdoor kennels, and quiet evaluation spaces. Dogs are developed in a mix of controlled and everyday environments, including home-like settings and public spaces, so the transition into a family’s lifestyle is smooth and predictable from day one.
The focus is not scale or spectacle, but function—creating consistency, confidence, and clarity for each dog.
Master Dog Trainer
Robert Gierla founded Metro K9 Academy and remains directly involved in breeding decisions, development standards, and placement guidance. With more than three decades of hands-on experience, Robert’s role is not just training dogs, but setting and maintaining the standards behind them.
His background includes working with family dogs, professional guardians, law enforcement teams, and corporate organizations. That experience informs a practical, level-headed approach to canine behavior—one that prioritizes stability, judgment, and clarity over intensity or shortcuts.
Education and refinement remain ongoing. The goal is simple: continue improving the process so dogs are prepared for the lives they are meant to live.
“We start with community and finish with families who feel safe and confident. Whether we’re raising puppies, placing trained protection dogs, or helping owners build clarity at home, the goal is always the same: calm dogs, clear expectations, and real-life results. We don’t rush the process, and we don’t disappear after placement. We put in the work, stay involved, and earn trust over time—because that’s what responsible dog ownership deserves.“
–Bobby Gierla, Founder & Head Trainer
Associations and Registrations
Metro K9 Academy maintains active involvement in recognized working-dog and breed organizations, including Service Dogs of America, Schutzhund USA, American Working Dog Federation, the Schaeferhund Verein (SV), and the American Kennel Club (AKC).
All dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club, and breeding decisions are made with attention to health testing, structure, and temperament—not trends.
Standards That Don’t Change
Our standards start with thoughtful selection and continue through development and placement. We work with health-tested lines chosen for structure, clear nerves, and sound temperament.
Training supports these standards by reinforcing practical, everyday behaviors that owners can maintain: calm leash manners, reliable recall, polite transitions in and out of vehicles, neutrality in public, and a clear off-switch in the home. Owner handoff guidance and a simple practice plan are part of every placement, along with veterinary documentation and long-term support.
The goal is not just a trained dog—but a dog that fits naturally into daily life.
How We Help Families & Clients
Metro K9 Academy supports dogs and owners at different stages, always with fit and long-term success in mind. This may include:
- Placing German Shepherds and Dobermans at an appropriate level of development
- Raising puppies from health-tested lines with early foundation work
- Offering custom development paths based on temperament, drive, and real-life needs
- Supporting families through structured training and guidance
- Providing education-focused safety and awareness programs for organizations
Every path begins with understanding the dog and the environment they are going home to.
Where We Serve
Metro K9 Academy is based in Randolph, New Jersey. We work with families throughout New Jersey and the New York metro area and offer nationwide placement with guided, on-site owner coaching.
No matter where a dog is placed, support and accountability remain part of the relationship.
Questions? Call or Text Bobby at 201-230-2285.