Meet the Hardys

Two people.
One property.
Hundreds of dogs.
Countless relationships.

Illya and Johanna Hardy with three of their dogs, standing in front of the Topline K9 Services sign.

A shared passion

They met here, at the place they now call home.

Long before there was Topline K9 Services, there was a shared love of Rottweilers, countless conversations about training, and the beginnings of a vision that would eventually become something much bigger.

Over time, that vision became this home, this business, and a life devoted to helping not just Rottweilers, but dogs of every breed—and the people who share their lives.

Illya and Johanna sit together on the front patio of their brick home, surrounded by four Rottweilers.

Why Topline is different

Philosophy, not marketing.

We'd rather show you who we are than tell you. These aren't claims. They're the way we actually work.

Family owned and operated.

Two people, one property. No franchises, no hand-offs.

Every dog is trained personally by Illya.

No rotation through staff. The person you meet is the person who trains your dog.

Quality over quantity.

We take a limited number of dogs so each one gets the attention it deserves.

Dogs live in a real environment.

Not kennels—a home, a yard, a life. Training that holds in the real world.

The property is part of the learning.

Room to build confidence, recall, and calm in every direction.

We teach both dogs and people.

The training continues with you. A dog only stays trained if the family knows how to keep it.

Support continues long after graduation.

Once you're part of Topline, you stay part of Topline.

Meet the people behind the work

The two people you're trusting.

Founder & Head Trainer

Illya Hardy

“If you learn how to communicate with your dog, everything else becomes possible.”

Every morning I wake up knowing that another life can change that day. Not because of anything special in me — because every dog is a new chapter, and every family deserves honest guidance. That's the work I chose, and it's the work I believe in.

Illya kneels beside a large brindle dog against an open landscape.

Illya with a dog at the start of a day on the property. — Illya with a dog at the start of a day

Why I Chose This Life

People sometimes ask why I do this. The honest answer is that every day is a new page. Every dog who comes through here teaches me something I didn't know, and every family reminds me why this matters.

I chose this life because I believe in helping both dogs and the people who love them. When a family hands me their dog, they're handing me something real. Waking up each morning knowing that another life can change — that isn't a job description. It's a reason.

Dogs continually teach us, if we're willing to listen. I try to stay willing.

Communication Changes Everything

“If I could give every owner one piece of advice, it would be to learn how to communicate with your dog.”

Dog training begins long before you ever pick up a leash. It begins in how you communicate.

Training is not primarily about obedience. It's about communication, understanding, leadership, and relationship. Commands are the surface. What's underneath is whether your dog understands you — and whether you understand them.

That's why communication creates lasting change, while simply teaching commands rarely does. A command can hold for a moment. Understanding holds for a lifetime.

Education matters as much as training — maybe more. When people understand why their dog does what it does, they stop fighting the dog and start working with it.

A quiet moment of communication between Illya and a dog. — A moment of communication between Illya and a dog

Illya with a group class on the property. — Illya with a group class

The Truth Builds Trust

Honesty matters to me more than almost anything else. Families deserve honest expectations, even when the truth isn't the easy thing to hear.

I'd rather give someone straightforward guidance and realistic expectations than sell them a quick fix that won't last. Trust is built on telling the truth, and long-term success is built on trust.

Showing People What's Possible

The most rewarding moments aren't perfectly trained dogs. They're the families who smile when they pick up their dogs. They're watching confidence replace frustration. They're helping people realize what they and their dogs are capable of.

Clients have called this place 'Disneyland for Dogs,' and I understand why. But what happens here is education as much as it is joy — and what people take home is possibility.

At Topline, we believe everyone can succeed with the right education, communication, and support. Not perfection. Possibility.

Success isn't measured by obedience alone. It's measured by stronger relationships.

A group of handlers walk their Rottweilers in a line along a terracotta path during a training session on the property. — A group training session on the property

Illya and a dog at rest after a day of work. — Illya and a dog at rest after a day of work

What I Hope You Leave With

When families leave Bootcamp, I hope they carry more than better manners. I hope they leave with confidence, with communication, with leadership, and with curiosity.

Topline feels like family to us, and I hope it feels that way to the people who pass through. The dogs keep teaching us, if we stay willing to listen.

Johanna stands before a turquoise fence with two Rottweilers seated at her side.

Co-Founder and Photographer

Johanna Hardy

“I naturally bring the softer side of Topline.”

I'm the nurturer. I naturally bring the softer, feminine energy that complements Illya's stronger, more authoritative presence. But I'm also the fun one-- the playmaker. I'm a rules-and-manners-first kind of person, but once the dogs understand the expectations, I love helping them relax, play, and simply enjoy being dogs.

Building Trust

One of my favorite parts of Topline is getting to know each dog as an individual. Every dog arrives with a different personality, different experiences, and a different way of learning. I love building relationships based on trust, respect, and love while still maintaining healthy boundaries.

Every Dog Has Its Own Language

The dogs have taught me that there is no single training method that works for everyone. Just like people, every dog has its own language, its own motivations, and its own learning curve. Patience is everything.

They've also taught me to communicate more through body language and to pay attention to theirs. Every day I'm becoming a better observer because of them.

And maybe most importantly, they've reminded me to live in the present. Dogs don't dwell on yesterday or worry about tomorrow. They remind me that this moment is the one that matters.

Johanna pauses with a Rottweiler puppy looking up at her, attentive and quiet.

Johanna sits on the grass, cradling a Rottweiler puppy in her lap.

Why I Photograph Everything

Photography has become one of my favorite parts of what I do. Whenever I'm taking photos or videos, I put myself in the owner's shoes. I know how difficult it is to leave your dog in someone else's care. Sharing those moments helps families stay connected while they're apart and gives them confidence that their dog is safe, happy, and genuinely cared for.

For us, documenting each dog's journey isn't just about updates—it's about transparency, trust, and celebrating their progress.

Watching Dogs Blossom

The most rewarding part of Bootcamp is watching dogs become themselves.

Some arrive unsure, fearful, or shut down. Little by little, we introduce them to new experiences, help them build confidence, and watch their personalities begin to emerge.

Seeing a worried dog become curious, playful, and confident never gets old.

That's the moment I look forward to every single time.

Johanna, in a black cap, walks a Rottweiler across a grassy field while a second dog watches from the background.

Life at Topline

Not posed. Just life, with dogs.

Training at Topline isn't a session. It's the day—hiking, swimming, biking, working, resting. This is what confidence looks like before it has a name.