About Svalinn

Bred to Love. Trained to Protect.

Vision for robust protection & peace of mind

Our approach and methodology are based on our firsthand experience in non-permissive environments such as Afghanistan, Kenya and Somalia with real-world threats and is guided by a strictly defined set of performance criteria. It’s a distinction that makes all the difference to you as a K9 Owner and companion of one of these extraordinary animals.

Many so-called “protection” dogs are trained for competitions; at Svalinn, we aren’t interested in sports or games. Our focus is developing loving and faithful companion dogs that are also exceptional deterrents to a would-be threat, and instant protectors should you or your family ever be in imminent danger.

Every minute spent in Svalinn’s consistent and precise training program has a purpose. The foundation of our training is obedience, stability, socialization, and agility. These elements are critical for dogs that will be in public with families and individuals in daily life situations.

While many people presume the protection work to be the most critical component of training, at the end of the day, it’s really the “on / off switch”—the ability to protect its handler in one instant, and immediately be calm and stable and move into obedience in the next instant. Every Svalinn dog is proven to be thinking, observant, and discerning.

Svalinn set out to advance the art of the protection dog

Simply put, we succeeded.

Our dogs are placed in a wide range of environments. From the executive living in a high-rise downtown to the rancher with many acres, a Svalinn dog can find comfort nearly anywhere. Our training is focused, from a young age, on working in and through a variety of situations and lifestyles.

Once a bond and relationship is established, our dogs thrive on being a part of your day-to-day life. Their desire to please is never ending, and their determination to do their job ensures you always have a capable, vigilant, and adaptable dog by your side.

Svalinn History

Bloodlines with the most desirable characteristics

Today, Svalinn breeds, raises, and trains protection dogs based not on pedigrees, but a specific mix of the most desirable characteristics from very old bloodlines—with a special emphasis on capability, stability, and sociability. Svalinn has bred and trained over 350 dogs in service worldwide.

History of Working Dogs

The Svalinn Team

Kim Greene
Kim is the Founder and CEO of Svalinn, where she leads the company's brand, marketing, and team development. Before founding Svalinn in 2005, she served as a policy advisor in Afghanistan and held a leadership role with the United Nations. Kim holds degrees from Princeton University and Hamilton College, serves on the board of the COMMIT Foundation, and enjoys Montana's outdoors with her twin boys.
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Alicia Mullerleile
Alicia is Svalinn's Financial Controller and Relationship Manager, bringing more than 20 years of experience in financial and business management. She oversees the company's financial operations and has extensive expertise in financial reporting.
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Matthew Wierman
Originally from Memphis, Matt moved to Montana in search of mountain living and cooler weather. He enjoys helping clients find the right protection dog and especially loves working with dogs during tracking exercises. His own dogs, Toshi and Hange, are an important part of his everyday life.
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Brett Mullins
Brett is a Tennessee native who found his home in the mountains of Montana. At Svalinn, his favorite part of K9 training is protection work and witnessing the remarkable balance between a dog's protective instincts and unwavering obedience. Outside of work, he enjoys weightlifting and spending time outdoors.
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Katerina Brumer
Originally from Pennsylvania, Kat joined Svalinn after moving to Montana for its hiking trails and outdoor lifestyle. She loves building lasting connections with every dog and helping them grow through training. Outside of work, you'll often find her exploring the trails with her dog, Timmy, and a Svalinn companion.
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Courtney Huff
Courtney has called Livingston home for the past decade and enjoys exploring the West with her partner, Cole, and their German Shepherd, Maverick. She loves working with Svalinn dogs and especially enjoys seeing their unique personalities come alive on snowy Montana days.
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Jubilee Blair
Jubilee brings extensive experience working with dogs to the Svalinn team, along with a passion for rescue work and animal training. A former health and nutrition coach, she loves helping dogs reach their "aha" moments while building lasting connections through patient, thoughtful training.
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Emily Fuld
Emily has lived across the United States, including rural Alaska, where she worked with sled dogs. She enjoys the challenge and variety of dog training at Svalinn and is happiest combining hands-on work with continuous learning. When she's not training dogs, you'll usually find her reading a good book.
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Katie Jelinek
Originally from Michigan, Katie now calls Paradise Valley home, where she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog, Boone. Her background in regenerative farming gives her a thoughtful, holistic approach to raising and developing Svalinn's puppies and young dogs.
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Samantha Armitage
Originally from Minnesota, Sami combines her passion for horses and dogs as Svalinn's only current team member who is also a barrel racer. She loves following each puppy's development from birth through training, helping them grow with encouragement, structure, and consistency.
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Torrin Stoddart
A Bozeman native and Montana State University student, Torrin enjoys reading and spending time outdoors. At Svalinn, he finds the greatest reward in watching each dog's daily progress and helping develop their skills through protection training.
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Kaylynn Dunlap
Originally from Washington, West Virginia, Kaylynn brought her rabbit, Coffee Cake, along for the journey to Montana. An artist at hear, she loves building meaningful connections with every Svalinn dog and draws daily inspiration from Montana's landscapes and wildlife.
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Andrea Muller
"Live Free or Die, Baby." Andrea is a K9 handler at Svalinn and a proud New Hampshire native. Known for her patience and love of working with dogs, she enjoys helping Svalinn dogs thrive both on and off the ranch. Outside of work, Andrea spends her time hunting, rafting, and horseback riding with her family.
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Visiting the Svalinn ranch, meeting the dogs, talking to the K9 handlers, and seeing the whole process is exciting and powerful. Watching a dog do protection work is an important part of the selection process as it quickly confirms that a Svalinn dog takes its job seriously.

DC, Owner of Siggy