About Us

Thomas Heckens was raised in El Paso, Texas, where he joined the U.S. Army at 19 years old and served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. He later served with the 18th Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance unit and then the 5th Special Forces Group during the course of his 20-year Army career.


Thomas served multiple combat tours in the Middle East, where he was the Sergeant Major and Master Sniper of a sniper troop in combat. He later ended his career after running the Special Forces Sniper School with present day tactics and changing the entire platform for snipers in the Department of Defense.


Most recently, Thomas formed Metris Global to address the training needs for service members in hostile environments through Human Performance Technologies and realistic scenario and performance-based training models. As the owner of Anubis Canine, Thomas has brought together a team of highly skilled canine procurement specialists and elite-level trainers to deliver a one-of-a-kind protection canine acquisition experience.

Tim Wood brings over 20 years of corporate finance and operational experience at the highest levels of American business. This includes working for two Fortune 50 companies, large private equity groups, and being a vital team member of three separate IPOs. Tim has helped build successful operations and finance teams as both a functional and strategic leader. Tim’s MBA work was done at Marquette University with an emphasis in corporate valuation.


In addition, Tim has extensive experience in corporate modeling and valuation, including sole responsibility for managing the corporate model for 11 different companies. This unique skill set has allowed Tim to manage both operations and finance to meet and exceed company goals. Tim has only experienced positive revenue growth at all companies over his career, which is a testament to the impact Tim brings to organizations.


At Anubis, Tim will help ensure the team has the resources needed to set a new standard in the protection dog industry with unmatched expertise and a commitment to service and ongoing support.

Jason Johnson is a globally recognized leader in the K-9 community at all levels. In addition to serving as Vice President, Training & Development of Anubis Canine, Jason is the founder of the national nonprofit Project K-9 Hero. Jason has dedicated his life to making sure retired police K-9s and military working dogs receive the care they deserve once their service to our country is complete.


Jason is a former K-9 subject matter expert for the U.S. government, working for the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Department of State in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as a police SWAT and K-9 officer, as well as a U.S. Army Military Police officer.


Jason holds a master’s degree in Security Management, is a published author, and executive produces television and film to promote the K-9 profession worldwide.

Additional Photos

Isabella is a dedicated canine trainer with years of hands-on experience working with dogs across different temperaments, disciplines, and training goals. She does not measure her work by titles or hours logged but by the tangible progress she helps achieve: the lessons learned, the trust built, and the small wins that turn into lasting results.

Her training approach is guided by patience, unity, and progress. Isabella believes that growth comes step by step, and that teamwork between dog and handler is what transforms challenges into breakthroughs. In the world of working K9s, she has witnessed the unmatched loyalty of dogs who would give everything for their person, and it is that unity that makes the work so powerful.
Isabella’s journey in training began with her first dog, Bruno. During a period when she struggled with depression and disconnection, Bruno became her lifeline, offering unconditional love and changing her perspective on the human–canine bond. In his honor, Isabella has dedicated her career to helping dogs reach their fullest potential while fostering strong, meaningful connections with their handlers.
For Isabella, training is more than technique. It is an art rooted in a natural ability to connect with dogs and understand their language. That gift, paired with her deep sense of purpose, continues to drive her mission: to build trust, celebrate growth, and help dogs and their people discover just how much they are capable of together.