ThrivingK9

ThrivingK9 LGBTQIA friendly space. "Where dogs thrive." The goal of our dog trainer is to help people better understand their dog and its specific needs.

🐾 | Accepting New Clients
🐕 | Private Programs & Group Classes
🌲 | Campbell River
🤝 | Relationship Based Training
🚀 | Recall Program Available
✨ | E-Collar Tech Dealer
📱 | DM to Sign Up ThrivingK9 focuses on the relationship, healthy leadership, structure, enrichment and calmness throughout all areas of the dog’s life. Every dog is an individual and every situation is different. We tailor our tr

aining to you, your dog and your lifestyle. ThrivingK9 has a strong understanding of using positive reinforcement and behavior modification techniques to reduce undesirable behaviors while increasing desirable behaviors. While the four quadrants of behavior modification are utilized, positive reinforcement and creating a fun setting is the forefront of TK9’s training style.

12/01/2025

Social Media Series: Recall (Part 1)

The leash is one of the most underrated training aides.

The leash is your friend.

Use it!
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When people call their dogs stubborn, what I usually see is actually a lot of miscommunication.The dog genuinely doesn’t...
12/01/2025

When people call their dogs stubborn, what I usually see is actually a lot of miscommunication.

The dog genuinely doesn’t understand and usually guesses. But their guess isn’t often what’s wanted.

Dogs learn through body language, repetition, and reinforcement, not through assumptions like “they should know better.”

✨ Food for thought: do you ever reinforce the right choices or do you only punish the choice that you don’t like? ✨

If your dog isn’t responding, it’s not because they’re hard-headed, it’s because the message isn’t clear yet.

Think of training less like “giving commands” and more like teaching vocabulary. Each cue is a word you’re building meaning around. Until you’ve taught it clearly, your dog’s not being stubborn… they’re just guessing!

Instead of labeling your dog, ask:
• Have I shown them exactly what this means?
• Have I reinforced it consistently?
• Have I practiced in different environments?

Once the picture is clear, most dogs are more than willing to work with you.

It’s not stubbornness, it’s a language lesson. 🔤

📱DM to get started with your training journey!
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🌲 ThrivingK9 | Professional Dog Training
📍 Campbell River, Vancouver Island
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This is Lou, she is a french bulldog x boston terrier mix and she struggles with fear based reactivity. This is obvious ...
11/13/2025

This is Lou, she is a french bulldog x boston terrier mix and she struggles with fear based reactivity. This is obvious by the way her reactivity presents itself. She very much wants people/dogs to get out of her space so she pops off as soon as she can. Then she goes to retreat if she is off leash. Then she repeats.

When I first met Lou at the evaluation, she did not stop barking until about 40ish minutes in and she only stopped because I directed the owner to utilize spatial pressure to move Lou out of my space. This worked well because we took away access to what she wanted and made it way less fun. Remember, reactivity (even fear based) is very self fulfilling for many dogs and Lou is no exception.

When I had my first training session with Lou, I arrived at the residence without the owners there and she pulled the same shenanigans however she was a lot less forward about it. Indicating she is really insecure and genuinely doesn’t know what to do aside from a frenzy of barking, especially when her owners aren’t there.

During that first session, I didn’t have a leash on her because I wanted to see how she would act without any guidance from me. She got stuck in a cycle of flight behaviour. Once I got a leash on her and took away the option for her to act the way she was, she was much better.

Continued in comments.
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The driving force behind the reactivity matters because it directly influences what we need to do to resolve the reactiv...
11/07/2025

The driving force behind the reactivity matters because it directly influences what we need to do to resolve the reactivity.

Is it nervousness? Is it fear? Is it overstimulation? Is it discomfort? Is it intensity that hasn’t been properly channeled into something productive? Is it the owner’s energy/nervousness that’s making the dog insecure?

Sometimes punishment works and sometimes it doesn’t. It all comes down to what is driving the dog to be reactive. In my opinion, it does more harm than good to use blanket statements such as “never punish your dog’s reactivity”… and even “always punish your dog’s reactivity”. Both are not helpful.

It’s worth noting that some dogs like to be reactive because it’s fun. It’s their new hobby. They think when they see a dog (or person, whatever the trigger is), it’s the time to bark in a frenzy because they get loads of dopamine and adrenaline from it. It becomes addictive.

In those cases, punishment is necessary because we have to make the act of reactivity less desirable for the dog while providing an alternative that they want to engage in. Otherwise, you’re missing the entire other half of the equation.

So to sum up; when a dog is gaining a ton of reinforcement from their reactivity or they’ve done it for a very long time, we have to make the act of reactivity not worth it. Some dogs might not start out this way with their reactivity but it eventually gets to a point where it’s habitual when practiced enough.

However if a dog is reacting out of genuine fear, over arousal or anxiety, punishment is wildly unfair. Punishment is always unfair when we expect our dog to behave when they are over threshold.

But punishment can also be the catalyst for change when done tactfully. It all depends on the individual dog and handler/trainer.

Regardless of the driving force, reactivity is communication.

Your dog is telling you they need guidance.

If you don’t know where to start and you’re local to Campbell River, DM to get started with your training journey!
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🌲 ThrivingK9 | Professional Dog Training
📍 Campbell River, Vancouver Island

Staying consistent with your dog means promptly reacting the same way every time your dog does something significant. Wh...
09/13/2025

Staying consistent with your dog means promptly reacting the same way every time your dog does something significant.

While this sounds easy peasy lemon squeezy, it can actually be difficult, difficult, lemon, difficult. 🍋

Being consistent with your dog means getting up after JUST getting comfortable to either correct or interrupt the dog.

Then ensuring they won’t make the same choice when you sit back down by either using a leash, kennel or place command.

Being consistent DOES NOT mean that you yell and grumble at your dog to stop what they’re doing while you stay sitting in hopes you “won’t have to get up.”

Your dog can clearly tell you are not committed and you’re actually being textbook permissive because your dog learns they don’t have to respond the first few times since you don’t *actually* mean it.

It also means to stop scrolling on your phone and paying attention to situations where your dog struggles so that you can capture the moment they make the RIGHT choice.

Being consistent is inconvenient and training is an investment; you get what you give.

📱DM to get started with your training journey!
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🌲 ThrivingK9 | Professional Dog Training
📍 Campbell River, Vancouver Island
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I saw a post on Facebook the other day where someone was asking for calming supplements because their dog jumps all over...
08/21/2025

I saw a post on Facebook the other day where someone was asking for calming supplements because their dog jumps all over guests when they come over.

And it made me pause… why is training not the first step?

I think a lot of owners fall into this trap—not because they don’t care, but because it feels easier to look for a “thing” to fix the problem instead of learning a new skill. Supplements, calming chews, enrichment toys… they all sound like quick fixes.

But here’s the truth: your dog isn’t jumping out of a lack of CBD or vitamins. They’re jumping because they don’t know what else to do.

That’s the part most people miss. A dog doesn’t automatically know how to greet people politely. Excitement, energy, and a lack of direction = chaos at the door.

That’s not a supplement problem, that’s a training problem.

And the solutions?

They’re simple, but they take consistency. A leash on your dog when guests arrive. A kennel or tether as people come in. Teaching a solid “place” command so your dog has a job to do while the door is busy.

Practicing calm greetings with structure and boundaries. These things actually teach your dog how to behave in that moment instead of just hoping they’ll magically settle down one day.

Supplements might take the edge off, but they don’t create skills. Training does. And the best part? Once your dog learns the rules and expectations, they don’t just behave better with guests—they become calmer, more confident, and easier to live with overall.

So if you’ve been “trying everything” and still struggling, maybe it’s not that you’ve failed—it’s just that you haven’t tried training yet. And that’s where the real transformation happens.

📱DM to get started with your training journey!
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🌲 ThrivingK9 | Professional Dog Training
📍 Campbell River, Vancouver Island
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07/23/2025

Not Every Dog Wants to Say Hello

We all hear it when we’re out:

“My dog just wants to say hi!”

That might be true for yours. But mine?

Mine is learning to feel safe.
Mine is building trust with me, not strangers.
Mine doesn’t want to say hi and they don’t have to.

It’s important to consider other dogs feelings when out in public

Not every person wants to interact when they’re out

Some of us just like our own space and not to be bothered

Consent matters. For people and their dogs

Please respect that, by keeping your dog under control and not bothering others

I’ll be real—one of the things I’ve struggled with is setting personal space boundaries with my dog Jasper. He’s sweet, ...
07/08/2025

I’ll be real—one of the things I’ve struggled with is setting personal space boundaries with my dog Jasper. He’s sweet, cuddly, and always wants to be touching me.

And honestly? I have a hard time saying no. I love his affection, but over time, I’ve realized that my lack of boundaries has led to my own frustration when I do want space and he doesn’t understand why I’m pushing him away.

He’s not being “bad”—he’s just doing what I’ve unintentionally taught him is okay.

I’ve now made the effort to set clearer boundaries with him, and while it was hard at first (and I had to be a lot more firm than I would like to be) he eventually started listening quicker. Now, it’s so much easier to ask him to give me space when I need it—and he actually does. I can also see that he is less bothered being sent away over time with repetition and consistency.

This is your reminder that even dog trainers aren’t perfect. We all make mistakes, miss our timing, or let habits form that don’t serve us in the long run.

What matters is recognizing the role we play in shaping our dogs’ behavior, and being willing to make adjustments—not from a place of guilt, but from a place of awareness and growth.

Our dogs aren’t robots. And neither are we.
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Set Yourself Up for Training Success 🐾Before you jump into training, a little prep can go a long way. Setting the stage ...
06/27/2025

Set Yourself Up for Training Success 🐾

Before you jump into training, a little prep can go a long way. Setting the stage helps your dog focus and makes your sessions smoother and more effective.

Good training starts with good preparation!
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**ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT! New Beginner Group Training Class – Now Enrolling! 🐾Looking to improve your dog’s obedience, fo...
06/12/2025

**ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!

New Beginner Group Training Class – Now Enrolling! 🐾

Looking to improve your dog’s obedience, focus, and manners—without the overwhelm?

No pressure. Just progress.

I’m starting a 4-week group class designed for beginners who want to build a solid foundation in real-life skills like:

✔️ Walking nicely on leash
✔️ Coming when called
✔️ Listening around distractions
✔️ Focus, impulse control & polite behavior around other people and dogs

This class is perfect for friendly dogs who need a bit of structure, consistency, and guidance in a fun, supportive environment.

🐶 Small group size (space is limited!) for dogs who are 6mo+
📍 Campbell River area
📅 Starting Sunday mornings on July 6th
💰 $175 for 4-weeks

If you’re interested or want more info, drop a comment below or send me a message—I’d love to hear about your pup!

- Sydney | Owner & Operator

Fetch is a great way to spend time with your dog, as long as you do it productively and safely. ••• ...
06/04/2025

Fetch is a great way to spend time with your dog, as long as you do it productively and safely.
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Client update 🐾 Gemma is enrolled in my Hybrid Program for reliable ohedience, on & off leash training and excitement ar...
05/21/2025

Client update 🐾

Gemma is enrolled in my Hybrid Program for reliable ohedience, on & off leash training and excitement around dogs. She has hit a few milestones lately! 🤩

🏅Milestone 1:
When we started training together, we began the training in her backyard because she has experienced so much value in her environment, I had to show her it is rewarding to engage with me. During our first few sessions in the backyard, she would disengage from me to go stand by the gate because she would rather go for a walk than train. So I made training a lot of fun (you can see clips of me training Gemma in my reels) and worth her time.

Now? She sits by me with a bright expression, eager for the next activity. She was ready to transition to the driveway.

🏅Milestone 2:
She has shown she is able to follow some instructions when out and about, even with distractions (including dogs) present. She’s also making better choices on her own accord. A dog came around the corner unexpectedly and she did not fly off the handle, she actually looked at me for guidance and happily obliged.

🏅Milestone 3:
She is walking on the leash VERY well! This dog has been an absolute linebacker on leash and was very determined to go where she wanted. Her auto sits are also 10/10.
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Campbell River, BC

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6am

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