Kairo's K9s Training

01/09/2026

Today we want to give a huge shoutout to .

River is a well-mannered German Shepherd who has been part of our walking crew for a while now, and she is exactly what people mean when they say a dog has presence.

She has intensity, drive, focus, and confidence, and she absolutely knows it. She shows up ready to work every single time.

A little while back, River’s mom went in for surgery. During recovery, she hasn’t been able to give River the long, structured walks and training outlets that a dog like this truly needs. That is where we stepped in.

Our focus with River has been twofold. First, making sure her physical and mental needs are met through consistent, purposeful walks.

Second, using that time to build skills that translate directly to real life. We have been refining a beautiful, engaged heel and working through some uncertainty around other dogs while on leash.

And today, River showed us just how far she has come.

Not only did she maintain her heel with clarity and confidence, she calmly ignored three separate dogs who barked at her as we passed.

No escalation. No fixation. No loss of focus. Just steady movement forward and continued engagement with me.

This is the kind of progress that matters.

It is not about suppressing behavior or forcing compliance. It is about building enough clarity, confidence, and structure that the dog can make good decisions even when the environment is loud or challenging.

River is a fantastic dog. Full stop. And the work she has been doing is paying off in exactly the ways we want to see.

We are proud of her, proud of her family, and grateful to be part of supporting this team while her mom recovers.

This is what consistency looks like. This is what real-life training looks like.

01/09/2026

There are a few people I will always name when I talk about how we got here, because this journey was never a solo act.

Sue was one of the first people who didn’t try to remake us. She didn’t rush Kairo. She didn’t sugarcoat our mistakes either. She saw the gaps, pointed them out clearly, and then stayed. She helped us slow down when the pressure to perform was loud.

She showed us that ethical work is not about speed or optics, it is about understanding the dog in front of you and being honest about what they need. That lesson is baked into everything I do now.

Lori saved Kairo’s life. Before service work, before training plans, before any of this had a name, she saw value where others did not. She gave him a chance. That matters more than any credential or outcome. Without Lori, there is no Kairo. Without Kairo, there is no path that followed. That is not something I will ever minimize or forget.

And there were many others. Trainers. Handlers. Quiet mentors. People who answered late night questions. People who stepped in when things felt overwhelming. People who corrected me when I was wrong and trusted me enough to let me learn instead of tearing me down for it. People who celebrated wins that weren’t flashy, but mattered.

Here is the part that shaped me the most.

Every single one of those people could clap for someone else.

They weren’t threatened by progress. They weren’t rattled by someone else doing well. They understood that skill does not shrink when shared. That knowledge does not lose value when it lifts others.

That real confidence leaves room for community.

And I learned very quickly that if you cannot clap for someone else, your accomplishments do not mean what you think they do.

That lesson changed how I show up.

It is why I refuse to build a business on comparison or competition. It is why I do not tear down other teams to elevate my own.

It is why we focus on depth, not noise. It is why we support slow dogs, struggling handlers, and nonlinear progress.

Kairo is not perfect. He never has been. He still makes mistakes. He still has days where things are harder. He still learns.

But he is exactly what I need him to be.

My disabilities are demanding. They require a dog with judgment, independence, emotional regulation, and resilience. Not a performance dog. Not a highlight reel. A real working partner.

Kairo became that dog because he was allowed to grow instead of being rushed. Because people believed in him when others doubted. Because success was measured by stability and safety, not timelines.

That experience shaped me as a handler. It shaped me as a trainer. And it shaped the standards we hold as a company.

We stand on the shoulders of people who did this right. We carry their influence forward. And we clap loudly when others succeed, because that is how this work is supposed to be done.

Kairo does not need to be perfect. He just needs to be right for me.

And he is.

01/09/2026

We are excited to officially share that Kairo’s K9s Training will be a vendor at Sask Pet-a-Palooza !

This is an event we are looking forward to being part of. Sask Pet-A-Palooza is hosted by incredible people who care deeply about the local pet community, and we are proud to be included alongside so many passionate businesses and professionals.

Event details:
Sask Pet-A-Palooza
June 13th, 2026
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sutherland Curling Club
Saskatoon

This event is hosted by SaskPets and Lianne Matieshin Photography, two names that consistently show up for animals, handlers, and ethical pet care in our community. Being invited into a space created by people who value education, collaboration, and animal welfare means a lot to us.

We are excited to connect in person, answer questions, talk training, and meet the dogs and people that make this community what it is.

Whether you are a current client or just curious about what we do, we would love to see you there.

More details to come as we get closer, but for now, mark your calendars. This one is going to be a good day for dogs and the people who love them.

Early Bird Vendor Sneak Peek: Kairo's K9s Training

Kairo's K9 Training provides Dog Training services along with Dog Walking and Check-ins to Saskatoon and area. Stop by their booth to discuss training options or other pet care needs. You can also check out local products they have available and say 'Hi' to Chris's service dog Kairo!

01/08/2026

The look of absolute judgement I get from Kairo on a day to day basis needs to be studied.

Good lord, man. I'm sending emails to YOUR clients.

01/08/2026

Tuesday we took a big and very intentional step forward with Service Dog in Training Java.

Java went out on a structured walk without her primary handler.

This is not a casual decision and it is never done randomly.

Removing a service dog from their handler, even briefly, gives us critical information that we cannot get when the handler is present.

Service dogs do not exist in a vacuum. Every service dog team, without exception, needs a secondary handler. There are moments when a handler may be hospitalized, unconscious, undergoing procedures, or entering environments that are sterile or otherwise inaccessible to the dog.

In those moments, the dog must still be safe, functional, and emotionally regulated with another person.

This is where this kind of assessment matters.

Walking Java without her handler allowed us to evaluate several things at once. Her comfort level with a different human. Her ability to work without her primary attachment figure. Her environmental confidence. Her stress responses. Her engagement. Her decision making.

And how much of her work is truly learned and generalized versus handler dependent.

What we saw was exactly what we hope for in a service dog candidate.

Java was calm, thoughtful, and confident. She moved through the environment with curiosity but without overwhelm. She showed appropriate neutrality, checked in naturally, and maintained regulation throughout the walk.

Interestingly enough, she alerted to me, and was accurate.

She did not just perform tasks for her handler. She recognized the need to alert while working with someone else.

That tells us a lot.

It tells us that her alerts are not simply tied to one person or one routine. It tells us that she is beginning to understand the work itself, not just the context she usually performs it in. That is a massive milestone in service dog development.

This session gave us a wealth of information. It highlighted strengths we can continue to build on and small areas we can refine to increase clarity and resilience. It confirmed that Java is capable of working through change without shutting down and without losing her task reliability.

Steps like this are not about testing a dog to see if they fail. They are about gathering data so we can support the dog properly. Every piece of information helps us make better training decisions, set realistic expectations, and protect the long term success of the team.

We are very happy with Java’s progress. She continues to show us that she has the temperament, the work ethic, and the emotional stability required for this role. We are excited to keep moving forward with intention, structure, and respect for the dog in front of us.

This is what responsible service dog training looks like.

01/08/2026

We are excited to welcome our newest client, Holmes, a 5 month old GSD mix who joined us for foundational obedience, manners, and age appropriate socialization.

Holmes is already starting from a strong place. He has good fundamentals, natural engagement, and a temperament that shows a lot of potential.

He is curious, thoughtful, and eager to work, which makes this stage of training both important and enjoyable.

At this age, our focus is not about perfection. It is about clarity, structure, and building skills that will support him long term. We will be reinforcing basic obedience, shaping polite manners, and guiding his social experiences so they remain positive, controlled, and productive. Early training done correctly sets the tone for a lifetime of success.

Dogs like Holmes are a great reminder that investing in training early is not about fixing problems. It is about preventing them. Giving young dogs the tools to navigate the world confidently, calmly, and with clear expectations.

We are looking forward to working with Holmes and his family and watching him grow into the stable, well rounded dog he is capable of becoming.

If you are thinking about starting your dog off on the right foot, booking an in assessment is the first step.
www.kairosk9s.ca/book-a-session

01/07/2026

We want to take a moment to be very clear and transparent about our partnership with Pawsitive Touch Grooms, because ethical collaboration matters.

When we are called in by Jazzmine to support a dog during a grooming appointment, there is no cost passed on to the client.

None. Ever.

This is not an upsell. This is not an added service. And it is not something families are expected to pay for.

We have a professional agreement in place that allows us to support one another’s businesses without shifting that burden onto the people who trust us with their dogs.

The goal of that agreement is simple: protect the dog, support the professional, and prevent situations from escalating into something unsafe or traumatic.

Many of the dogs Jazzmine grooms are also dogs we train. These are dogs we already know. Families we already work with. Histories we already understand.

When additional support is recommended in the grooming environment, our involvement is about regulation, advocacy, and safety, not profit.

Grooming is one of the most demanding environments a dog can experience. Elevated tables. Prolonged handling. Noise. Vibration. Restraint. Sensory overload.

Even dogs who are well trained, stable, and successful in other settings can struggle here. When a dog communicates stress, the ethical response is support, not force and not pushing through.

That is where collaboration matters.

When we step in, it is because proactive support is always better than waiting for a situation to break down. It keeps the dog safer. It keeps the groomer safer. And it protects the dog’s long term relationship with grooming.

We fully support Jazzmine’s boundaries and professional standards. They are not arbitrary. They are rooted in welfare, safety, and responsibility. Setting limits is not exclusionary. It is ethical.

This is what good pet care looks like.

Professionals communicating.
Dogs being prioritized.
Families not being penalized for doing the right thing.
Support provided before stress turns into fallout.

We are proud to work alongside Pawsitive Touch Grooms, and we value the trust they place in us to support their clients and ours without compromise.

If you ever have questions about why this kind of collaboration exists, or how training support during grooming works, we are always willing to explain.

01/06/2026

Recently, we were approached by a raw food brand asking us to promote their products.

We declined.

Not because we’re anti–raw feeding.
Not because we think kibble is “better.”
And not because we haven’t walked that road ourselves.

We declined because we are not canine nutritionists, and giving nutritional advice or endorsements is outside our professional scope.

That boundary matters. For dogs. For owners. And for the integrity of our work.

Years ago, we went on our own journey with Kairo to find a diet that actually supported him. We tried raw. We researched. We adjusted. We tracked energy levels, digestion, recovery, medical stability, and overall wellbeing. And despite the time, money, and effort we invested, raw did not work for him.

That does not mean raw is “bad.”
It means it was not right for this dog.

Today, Kairo eats a balanced, AAFCO-compliant kibble. He is healthy, stable, thriving, and able to perform complex medical tasks that require consistency and predictability. That outcome matters more to us than ideology.

This is why we refuse to participate in absolute discussions like:

• “Raw is always superior”
• “Kibble is poison”
• “One diet fits all dogs”

Because it doesn’t.

Dogs are individuals. Their needs change with age, workload, medical conditions, medications, stress, and lifestyle. Feeding decisions should be made based on the dog in front of you, not trends, social media pressure, or brand marketing.

When clients ask us about nutrition, we are honest:

We stay in our lane. We recommend consulting a qualified veterinary professional or board-certified nutritionist. And when guidance is needed within a safe baseline, we often suggest a balanced, AAFCO-compliant food that supports health without risking nutritional imbalance.

We are transparent in the fact that we are not veterinarians, nutritionists, or qualified to make complex medical decisions for your animals

We also openly say this:

We feed kibble. We have fed raw. We have changed our minds based on evidence and outcomes for our specific dog. And we will always choose what supports the dog’s health and ability to function, not what sounds best online.

Good training is not about extremes. Good care is not about purity. And responsible professionals do not give advice they are not qualified to give, no matter how popular or profitable it might be.

Feed the dog in front of you. Respect professional boundaries. And question anyone who tells you there is only one “right” way.

That’s how dogs actually thrive.

01/05/2026

The last few weeks, we’ve received some reviews that genuinely stopped us in our tracks.

Not because of the stars, but because of the stories behind them.

Reading about dogs gaining confidence, handlers learning how to read situations clearly, families feeling supported instead of judged, and people with disabilities finally being taken seriously is the reason we do this work. Full stop.

Training dogs is important.
But helping people feel safe, capable, and understood is why this business exists.

We also want to be transparent about something.

When you advocate publicly for ethical service dog standards, disability rights, and responsible training, not everyone is going to like you.

Some people don’t agree with our methods.
Some people think theatrics in the name of rescue should be allowed, even if it harms people like me.

They disagree with the idea that disabled people are entitled to access, autonomy, and competent support. And sometimes, that shows up as noise instead of substance.

We’ve received criticism from people who have never trained with us, never met us, and have never worked a day in this field. Not because of the quality of our work, but because advocacy makes them uncomfortable.

That’s fine.

What matters to us are the voices of the people who actually put in the work alongside us. The ones who show up weekly, ask questions, apply the skills, and live the results. The reviews you see here reflect real progress, real accountability, and real change.

Reviews are not just about our business.
They help families find ethical trainers.
They help handlers avoid misinformation.
They help dogs get better outcomes.

If you’ve worked with us and feel comfortable sharing your experience, leaving a review truly makes a difference.

Kairo’s K9s Training
https://g.page/r/CbDO-beuIrL3EBM/review

To our clients: thank you for trusting us.
To our supporters: thank you for seeing the work beneath the noise.
And to anyone watching from the sidelines: this is what ethical, accountable training actually looks like.

01/04/2026

Week 1 is officially in the books for Beginner Obedience and Bond Builders: Power Puppies.

This week was all about setting the foundation.

Our students were introduced to the core principles of dog training, including marker words, timing, reinforcement, and how learning actually happens from the dog’s perspective. These skills might look simple on the surface, but they are the backbone of everything we will build over the next six weeks.

We focused on:

• Understanding what marker words are and why they matter
• Building clear communication between dog and handler
• Reinforcing engagement and choice-based learning
• Setting expectations for consistency, clarity, and follow-through

For many handlers, this is the first time training has truly clicked. When communication becomes clear, dogs relax, confidence grows, and learning accelerates.

Service Dog Kairo was alongside us throughout class, providing a real-world example of neutrality, calm engagement, and reliable behavior around learning puppies and beginner dogs. His presence helps show what is possible when foundations are built thoughtfully and ethically over time.

These early weeks are not about perfection. They are about understanding, consistency, and creating a shared language that dogs can actually succeed with.

We’re proud of the focus, effort, and curiosity shown by every team this week, and we’re excited to keep building on these skills as the courses continue

Strong foundations create strong dogs. And strong dogs create better relationships.