K9 Harkin Dog Training

K9 Harkin Dog Training Coaching people on how to better handle their dogs. Specialising in working breeds.

That’s a wrap for 2024—a busy year of change and challenges. —Thank you to all my clients—both old and new—for the oppor...
24/12/2024

That’s a wrap for 2024—a busy year of change and challenges.
—
Thank you to all my clients—both old and new—for the opportunity to support you and your dog on your training journeys.
—
Here’s to more dogs and more life in 2025 🙏🏻

Biggs is too cool to pose with his goofy younger brother.
20/12/2024

Biggs is too cool to pose with his goofy younger brother.

Bad Boys 4 Lyf 👊🏻
01/07/2024

Bad Boys 4 Lyf 👊🏻

📣 Breeder Shout-out: Figynberg German Shepherds—For anyone looking for stable, social working-line German Shepherds with...
14/05/2024

📣 Breeder Shout-out: Figynberg German Shepherds
—
For anyone looking for stable, social working-line German Shepherds with good drives, reach out to
—
I’ve worked with 6 dogs bred by Paul and Nicole, all from different litters and pairings, and all are solid dogs.
—
Pictured here is 8-month-old Wolfie, from their Olf x Ostara pairing. A bold, confident young dog who is showing great promise in his training. He has the balance to both perform well in bite-work, but to also show his gentler, patient side with his owner’s baby daughter.

My boy Biggs turned 5 today 🥳
28/02/2024

My boy Biggs turned 5 today 🥳

This week marks one year since I’ve had a proper dog. Yes, I’ve got Biggs, but he’s nothing like the responsibility of a...
04/02/2024

This week marks one year since I’ve had a proper dog. 

Yes, I’ve got Biggs, but he’s nothing like the responsibility of a proper working breed. And large working breeds do make up the bulk of dogs I work with, some of which I’m heavily involved in the raising and training of, but these aren’t my own. 

Being a trainer of large working breeds who doesn’t have their own for this past year has been strange to say the least, and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t caused me to feel like somewhat of an imposter.

At the end of ‘22 two of the protection dogs I was raising for a client finished their training, one of the other two I handled died and then the owners decided they could handle their remaining one themselves. So, I quickly went from being the primary handler of 4 working shepherds and a frenchie, to it being just me and Biggs.

I then started searching for my next pup but kept hitting set backs. I had to pull out of getting a Mali due to long delay in moving home. I then found a shepherd litter I liked but as the time came close I realised no shepherd would live up to Bullet, so ruled out the breed. Towards the end of last year I found a breeder of another breed which I’ve committed myself to, but their female failed to get pregnant in December, so I’ve now gotta wait til July for them to try again.

Why am I saying all of this? 

Being without a dog of my own has been HARD for me as I’ve come to realise they give me bearing on life, and I’ve come close to rushing into unsuitable options many times. But time without one has made the importance of choosing the right dog even clearer to me.

All things being well with my breeder’s next attempt, I’ll have been without a dog of my own for over 20 months. But, I am confident in knowing what I want, in what is suitable for me, and that I have found the best possible option available, so I’m willing to continue practicing patience.

Getting a dog is a huge commitment which shouldn’t be taken lightly. Take your time and put some serious thought into what is truly best for you, as chances are, this will be truly best for the dog also.

-

Oh, and this is, Juno, a client’s dog who is a real favourite of mine 🥰

Address

Hemel Hempstead

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when K9 Harkin Dog Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to K9 Harkin Dog Training:

Videos

We started Gregor’s detection training this week #with some search development, thanks to Graham @precisionk9uk — We have lots of work to do but we’re very happy with how he performed! 👏🏻 . . . #detectiondog #searchdog #scentdetection #nosework #workinggiantschnauzer #giantschnauzer #giantschnauzerpuppy #reisenschnauzer #schnauzer #puppyraising #workingdog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #k9training #k9trainer

Ear gnawing—the ritualised greeting behaviour of the common House Hog—is used to strengthen bonds with heterospecific familiars, while also producing a calming effect on each individual 🤓 . . . #frenchie #frenchiesofinstagram #frenchbulldog #bulldog #fawnfrenchie #lilacfrenchie #lilacfawn #platinumfrenchies #dogtraining #dogtrainer #k9training #k9trainer

I’ve got Biggs back tracking after almost 2 years away and he’s doing 👌🏻😁 — I bloody love this little dog ♥️ . . . #trackingdog #IGP #shutzhund #frenchie #dogtraining #dogtrainer #k9training #k9trainer

Platinum Lilac Working-line House Hog 💨 — Shot by @samfriendfilm . . . #fitdog #fitbulldog #fitdogsofig #k9insta #workingdogs #rawfed #workingdogsofig #frenchie #frenchiesofinstagram #frenchbulldog #bulldog #fawnfrenchie #lilacfrenchie #lilacfawn #platinumfrenchies #dogtraining #dogtrainer #k9training #k9trainer

Shortcuts

Share

Category