Kool K9 Dog Training

15/07/2025

Mounting or hu***ng is a behaviour that causes a lot of embarrassment but it is often a way that dogs release excess energy and is a normal behaviour. Think about why your dog might be doing this behaviour and then think what could I do about it. Often the easiest thing is to give your dog something else to do, it could be to simply ask for a Sit, do a trick, go get a toy etc.

Your legs.
Their friends.
Even your best cushion! 🫠
Where do you even start with this?
Well...it all depends why and when this behaviour is shown.
Some dogs do this when they just don't know what else to do!
Others may be looking for attention....either from us or a dog they want to interact with.

It might look "embarrassing" but it is natural and a way for dogs to release some energy, regulate their stress or they can even do this because they are so frustrated.
Some just don't know what on earth to do in a social situation and suddenly show this behaviour.

Look a bit deeper as to why this could be happening.
That is always key ...so an appropriate solution can be found.

It is natural.
It's normal.

It just may not always be appropriate.

13/07/2025

You may read that Littermate Syndrome has been proven to not exist because it is not really a syndrome HOWEVER as a trainer I have seen it many times. It doesn’t have to exist if you put in some really hard work and spend time with each puppy individually,training them individually, walking individually, spending time and bonding individually. It is a lot more work than just having one puppy!

Have you heard of LITTERMATE SYNDROME? If not, keep reading!

We see the comments often. People asking us to adopt out bonded siblings together. We understand the intention behind it. It feels right, even loving, to want dogs who grew up together to stay together forever.

But in reality, keeping sibling puppies together can do far more harm than good.

There is a behavioral phenomenon called littermate syndrome that can happen when two puppies, especially from the same litter or close in age, are raised together in the same home. Despite the heartwarming idea of lifelong companionship, littermate syndrome often leads to serious emotional and behavioral issues for both dogs.

So what is littermate syndrome?

Littermate syndrome refers to a pattern of developmental and behavioral problems that can occur when two puppies are raised in the same home. This can include:
🐾 Extreme attachment to each other and difficulty functioning when separated
🐾 Lack of individual development, which leads to poor socialization with humans and other dogs
🐾 Increased fearfulness and anxiety, especially in new situations
🐾 Difficulty in training, as the dogs focus more on each other than their handler
🐾 Aggression or conflict as they mature and develop different personalities

These issues can begin as early as 8 to 10 weeks of age or may not appear until adolescence. The effects can be long-lasting and very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.

What does this mean for adoption?

Veterinarians, trainers, and behaviorists strongly advise against adopting sibling puppies, or even two unrelated puppies close in age, at the same time. Many reputable rescues and shelters, including ours, follow this guidance and do not adopt littermates out together. This is not a rule based on convenience. It is based on real experience and our desire to set each dog up for long-term success.

Puppies are kept together in foster when young, but as they grow, allowing them both to flourish on their own is what is best for everyone! Our goal is not to separate loving siblings. It is to prevent them from becoming overly dependent on each other and missing out on healthy development.

But what about kittens?

This is an important distinction. Kittens are very different from puppies. In fact, kittens thrive when adopted in pairs. They learn social skills from each other, burn off energy through play, and are far less likely to develop behavioral problems when they have a feline companion. For kittens, being adopted together is often the healthier, more compassionate option.

What is best for the dogs?

The best path forward is for each puppy to be adopted into a loving, committed home where they can:
🐾 Form a strong bond with their human family
🐾 Build confidence and independence
🐾 Be properly socialized with a variety of people, animals, and environments
🐾 Receive individual attention and training

Dogs are incredibly adaptable. Within days or weeks of settling into their new homes, they form new bonds and begin to thrive. In many cases, puppies that were separated from their littermates go on to live happier, more emotionally balanced lives than those who stayed together.

We know it’s hard.

We love these animals deeply. We want what is best for them, not just what feels right in the moment. And in this case, what is best is helping each puppy grow into a confident, well-adjusted dog on their own.

Thank you for trusting us to make decisions based on the dogs’ long-term well-being. That is always our priority.

03/07/2025

Registration open – Off Lead Dog Class (Recall Class) 🐕
This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks
🐶 What: Recall Class
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds, Grasslands Place, Frankton, Hamilton
⚅ How many classes: 3x classes, one every Tuesday
📅 When: Starts Tuesday 5th August, final class Tuesday 19th August
💰 Cost: $150
➡️ Sign up here: https://koolk9.co.nz/product/off-lead-dog-class/ ⬅️
Have you noticed that your dog didn't always come when you called?
Wouldn't it be nice if you could let your dog off lead at the beach and parks and know he will come back to you?
You need to do the Kool K9 Off-lead Dog Class! It is spread over three nights and only 4 dogs attend, so you can really concentrate on your training and get the results you want.

03/07/2025

Registration open – Basic Dog Training Class 🐕
This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks
🐶 What: Level 1 dog training
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds Day Care, Grasslands Place, Frankton
⚅ How many classes: 6x classes, one every Wednesday.
📅 When: Starts Tuesday 29th July, final class Tuesday 2nd September.
💰 Cost: $195
➡️ Sign up here: https://koolk9.co.nz/product/level-1-class/⬅️
You might have noticed that your dog needs to pay you more attention when there are distractions, learn to walk nicely on lead and to come back when you call.
This class is mostly held indoors so there is no problem if the weather is undesirable. There is a maximum of six dogs attending so you’ll get plenty of direct contact with the trainer. We’ll also send you handy training information you can read at home and use.

29/06/2025

Registration open – Basic Dog Training Class 🐕
This is for *any* dog older than 16 weeks
🐶 What: Level 1 dog training
📍 Where: Hamilton Hounds Day Care, Grasslands Place, Frankton
⚅ How many classes: 6x classes, one every Wednesday.
📅 When: Starts Wednesday 9th July, final class Wednesday 13th August.
💰 Cost: $195
➡️ Sign up here: https://koolk9.co.nz/product/level-1-class-alt2/ ⬅️
You might have noticed that your dog needs to pay you more attention when there are distractions, learn to walk nicely on lead and to come back when you call.
This class is mostly held indoors so there is no problem if the weather is undesirable. There is a maximum of six dogs attending so you’ll get plenty of direct contact with the trainer. We’ll also send you handy training information you can read at home and use.

This basic-level class begins focusing on simple tasks like getting your dog to listen, walk with you and come when called. Basic behaviour is covered – stop your dog jumping up, get it to leave items on the ground and give you back toys and balls. By the end of the class your dog will have the st...

29/06/2025

There was quite a mixture of dogs!

29/06/2025

29/06/2025

We had another lovely meet up of dogs from the Level 2 and Recall class. And what I really love to see is that the owners have confidence to let their dogs off lead.

25/06/2025

I often hear from people that their dog just needs to meet the other dog and it will settle. The problem is that before it meets the dog it is pulling hard on the lead and barking, so it is being rewarded for this behaviour. Imagine the poor dog that is being greeted in this way and think about how you would like a person that you didn’t know running up to you and throwing their arms around you! I think you might react with some aggression, I am sure you wouldn’t physically abuse them but you might verbally! The dog being greeted by the ‘rude’ dog might be terrified or it might act in defence and react back.

Instead teach your dog to be polite and have manners around other dogs. It is ok for your dog to never greet another on lead but occasionally is okay as long as the greeting is polite.

Right now, meeting those dogs by being dragged towards them is damaging their chances of ever changing.
You aren't being rude by not allowing that.
You're actually helping !
If that cycle continues, it rarely gets better and can get a whole lot worse.

You aren't spoiling their fun, well....actually you might be but that's ok for now.

Use that distance.
Have a much higher reward than you may have been using (esp if little progress has been made).

If they don't want that food.... they are very likely too close.
Or that food isn't what they would sprint to the moon and back for.

Playing with them is another good option.
Reward with play !
For some dogs that is a key area often overlooked.

Look into pattern games and U turns.
Some of those techniques are on this page..... feel free to scroll back.

Don't give up.

You really can do this !

23/06/2025

The puppy socialisation ‘window’ is up to 16 weeks old. If you have got a pup when it was older or you didn’t do any socialisation before 16 weeks all is not lost. However it will take longer for your pup to learn about “life’. You still need to take your pup or older dog out to experience the world around them but you need to have a lot of patience so you do not overwhelm and you also need to make the experience a pleasant one.

17/06/2025

I know there is a lot to think about when you have a young puppy and want to socialise it but if you possibly can, have your puppy visit a well behaved adult dog who will tell your puppy that it is being rude much better than a human would. I do see too many young dogs that want to greet every dog they see and get frustrated when they can’t, barking and pulling forward. So if you dont want this, ask around your ‘doggy’ friends and take your puppy for a visit.

17/06/2025

In the past we have been told that we need to show dogs that we are the ‘boss’, we need to eat before our dogs (letting our dogs see that we were eating a cracker for example before they ate)and that we must always walk through the door before the dog. This way of thinking has been disproved. Instead we need to teach our dogs to be polite, to have impulse control (to wait for their food etc) and to fit in with our family life - all of these behaviours are taught in Kool K9 classes 🙂.