Camp K9 Training & Daycare

06/19/2024

Reminder that we are closed today, 6/19, for Juneteenth.

Stay cool with your pups!

06/15/2024

Happy Pride! These pups are experts in loving our true, authentic selves- the least we can do is give them some snacks in thanks!

06/10/2024

The Puppy Pride Party has begun! Our models are, uh, doing their best and the pupsicles are colorful and refreshing! If you haven't signed your pup up, there's still time to add on some fun!

06/06/2024

It's not too late to sign your camper up for next week's pride pawty- let us know if your pup would like to join the fun with a picture or refreshing pupsicle!

06/01/2024

Some of the Camp K9 team will be walking to help the NHSPCA reach their fundraising goal for the year and it looks like a beautiful day to pet as many dogs as humanly possible!

Want to join us or donate to a good cause? We'd love your help!

I'm supporting the New Hampshire SPCA's Paws Walk, and you can too! Register to walk and help homeless animals, or donate to my page. Together we can save animal lives, one step at a time. https://give.classy.org/PawWalk2024

06/01/2024

There's no contest when it comes to which group class is the cutest- start your pup out right with training and socializing on the farm!

Customized Dog Training & top-quality Pet Care for busy families in the greater seacoast of MA, NH, & southern ME. Train | Socialize | Exercise If you’re anything like our clients, you’re busy with a demanding career & family life. Throwing in an energetic puppy or dog with behavioral quirks can...

05/30/2024

Do you know someone who needs help with their reactive dog but don't want to step on any toes? Share our flyer and hope they get the hint 🥸🤐

05/29/2024

Sun and fun! 🐾☀️🦴

05/29/2024

These pups are loving the warm weather for camp and walks!

05/28/2024

Group training classes are starting in June! Off leash recall, reactive rover, and puppy kindergarten in the Newburyport, Portsmouth, and Stratham areas. Practice practical life skills and off leash fun out in the real world with real life challenges!

Join our certified trainers for fun, science based, positive reinforcement training. And most importantly have fun with your dog!

Reserve your spot at https://nbptdogtraining.com/group-training-classes/

05/27/2024

Camp K9 will be closed tomorrow, Monday May 27 for Memorial Day- go have some fun with your pups!

05/24/2024

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's time to hit the trails with your dog running free by your-

-what's that? You don't trust your pup off leash?

Well do we have the class for you! Recall class is a great way to build the skills your dog needs for off leash freedom under the guidance of a certified dog trainer!

Sign up online at https://nbptdogtraining.com/group-training-classes/

05/20/2024

Happy National Rescue Dog Day! We'll show you ours if you show us yours!

05/14/2024

It's sunbathing by the pool season!

05/14/2024

Nothing is better than a group of happy campers!

05/03/2024

Who wants to hear a story?

Recently I (Trainer Jenny) had the opportunity to go to Costa Rica (10/10 would recommend). Although English is widely spoken, Spanish is the primary language in the country. Now, I took Spanish for a whopping 3 years in high school which was… too many years ago to count on my fingers. But, I reasoned, I’ll at least recognize some of the written words and remember some key phrases. Worst case, I can resort to Google Translate on my phone.

Ah, the optimism of ignorance.

Lucky for me, the people of Costa Rica are friendly, kind, and (most of all) patient. Throughout my trip, my inability to string a Spanish sentence together without starting and stopping was never met with frustration. My need to look around for context clues, wait for more information, or, when all else failed, find someone who spoke English to help bridge the communication gap seemed to be a source of amusement more than anything.

If only we responded to our dogs the same way when they’re learning.

Even when we are aware, on some level, that dogs do not speak English and that practicing a new cue doesn’t make them perfectly programmed robots, we find ourselves quickly frustrated by a lack of response or an incorrect response. It’s human nature to repeat ourselves when we feel like we aren’t being heard, but does that help our dogs to understand what we’re asking for? Maybe they’re trying to process what we said the first time, hoping for context cues like a hand signal or a little help from us to remember if “Pippin, come” is the same as “Here, Pippin” is the same as “Come on, Pip!”

If my fumbling, bumbling attempts at Spanish had been trampled under an onslaught of more and more words and phrases that I was still struggling to process in the first place, I know how I would react. Stressed. Frustrated. Maybe I’d give up entirely and walk away. I certainly wouldn’t be eager to continue learning and interacting in that environment.

When we repeat ourselves over and over to our dogs, changing our tone in hopes that it’ll suddenly get different results, how to our dogs respond? Stressed. Frustrated. They often ‘tap out’ and walk away or ignore us. They’re reluctant to come back and try again.

That’s not how we get dogs who love to train and work with their humans. Instead we need to clean up our communication with our dogs; be clear, give them time to think and work through the problem. If they’re struggling, take a few steps back and guide them through an easier exercise. If all else fails, find someone to help bridge the communication gap (that would be your friendly neighborhood dog trainers, get it?).

Most of all, be patient. Be kind. And stoprepeatingyourselfstoprepeatingyourselfstoprepeatingyourselfstoprepeatingyourselfstoprepeatingyourself stoprepeatingyourself!!

05/01/2024

04/30/2024

These campers are silly and sweet no matter what the weather brings!

Also a warm welcome to our newest campers Gracie Lou, Ruby (roo), and big Gus too!

04/29/2024

Our very own Dory is in Oklahoma this week as part of The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team! These pups are in great hands now thanks to the HSUS and looking forward to a bright future.

04/25/2024

Let them sniff!

Here’s a PSA on behalf of all dogs.

Stop correcting your dog for sniffing.

Stop it. Please.

How would you like it if I corrected you for looking around a room? Imagine if you raised your head to look around a new place and I popped you or shoved you or said “HEY! PAY ATTENTION” You’d get pretty upset pretty quickly I’d imagine.

Dogs don’t smell because they are ignoring you or being stubborn. We humans primarily depend on sight, but dogs use smell AND sight to assess their surroundings and communicate. People spend more time interpreting visual data than olfactory information. Dogs are just the opposite.

Dogs devote lots of brain power to interpreting smells. They have more than 100 million sensory receptor sites in the nasal cavity as compared to 6 million in people, and the area of the canine brain devoted to analyzing odors is about 40 times larger than the comparable part of the human brain. In fact, it’s been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people.

Scent gives information. Smelling is normal. Smelling is necessary and natural. Smelling is relaxing. Air scenting is HUGE for recovering reactive dogs. LET YOUR DOG SMELL!

Correcting a dog for sniffing is one of the worst things I watch people do. It’s another example of how controlling we try to be in our dogs lives. If you don’t want your dog to smell, teach him to focus on you instead for part of the time, and then give other ample times to smell. If he’s pulling you to smell, use a different tool that inhibits pulling but still allows for some nasal exploration. Even better work on collar pressure work too so your dog learns to smell when there’s less pressure! Walks on a long line on a dirt road or in a field for your dog to zig zag back and forth on to smell is MUCH healthier and more tiring for them as animals than trying to keep them within 6 feet of you on a neighborhood walk.

Please accept that smelling is normal and work WITH your dog on it, rather than just trying to suppress it. Just because that blade of grass or tree isn’t interesting to YOU doesn’t mean your dog deserves a correction. Who cares if you don’t walk the extra block - spend those 5 minutes on that one tree if you need to. Your dog doesn’t complain when you watch YouTube videos of kittens for hours or read the news or binge on Netflix, so let him get his scent binge in to.

Happy smelling pups!

04/16/2024

Sunshine, some snow, and lots of happy pups!

04/11/2024

Happy National Pet Day! Here’s some of Camp K9 Training & Daycare staff pets. Share your favorite picture of your pet!

04/09/2024

Life with kids and dogs can be so great. And so tough! You’re not alone in this and we can help make things a little less tough.

Join Dory at Relief - Parenting Respite & Resource Center, LLC this Sunday 4/14 for her Dogs and Toddlers workshop. This program offers insight and proactive options for some of the common challenges families with dogs experience as baby becomes mobile.

🐾 Answers to your questions about dog and toddler dynamics

🐾 Must-know information for parents who have babies soon to be crawling or walking

🐾 Advice about common trouble spots between toddlers and dogs in a home

🐾 Practical solutions, from activities to include your dog to daily routines and management

🐾 Insight into how your changing family dynamics may affect your dog

Register at: https://reliefparenting.com/events-workshops/dogs-toddlers-a-class-for

Or email [email protected] with any questions.

04/05/2024

In our defense, when we planned an April Fools & Flowers party we didn't realize Mother Nature was listening or that the joke would be on us!

Luckily these sweet flowers and goofy fools had plenty of fun this week regardless of what the weather was doing!

04/04/2024

For the safety of our camp dogs and staff, training camp will be closed tomorrow Thursday 4/4. Please email [email protected] by 7am if your pup will need a walk or potty break instead.

Stay safe and dry! We’re looking forward to lots of fun at the farm on Friday with our Fools and Flowers!

04/03/2024

Join Dory at Relief - Parenting Respite & Resource Center, LLC in Hampton NH for the Dogs & Storks and Dogs & Toddlers seminars! These classes are perfect for expecting and new families with dogs as they prepare for life with baby. We offer positive, practical, and fun solutions that will help you include your dog once baby arrives. We want to help ease families into the transition from pet parents to baby parents with pets.

🐾 Exciting News! 🐾

Join us at Relief Parenting Respite & Resource Center for two essential classes:

📅 Sunday, April 14, 2024
🕘 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Dogs & Storks
🕦 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM: Dogs & Toddlers™

Cost: $79 per couple per class

Dogs & Storks: Prepare your pup for baby's arrival!
Dogs & Toddlers™: Tips for a harmonious home with your growing family!

Limited spots available! Reserve yours now. 🐾

04/02/2024

Is your pup a fool or a flower? Our camp dogs are celebrating all week long! There’s still time to sign up for our Fools & Flowers Photoshoot, the “Jokes on Who?” game, and a trail walk so your pup can stop and smell the flowers.

Register on your client portal or by emailing [email protected]

04/01/2024

What better way to kick off our April Fools & Flowers party than with these clowns?!