Lead Off Leash K9 Training

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United States
Durango, CO
Lead Off Leash K9 Training

TWC Certified Trainer. www.leadoffleashk9training.com My name is Cheryl Albrecht-Harvey. I treat each dog on a case-by-case basis.
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Dog trainer specializing in off-leash obedience that works with all dogs: from puppies to adult dogs with more challenging issues like dog aggression, human aggression, or extreme fear based issues. I started Lead Off leash K9 Training to teach dog owners how to create a more balanced and happy four-legged family member through play, obedience and off-leash freedom. I am passionate about dogs, and

equally passionate about helping people have a more harmonious relationship with their pup. I have been working with dogs all of my life and have been practicing professionally since 2014. I am very active in continuing education because I believe in furthering my dog training experience so that I keep refining and improving my skillset, as well as to remain up to date on the most effective and fair dog training techniques. I am a certified professional dog trainer from the Training Without Conflict program, which was created by world-renowned trainer, Ivan Balabanov. I will work with any dog - from the happy-go-lucky-pup to dogs that struggle with separation anxiety, dog aggression and/or human aggression. My home facility is licensed by the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) Program, which is a licensing and inspection program dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of those animals in pet care facilities throughout Colorado. I practice balanced dog training, meaning I use both reinforcement and punishment (as scientific aspects of Operant Conditioning) as well as Classical Conditioning to create a very effective and fair communication system to train and rehabilitate dogs. I will decide which tools to use with your dog once I understand what he/she needs and discuss my plan with you before the training begins. Each training program is tailored to each dogs behavioral issues. I work with all breeds and temperaments and I address a wide range of issues from basic obedience to severe anxiety and even dog and human aggression. I am happy to discuss my methods and tools with you. My goal for you as a client is to help create a lifelong harmonious relationship between you and your dog. I also want to foster a long lasting connection with you and be available in the future should you need more assistance.

08/12/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #226
Last one of the summer!
Today we had Hank, Birdie, Marley Bob, Ace, Opal, Domino, Willie, Zen, Maple, Hank 2.0, Sky, Koda and Tioga!

08/10/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #225
Today we had Hank, Marley Bob, Willie, Birdie, Ace, Opal, Maple, Zen, Tioga, and Tillie a special guest!

08/06/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #224
Today we had Hank, Ace, Willie, Marley Bob, Birdie, Opal, Zen, Maple, Ali and Tioga!

08/01/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #223
Today we had Hank, Marley Bob, Birdie, Wilie, Ace, Opal, Zen, Ali, Maple, and other Hank!

07/23/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #222
Today we had Becky, Maple, Zen, Kirby, Ace, Marley Bob, Birdie, Willie, Hank and Opal!

07/17/2024

Owner homework -
First Play session Maisie / Introducing structured play to a dog using TWC concepts

07/15/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #221
Today we had Kirby, Becky, Zen, Maple, Hank, Kora, Willie, Marley Bob, Birdie, Ace and other Hank!

07/12/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #220
Today we had a small crew... Zen, Hank, Maple and Tioga! 🐾

07/08/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #219!
Today we had Zen, Kirby, Koda, Kora, Maple, Becky, Birdie, Marley Bob, Willie, Hank and Hank 2.0!

07/04/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #218
Today we had Birdie, Marley Bob, Ace, Willie, Zen, Hank, Hank 2.0!!, Midge, Maple, and Tioga.

07/02/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #217
Back for more summer fun with Roan!
A 12 pack today with Marley Bob, Birdie, Ace, Willie, Hank, Zen, Kora, Koda, Kirby, Ali, Maple and Tioga!

04/29/2024

Bear with me: 20 years or so ago, when Cesar Milan came out on Nat Geo, I spent hours watching the show. There is little doubt that Cesar can stop a dogs “bad” behavior. While watching, I was always slowing down and rewinding the TV video every few seconds (pre social media), to see if I could see/read the dogs intent/body language/precursor behaviors/etc and I was happy that I was pretty darn good at seeing those “bad” behaviors creeping in or seeing the triggering moment before the dog erupted. I was kind of obsessed on watching his videos (cause that is all there was at the time).
Fast forward to now, after 20 years of working with dogs and attending a few dog training seminars - including the last two years following Ivan Balabanov and becoming a TWC certified trainer, I can say that these last two years with TWC have blown my mind. Ivan doesn’t look to stop bad behaviors. Ivan strives and succeeds at changing the perception a dog has of its world and he helps the dog truly transform. Much of the transformation includes extinguishing the “bad” behavior (aggresssion, fear, etc) but NOT by the way you may think. It is NOT by punishing the “bad” behaviors away or suppressing the dog, but by changing the dog’s perception on EVERYthing! The dogs that are lucky enough to work with and experience Ivan, truly discover the motivation within themselves to enjoy life and be less mad/worried/fearful about it all (and stopping their “bad” behaviors in the process).
The last 4 days at the Possession Games workshop have, once again, been more than I could have imagined. Watching Ivan actually SEE the dog and tactfully switch how the dog experiences the world - through play, the leash, the slightest bits of pressure, reinforcing the tiniest thing in a huge way, knowing when to change training plans, how to break it down for the handler, and so much more - will never cease to amaze me. This workshop was SO much more than just teaching a dog to play with a tug toy.
Words can’t express how much watching him and then hearing explanations of what he is doing has, once again, blown my mind. What might look like nothing to the rest of us, is definitely not nothing and Ivan always helps me see better.
Thanks again, Ivan Balabanov, Erick, and Natalia. I can’t wait until the next time! Maybe a leash handing seminar!?!!

04/05/2024

Xena owner homework

04/03/2024

Banksy Owner homework: How to use the ecollar for recall

04/03/2024

Nella Owner Homework

04/02/2024

03/31/2024

This girl has struggled for the last 5 years or so with aggression toward other dogs and because of this she hasn't been "out" in as much time. The owners have not known how to mitigate the dog fights that she instigates and stop the fighting behavior. This is my 3rd session with her (and the first one with her owners). The last session (posted yesterday) showed me stopping her initiating a dog fight and this session is about getting her owners involved so that they can begin to be part of the rehabilitation process. (At the same time, they are working hard at home to build her confidence through play and other reinforcing activities together.) This girl used to be love to be having off-leash fun, and we are trying to get her back to that place. In this session, her owners do a great job working through their own anxiety regarding her dog fighting history, as well as showing their confidence to manage each new encounter. A session like this is a big step in her learning - how to "avoid" other dogs rather than fight, and how to practice an appropriate interaction with unfamiliar dogs - without escalating into a fight.
NOTE TO THE OWNERS: When they come across dogs that seem indifferent and not overly aroused, and she wants to sniff the dog (if she is approaching calmly) then let her sniff. In this video we said "nope" 2 times when she was sniffing butt with a calm dog and I think that they can let that happen and let it end organically (on her time) IF the other dog looks comfortable. And IF the other dog looks uncomfortable then say "let's go", rather than "nope", because Lexi actually looked very neutral in her approach and she was doing normal dog-behavior so saying "nope" implies that she should not sniff at all, which is NOT what I want her to think.

03/28/2024

private session client dog Lexi session 2 owner homework

03/04/2024

Margie Goes Home. This girl has come a long way! Large and in Charge Marge - So proud of her

03/02/2024

Cutie Louie Goes Home!

03/02/2024

Geno Goes Home. Good boys!!!

03/02/2024

Jaeger Goes Home. They all did soooo well!!

03/01/2024

Margie Mid-Program Training Session. Good job to her and her owner

03/01/2024

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #216
Last one for a while!
Kirby, Zen, Midge, Ali, Ace, Willie, Hank, Opal, Marley, Birdie, Geno, Louie, Margie, Jaeger, and Tioga!

02/29/2024

Morning Routine with Margie, Jaeger, Louie and Geno

02/29/2024

Margie and Jaeger go to the very scary car wash. They both do a pretty good job, and Margie didn't even leap all over the car trying to escape, even though she was not tethered to the back. I would not avoid these kinds of experiences for these dogs. I will continue to boost confidence at home and expose them to all-things-normal in life.

02/29/2024

Louie mid-program training session with one of his owners. Nice job!

02/29/2024

Jaeger mid-program traiing session with his owners. Good job to all!

02/28/2024

Louie and Geno, the VERY young pups, head to downtown D-town. Nice work, pups!!

Address

Durango, CO
81301

Telephone

+19707991566

Website

http://LeadOffLeashK9Training.com/

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Videos

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #226 Last one of the summer! Today we had Hank, Birdie, Marley Bob, Ace, Opal, Domino, Willie, Zen, Maple, Hank 2.0, Sky, Koda and Tioga!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #225 Today we had Hank, Marley Bob, Willie, Birdie, Ace, Opal, Maple, Zen, Tioga, and Tillie a special guest!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #224 Today we had Hank, Ace, Willie, Marley Bob, Birdie, Opal, Zen, Maple, Ali and Tioga!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #223 Today we had Hank, Marley Bob, Birdie, Wilie, Ace, Opal, Zen, Ali, Maple, and other Hank!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #222 Today we had Becky, Maple, Zen, Kirby, Ace, Marley Bob, Birdie, Willie, Hank and Opal!

Owner homework

Owner homework - First Play session Maisie / Introducing structured play to a dog using TWC concepts

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #221 Today we had Kirby, Becky, Zen, Maple, Hank, Kora, Willie, Marley Bob, Birdie, Ace and other Hank!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #220 Today we had a small crew... Zen, Hank, Maple and Tioga! 🐾

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #219! Today we had Zen, Kirby, Koda, Kora, Maple, Becky, Birdie, Marley Bob, Willie, Hank and Hank 2.0!

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #218 Today we had Birdie, Marley Bob, Ace, Willie, Zen, Hank, Hank 2.0!!, Midge, Maple, and Tioga.

Adventure Dog! Day Camp #217 Back for more summer fun with Roan! A 12 pack today with Marley Bob, Birdie, Ace, Willie, Hank, Zen, Kora, Koda, Kirby, Ali, Maple and Tioga!

Xena owner homework

Banksy Owner homework: How to use the ecollar for recall

Nella Owner Homework

Meet Banksy. Banksy is here in a private session program for a couple of sessions to learn a reliable off leash recall. He's new to his owners, and it was somewhat accidental that they have him. He sort-of fell into their lap a few months after their other dog passed (if you have been watching my videos then you will remember sweet B, the hound dog <3). Anyway, they're having some issues at home with running off so this guy really needs to learn to come when called. I am fast-tracking that for him so that everyone is happy - he can get the freedom he needs and the owners can get peace of mind by keeping him safe. This is his first first session of learning ecollar recall.

Lexi Owner Homework

This girl has struggled for the last 5 years or so with aggression toward other dogs and because of this she hasn't been "out" in as much time. The owners have not known how to mitigate the dog fights that she instigates and stop the fighting behavior. This is my 3rd session with her (and the first one with her owners). The last session (posted yesterday) showed me stopping her initiating a dog fight and this session is about getting her owners involved so that they can begin to be part of the rehabilitation process. (At the same time, they are working hard at home to build her confidence through play and other reinforcing activities together.) This girl used to be love to be having off-leash fun, and we are trying to get her back to that place. In this session, her owners do a great job working through their own anxiety regarding her dog fighting history, as well as showing their confidence to manage each new encounter. A session like this is a big step in her learning - how to "avoid" other dogs rather than fight, and how to practice an appropriate interaction with unfamiliar dogs - without escalating into a fight. NOTE TO THE OWNERS: When they come across dogs that seem indifferent and not overly aroused, and she wants to sniff the dog (if she is approaching calmly) then let her sniff. In this video we said "nope" 2 times when she was sniffing butt with a calm dog and I think that they can let that happen and let it end organically (on her time) IF the other dog looks comfortable. And IF the other dog looks uncomfortable then say "let's go", rather than "nope", because Lexi actually looked very neutral in her approach and she was doing normal dog-behavior so saying "nope" implies that she should not sniff at all, which is NOT what I want her to think.

private session client dog Lexi session 2 owner homework

Margie Goes Home. This girl has come a long way! Large and in Charge Marge - So proud of her <3 -

Cutie Louie Goes Home!

Shortcuts

My dog training philosophy...

My goal with each dog that I work with is to create a balanced, happy, and calm four-legged family member. Inclusion in daily family life is the best reward a dog can receive and a well-behaved dog is easy to have in your home and take with you wherever you may go. To reach this balanced state of mind, I believe that dogs need physical exercise but, more importantly, they need mental exercise through structure, rules, and boundaries. I can help you and your dog (through private One-on-One sessions or a Board and Train program) or rehabilitate your fearful or aggressive dog (through an extended Board and Train program) how to find a calm state of mind. I practice balanced dog training, meaning I use both rewards and corrections to train and rehabilitate dogs. Just like in raising children, I believe that letting a dog know what behaviors they should not do is just as important as commending the behaviors that we want from them. Simply put, I use "yes" and "no" in my training. "Yes" represents a reward. "No" represents a correction. I treat each dog on a case-by-case basis. I will decide which tools to use with your dog once I understand what he/she needs and discuss my plan with you before the training begins. Each training program is tailored to each dogs behavioral issues. I work with all breeds and temperaments and I address a wide range of issues from basic obedience to severe anxiety and even dog and human aggression. I am happy to discuss my methods and tools with you.

My goal for you as a client is to help create a lifelong harmonious relationship between you and your dog. I also want to foster a long lasting connection with you and be available in the future should you need more assistance.

Thanks for stopping by!