Hackles & Hide K9 Academy

Hackles & Hide K9 Academy At H&H, we take a psychological approach to training from a dogs point of view. We specialize is healing and rehabilitation for K9 aggression and reactivity.

We also offer basic and advanced obedience using positive methods.

Adding a second dog into the mix?!Successful dog integrations are about staying calm and building trust, *NOT pushing pl...
01/03/2026

Adding a second dog into the mix?!

Successful dog integrations are about staying calm and building trust, *NOT pushing playtime.*.. 🚫👎🏼forced interactions 👎🏼🚫

Here is how I integrated my two dogs:

1. MET on neutral ground

2. WALKED them together

✨️we walked at a neutral place, and then met and played at a neutral place

3. THEN I gradually brought them into the home.

✨️When it came to in home things, that is where we focused primarily on settling next to each other, building trust with me and the other household members.

✨️To build trust in each other, we did controlled feeding near each other, kennel rotations when we weren't directly supervising them, and alternating leash time in the home, along with other trust building activities!✨️

➡️What should it look like in the end?

Calm and peaceful 🧘‍♀️. The dogs can play, but they can also relax together, eat near each other, and share space without fighting or guarding.

➡️How long does integration take?

It depends on the dogs. For mine, it took about 2 months!

➡️Does integrated mean best friends?

Nope!! Integration means they’re comfortable and safe together. Becoming best friends can take much longer (mine needed 6 more months!).

*My point*.. Build neutrality first. Friendship comes later.✌🏼 🤓

If you need help integrating your dogs or ever have any questions, please reach out!!! We are always happy to help!

Ashley: [email protected]

Mike: [email protected]

Www.hacklesandhidek9.com

01/01/2026

A few of the faces of 2025!

We know we’re missing a few 🫣 that doesn’t mean you aren’t important! My eyes were crossing, hah! 🤪

Working with you all has been a privilege! We are so thankful!

12/31/2025

We are in this field to advocate for dogs who are struggling to be heard.

Your support allows us to be their voice and continue showing up for as many dogs as possible. Because of you, more dogs get the chance to feel safe, understood, and supported , not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

Thank you for believing in this work, in these dogs, and in us. Your support changes lives every day!

We hope you have a blessed year ahead. We are excited to see where 2026 takes H&H and to help as many dogs as we can!

💚 Mike and Ashley

Here's a short recap of 2025!

Thank you for trusting us and being part of our journey! 💚❤️ We’re so grateful for this community and wish you a happy,...
12/25/2025

Thank you for trusting us and being part of our journey! 💚❤️ We’re so grateful for this community and wish you a happy, healthy, and successful year ahead!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

🎄🎅Mike & Ashley

12/24/2025

✨️FAMILY MEMBERS & "aggressive dogs".. HOHOHO 🎅.. ring a "sleigh-bell" ..hah!

Want to keep Great Uncle Joe from donating a finger to the family dog?

Us too!

One of the most VALUABLE pieces of advice I will ever give you: NEVER.. and i mean EVER, offer your hand up first to ANY dog.

Offering your hand to a dog that is overstimulated and ready to flip can easily be the thing that causes that dog to latch on and send you straight to the ER.

Dogs DO NOT look at your hand to "smell" as a peace offering and a way to gain "trust" like you think they do. So please, get that idea out of your head RN!

Let's look at Canine Defensive Behaviors..

People think this means a dog wants to hurt someone, but it’s really the dog trying to avoid hurting anyone!

Defensive behaviors are ways a dog says "please stop...back OFF.. or, leave me the heck ALONE (thats you Uncle Joe)‼️"

They usually happen in this order, getting bigger if no one listens:

✨️Staring
✨️Getting stiff
✨️Growling
✨️Barking
✨️Snapping
✨️Lunging
✨️Biting

These behaviors don’t happen out of nowhere!! Dogs give warning signs first, and the behavior builds from there.

When those signals are missed or ignored, the behaviors progress to lunging, snapping, or, in some cases, biting when the dog has given its final warning and reached its breaking point.😐

Are these behaviors normal? YEP!!!! .. however, they should not happen often.

Dogs show these behaviors when they feel stressed or uncomfortable. If we learn to notice the early signs, we can reduce stress and help our dogs feel safer and happier!!.. just like they deserve! ..So please do your dog a favor and learn their signals.

Before the chaos begins and guests arrive, think about your dog. Make sure they have a safe, quiet place to decompress.. somewhere no one can enter. This space is off limits to people and other animals. ✨️Do not force interactions.✨️ If needed, use crate and rotate (look it up). Protect your dog’s space, and you prevent problems.. boundaries are a two way street, and its up to YOU to speak up to your family on behalf of your dog!.. they NEED you to!

Please don’t set your dog up to fail. If they feel the need to defend themselves, they needed space, not punishment. 💚❤️

✨️Merry Christmas from the H&H family!✨️

And If you need help, REACH OUT!

Ashley: [email protected]

Mike: [email protected]

Www.hacklesandhidek9.com

At 41 years old, I never imagined I’d be graduating againAfter nearly two years of study, and hands on work, I’ve offici...
12/18/2025

At 41 years old, I never imagined I’d be graduating again

After nearly two years of study, and hands on work, I’ve officially finished my course for Professional Canine Behavior Consultant 🙌🏼

✨️So what does a Behavior Consultant do you ask?✨️

A Professional Canine Behavior Consultant works beyond just obedience, helping dogs with complex challenges like aggression, reactivity, fear, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors. They do this by looking at the entire situation (including genetics, past experiences, environment, emotions, and daily life, etc).

Using science based, humane methods, we identify what's driving the behavior and how to change it safely and ethically. We prioritize the emotional well-being of the animal!

This journey has been humbling, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. I’m grateful for the mentors, clients, dogs, and supporters who helped me get here ,and I’m excited for what’s next for H&H!!!

Here’s to lifelong learning… even at 41! Hah!!

My course is done but the exam and assessment is still hanging so keep me in your thoughts!

YEAH.. im proud of me! 🙌🏼

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Ugly Sweater Party! We were able to raise $225, four bags of food, and a t...
12/17/2025

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Ugly Sweater Party! We were able to raise $225, four bags of food, and a ton of cool stuff for the dogs at Cedar Valley Humane Society!

We appreciate you all so much for showing up!

11-2 at the Cedar Valley Humane Society!! This is. FREE event but donations to CVHS are appreciated!!! PLEASE COME!
12/14/2025

11-2 at the Cedar Valley Humane Society!! This is. FREE event but donations to CVHS are appreciated!!! PLEASE COME!

Do you have limits? Of course you do! And so does your dog.Understanding a dog’s boundaries starts with learning their w...
12/07/2025

Do you have limits? Of course you do! And so does your dog.

Understanding a dog’s boundaries starts with learning their warning signs and staying aware.

✨️Not every dog will display the “textbook” signals before a bite. That’s why educating yourself on subtle canine body language is also so important.✨️

This knowledge isn’t optional, it’s a responsibility (it should be anyway)
Every dog owner should understand how dogs communicate, especially in homes with multiple dogs or young kids!!.. (im pretty sure you all know my stance on kids and dogs, but ill save that for another post) .

My point? A few minutes of education can prevent a lifetime of consequences.. for you AND your dog!

If you need help understanding your dog or ever have questions, REACH OUT!!

Mike: [email protected]

Ashley: [email protected]

Www.hacklesandhidek9.com

12/06/2025

✨️TRAINING MISTAKE✨️

*Leash Preasure*.. lets talk about it 😯

Now, is leash pressures a bad thing?.. Not necessarily! But there certainly needs to be a balance. Naturally, dogs learn through gentle pressures and opportunities!

HOWEVER, too much pressure can make a dog overly sensitive, which may lead to avoidance and sometimes even avoidance aggression 👀

Avoidance aggression happens when a dog feels so much pressure that even tiny cues from people or other dogs make them go into defense mode.

So how do we use pressure the right way?
✨️Time.✨️

We give the dog a moment to think and choose. If they start making the wrong choice, we interrupt gently before the behavior happens and guide them toward a better option.

For example:

In this video at PetSmart, Lena spots a big dog. She starts to drop her body (her “tell”), so I interrupt by calling her name and reward her for looking at me. After that, she keeps making better choices on her own..and gets paid for it! 🙌🏼

Get it girl!

If you need help understanding your dog.. REACH OUT!!!

Ashley: [email protected]

Mike: [email protected]

Www.hacklesandhidek9.com

I know this is a little off topic, but I wanted to ask here before posting elsewhere. I have a large bag of little boy t...
12/04/2025

I know this is a little off topic, but I wanted to ask here before posting elsewhere. I have a large bag of little boy toys (excavators, fire trucks, and other toddler favorites) and I’d love for them to go to a family who could really use them this holiday season.

All of the toys are clean, in great working condition, and ready to make a little one smile 😃

If you could use them, please feel free to message me privately...no need to feel embarrassed at all! 🎄

Im happy to deliver them!!

Address

6270 Partners Avenue Suite #311
Marion, IA
52302

Telephone

+13199301499

Website

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