Marvelous K9 Training

06/25/2024

06/23/2024

Our Marvelous K9 team has finished not one but two Champions this year!
Our dogs do a variety of fun things from dock diving and kayaking to being fancy pants show dogs! These are some well rounded pups and owners 😁

06/22/2024

It is very important to let young dogs be young dogs. Forcing too much control onto a puppy will ultimately backfire in a variety of ways.
Puppies need to play, they need to explore, they can’t sit still and sleep for hours. That’s just part of growing up!
We believe puppies should go to many new places and see all kinds of new things. But we, as the humans, need to control the environment so the puppy can explore it in a safe and productive way.
My biggest example of this is taking a puppy out to a store. I don’t let the puppy pull through a collar wondering aimlessly and jumping on strangers. I have a treat or a toy on me. I keep the puppy engaged with me by asking for simple things such as focus or sit. I am teaching them that no matter where we are I am what you should pay attention to. When people want to say hi I more often than not say no the puppy is training. I do not want my young dog to learn every stranger will be more fun and exciting than me. I don’t want them learning to leave me to find easy reward in every passing person. I want people to be neutral to my dog. Not good or bad. I do the same with dogs. I never allow public greetings between dogs. I will allow the occasional calm kiddo to pet or give a treat but that is it. The rest of our outing is to focus and stay involved with me the handler!
These outings don’t need to be long and honestly I usually am not shopping or doing anything else. I go in, working puppy for 10-15 minutes and leave. All my focus is on that dog. If I need to shop I put puppy away in the car while I purchase my items.
Sometimes (weather permitting) I just put a puppy in the car for the ride with no intention of taking them out. I want them to get used to the car.

06/20/2024

We take our day training pups on as many adventures as we can pack in! They get time to play with our stable pack but also structured learning time out in public. That way our clients can comfortably take their pups anywhere.

06/19/2024

Leo and Vega came out to our Monday drop in class in glen burnie last week! They both said it was awesome practice 😊

06/19/2024

We had a ton of fun taking a few of the pups to help educate some young minds while also having a great time 😊

06/16/2024

Very important point!

"My dog doesn't like car rides."

"My dog hates the vet."

"I can't cut my dog's nails."

"S(he) won't eat her food unless I add a little [human food] to it."

"My dog hates other dogs."

"S(he) will *be fine* once s(he) gets used to you."

"My dog is afraid of [thing/place/person/etc]."

"My dog hates the crate."

"My dog can't be left alone."

With precious few exceptions, all of these things are completely avoidable, so they never happen or can be fixed with appropriate effort.

The reason these behaviors appear is because owners never thought they needed to condition the dog to accept these things. At the very first sign of protest by the dog, the owner stops whatever they are doing and the dog registers that protest makes what the dog doesn't like, stop.

The next time the owner reenacts the same scenario, the dog doubles its effort, perhaps even quicker, and the owner stops again.

It doesn't matter what it is, what the dog's takeaway from each encounter, is when I fight, I win.

It could be as simple as holding a puppy, or putting equipment on the dog.

Owners make these things a struggle and heavily reinforce the dog every time they allow the dog to escape or avoid consequence for refusal or failure.

By the time the dog is a practiced adult, there will come a time where these things will need to be done, and either the owner, a veterinarian, some other caregiver, will be the recipient of a fair bit of fury when the dog exercises his memory of fast refusals at the first whiff of conflict, weighing in at adult weights, and having formed adult opinions.

It doesn't take much to prevent these things, but folks have their work cut out for them when they try to remediate these issues after they have been hardened by lack of conditioning.

Your dog is more than capable of learning how to be confined, restrained, groomed, approached safely by strangers, travel, etcetera.

What stands in the way of where you are now, and success, is knowing what to do, how to do it, and the effort necessary to get it all done.

We're here when you're ready.

06/14/2024

Come out!! It’ll be a blast!

06/06/2024

We're planning another fundraiser for Saving Grace Animal Rescue of Maryland! Set for Saturday June 22 (with a rain date of 6/23)! We will have plenty of raffle items to bid on (you do NOT need to be present to win!), a fun pup menu, some drink specials and some giveaways! Bring your pup to dine and enjoy our outdoor (covered) patio!

06/04/2024

Why are we training Conformation in Michaels? Simple! Whatever skills you want your dog to reliably perform you must train and practice in every environment you can! Young dogs especially need to go out and about often but it shouldn’t just be chaos. When I tell people to take their puppies everywhere I mean like this. We walk into a store with a young dog, actively train a skill for 10-15 minutes and then we leave. I don’t shop, I don’t chat and my primary focus is my dog. If I need a bag of food I’ll grab that before I walk out the door but I’m not there to mess around. I want my puppy to learn and work in this new place with distractions. I want every second of their experience to be positive!

06/03/2024

Mara has been with us for two weeks now! She has come a long way from the first girl who panicked when he parents left her. She is now able to calmly and confidently go anywhere we take her.

05/30/2024

With the warm weather comes adventure times for our Day Training/Adventure Program pups!
We have a few nice, safe and quiet water spots we love to take the dogs to. Many had never been in the water before but have quickly come to love it!

05/15/2024

As it gets warmer our pups and client pups will start practicing and competing in more and more dog sports!
Dock diving is Arson, the malinois’, favorite summer sport. Arson has a long dark coat so water sports are the ideal choice for the hot summers.
Dock diving is simple enough! Your pup must jump off a dock into a pool. Typically they jump for a toy or bumper (Arson will jump for anything!). The point is to jump the furthest. You’ll notice the measurements in the side of the pool.

05/13/2024

Exciting news! We will be starting up beginner group classes in mid June!
Classes will be located in Mount Airy and run by our head trainers Mariah and Kirsti.
These classes are for dogs of any age.
We will be learning basic manners and obedience. Taking this course will give you access to our rally, trick, scent work and modeling classes.
To sign up click this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/marvelous-k9-training-classes-3350769

05/07/2024

Please be careful out there and teach your dogs not to pick things up off the ground.

🔸️ ATTENTION: APPALACHIAN TRAIL DOG OWNERS & HIKERS 🔸️

Over the weekend, it was reported that a hiker found dog treats stuffed with fishhooks near the George W. Outerbridge shelter on the Appalachian Trail.

The incident occurred near the North Trail Loop leading to the shelter, on State Game Lands #217, in Washington Township, Lehigh County.

Items like these could prove deadly to any animal that consumes them, including wild and domesticated animals.

If anyone has any information about the incident or locates more findings, please call 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT immediately.

05/01/2024

We have some openings for Day training Clients this summer!
What is Day Training?
Our day training program is a lot like day care but with some huge improvements. You drop your pup off in the morning and pick them up in the evening just like day care. However, your dog isn’t sitting in a yard or facility all day, crammed in with 40 other dogs and supervised by untrained kids. Your dog spends the day with our highly experienced professional dog trainers going everywhere we go! They go on hikes with us, to various pet friendly stores and even out to lunch. We expose your dog to the world so they are happy, confident and well trained when you want to take them with you to the winery or spring festival!
This program is perfect for young dogs who just need basic obedience and socialization, older dogs who are nervous in new places and dogs who just don’t love the daycare environment but still want to get out and do things!
Where are we located?
Our drop offs and pick ups are at Watkins park in Mount Airy. But we can easily add a Frederick location.
How much does it cost?
Follow the link for our prices. We can also tailor make programs to fit you after a consultation.
https://www.marvelousk9.com/day-training
Will my dog ever be left alone?
Never!
Will they get play time?
Definitely! You have to have a healthy work/play balance 😁
Email us at [email protected] or text at 443-339-8514 to set up a free consultation!
Spots are very limited!

04/27/2024

Snow and Maverick are one week into their Board and Train programs. Both here for confidence building!

04/24/2024

Our day training isn’t just fun and games! Our pups experience the world in a healthy way as well as learn new skills like walking on leash nicely and recalling.

04/22/2024

We have had so many fun adventures in the last month alone! From taking our day trainers out every day to competing with our dogs in various dog shows!

04/17/2024

We will be attending! It’ll be a ton of fun 😁

04/16/2024

Our Gus is working today! 😊

Congrats to Gustaf for booking a national commercial photo shoot! 🥳

Can you guess his breed? Nope, he's not a terrier mix! He's actually a hound type- a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno!
And he's smart, adorable, and charming! We're so excited to work with him on again!
Stay tuned for more! 🎥🐶✨

04/07/2024

Arson worked very hard learning about FDR during his tour yesterday! And because he was such a good boy he got his official Bark Ranger Certificate and collar tag 😁
This is a program offered at every national park around the US. Some are all year round and others are event like this one in DC yesterday. Such a cute and fun activity with the pups.