AK9 Dog Training

04/04/2022

Looking for extra help!! 🐾🐾🐾

As we enter the busy travel season, we’re looking for extra help in the kennel.
We are located in Wappingers Falls, NY

Duties include:
Exercising dogs in fenced in yard
Feeding and watering dogs
Cleaning and laundry
Following potty schedules for dogs and puppies
Organizing equipment and gear
Taking pictures of dogs for owner updates and social media

Opportunity to assist with training/learn about training
Opportunity to bring your dog and work with your dog with me

We are a small team and looking to add another person (or two) to keep things running smoothly

If you think you may be a good fit please email
[email protected]

10/26/2021

📢 ❕‼️TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE NOW COMPLETELY BOOKED FOR 2021!!!!!

We are now booking into 2022 for training programs.
So reach out now if you have questions!

‼️‼️ we have a few spots left for December boarding ‼️‼️
If you need to get your dogs booked please let us know ASAP!

❤️❤️ we appreciate each one of you so very much.

10/25/2021

Some of this weekends fun 🤩

Gigi and Petey took a field trip to see our friend Chris at

Petey, is working with a male handler (a struggle for him!) and Gigi is learning to stay chill and uninvolved while her buddy works around her, which will be huge for her when she joins her brother Rafa back at home.

Petey did awesome making fast friends with Chris, and tackling every obstacle we threw at him. Gigi, who was very timid last time, was a star this time 💫❤️😍
Progress!

09/29/2021

Welcome Rafa 💕💕
Rafa is a PERFECT example of a sweet dog, who has some solid training already, and still managed to get himself into trouble in the wrong situation.
Rafa lives at home with his “sister” (same breeder, different litter)
His mom has already done some really great training with them. He knows many commands and walks nicely on a leash.
So why is he here??
To make a long story short, although he’s never been aggressive before, he bit a mail carrier/delivery man when he pulled away from his handler.

We’re here for some confidence building, impulse control, and general mindset overhaul.
Stay tuned! He’s gonna be awesome 😎

09/29/2021

Welcome River to the AK9 family 💕❤️😍
He’s equal parts handsome, goofy, cute, sweet, and mischievous.
Did I mention he’s only 5 months old, and weighs 75 lbs???
When you’ve got a puppy this big, it’s important to get things under control early on.

This is the family’s second Dane (I also trained their first GD) so they know the importance of training these house ponies.
Stay tuned to see how this guy progresses.

He’s crazy smart, and puts a huge smile on everyone’s face.

❤️❤️we’re honored to be a part of his journey

08/17/2021

Anxiety in puppies and dogs
An unpleasant subject. And often one that’s met with some kind of defense from owners.
Let’s break it down and talk about it.
Here we see some classic signs of anxiety:
Pacing
Panting
Whining
Pawing
General “neediness”
Barking excessively
Having an anxious puppy can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow for some owners. Anxiety is often not created by owners, but CAN be enabled.
What are some things that will NOT help your puppy/dog overcome anxiety:
Giving loads of affection
Going to their crate whenever they whine or bark
Constantly giving them things to “calm them down” (bully sticks, toys, chew toys, games, treats)….. these things have a place, but should not be used as a response to anxious behavior
Petting them and reassuring them with words like “you’re okay”. “You’re a good boy”
Sending them to daycare
What DOES help your dog overcome anxiety?
Structure
Training
Slow calm walks
Teaching them to settle (down stay, place, crate)
Giving them controlled exercise
A healthy amount of affection/attention (not enabling codependency)
It can feel overwhelming and unkind to not cater to your dog when they are feeling anxious. However, it is necessary to remember that dogs are not like children and they do not have the ability to logic. Therefore they learned through cause-and-effect. Whatever gets them what they want is what they will continue to do. Whatever you allow or even encourage, as what you are teaching. If you wish for your dog to have a healthy and balanced life- remove your emotions from the equation and teach your dog to be calm, confident, and relaxed.
“Your weakness becomes their sentence” - ❤️

08/15/2021

Just finished up a 5 day boot camp with this guy and his wonderful family!

Murphy is a 14 month old Golden Retriever. He is a sweet happy boy who needed some help learning some manners (like not bum rushing guests at the door!).
We tackled heel, come, place, stay, and door manners - e collar and prong collar- all in 5 days.

This is a great program for dogs who need a little help but may not necessarily need a board and train.

Thanks for a super fun week Murphy and family! ❤️ 🐶 🐾

07/16/2021

with
・・・
This. This is why you should prioritize training above “feeling bad”.
This is why you should hold your dog accountable.
This is why you should step up, and be the leader your dog needs you to be.

1 year old heeler mix Amika is enjoying this incredible evening, because her mom decided it was time to take control of her dog.

Im still in awe of this beautiful view.

Off leash on the beach with friends- living the best life….
No filter needed for these incredible photos.

07/05/2021

Training- a family affair!
Tucker went home today- and his littlest handlers are putting in the work.

We believe that having the whole family involved in training is so important. Kids need to learn proper interactions with dogs, and dogs need to learn how to behave around- and listen to kids.

Many injuries to children by dogs are not bites or aggressive in any way- but rather an out-of-control family dog that knocks them over, jumps on them, or pulls them down.

Get your kids involved. It will empower them, and your dog.

And if your trainer isn’t including your kids- reconsider your training.

06/18/2021

Becoming a big brother 💙
My good friend Leo is about to be a big brother. I’ve known Leo a long time, and I’m really amazed at just how far he’s come.

He’s a high energy, busy-body guy. So, the introduction of all this new “stuff” is just a bit overwhelming. In preparation of new baby arriving today in August, we are tuning up Leo’s obedience (check out this awesome follow!), and working him around some new distractions- activity mats, boppy pillow, crying baby sounds, and other fun things will soon be all around the house, and we are teaching him to mind his manners ❤️🥰

So happy to help this mama-to-be!

06/09/2021

Corrections for puppies!! ————

Here we have another puppy with a prong collar on. Gasp! Abuse! 😏😜

I catch heat all the time for correcting puppies or using tools such as prong and e collar on puppies.

The main problem is that we view puppies as “babies”. They’re not. They’re young, not helpless. Would you punish or correct a human infant for crying or throwing a fit?? Of course not.
Would you reprimand a three year old for throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store? I’d sure hope so.

The second issue is that some folks see balanced training as using positive reinforcement until it doesn’t work. That’s the total wrong approach!

Balanced training is BALANCED. We use positive reinforcement to teach dogs what TO DO. We use compulsion: usually negative reinforcement and positive punishment to teach dogs what NOT TO DO.

What shouldn’t they do?
Pulling, jumping, nipping, chewing, over excitement, and stealing are a few….

So should we allow these things through puppyhood and then correct once they are adults? That wouldn’t be very fair right?

There’s a notion that dogs will “outgrow” these behaviors, or just stop doing them at some point. Why would they? The absence of corrections teaches them that these behaviors are acceptable.

Be clear. Be kind. Be consistent.

06/04/2021

From dragging mom down the road, to walking like a gentleman. All in twenty minutes!!

A quick equipment change, and a couple of minutes of teaching, and we have a totally different dog.

You can too. ❤️😊

05/28/2021

❤️

Gracie.. who can be quite the fearful lady, is learning the joys of retail therapy 🛍 🛒

The world is a lot bigger for a well trained dog.

05/27/2021

Place. The art of doing nothing. 🧘‍♂️

My favorite command. If you don’t teach your dog any other commands, teach place.

Phoenix is a great example of a dog that’s high anxiety, high energy, and has few boundaries that she understands. This manifests itself in a dog that’s all over the place… pair that with some entitlement and she’s got no problem telling you to buzz off when she doesn’t want to be bothered.

My kitchen is pretty small, and there’s a LOT going on in there.

Phoenix is learning to settle and not engage with everything and everyone that she sees or hears. This means I can have her hang in the kitchen with me without jumping on counters, sniffing the garbage can, bothering puppies in their crates… you name it.
It also gives me control of where she can and cannot go, so that changes her perspective a bit as well.

This is her first day doing place and recall with the e collar.

Stay tuned ❤️

05/22/2021

Phoenix ❤️😍

This beautiful lady is here for some help with resource guarding, and some evening crankiness!!

90% of the time, Phoenix is a sweet girl who loves the children in her home, and is a pleasure to be around.

The other 10% of the time she can be edgy, challenging, and concerning.

She will guard high value items like treats or bones in the home- including what she perceives as “her space”.
When she’s relaxing in the evening at home, she will growl or lunge when she feels someone is entering her space, or making eye contact.

Dogs don’t need to be “bad” all the time to need help. I often hear “she’s really good and sweet except when she does…” fill in the blank.

We don’t need to feel like we have to redeem our dogs. If you’re struggling with behavior, no matter how big or small, we can help.

03/26/2021

Board and train is up and running full speed here at AK9!

Layla, Freyja, Tucker, and Archie are enjoying this beautiful weather today ☀️

03/19/2021

Freyja is headed to our board and train program. This is her walk out to the car.
Stay tuned 😉

03/17/2021

Archie, 12 week old King Charles cavalier puppy is here for his board and train.
During his time with us he is learning all his basic commands, getting a potty training boot camp, and being exposed to all sorts of people, dogs, animals, and experiences.
He’s going to be so well rounded, ans only a few months old! Set them up for success. ❤️

01/21/2021

You’re out walking with your dog, and you see another dog coming. Maybe it’s a kid on a bike, or a runner going past.

You know what’s coming...

The jumping, barking, pulling, spinning, absolutely embarrassing behaviors that your dog will Inevitably exhibit.

You try your best to hold on for dear life as you hide your face, and try to get past the distraction.

Sound familiar?

There’s a better way.

Watch as Kobe, a 6 month old rescue, walks calmly past the dog who is always sitting outside, and sends him into a complete frenzy.

Your dog CAN do this. So can you. I can help.

Comment below to get help.

01/19/2021

Isn’t Rocky just the sweetest??
He really is sweet, BUT he also has a bit of a salty side. When Rocky gets playful, he often gets carried away and uses his teeth to play.
His over exuberance has left his mom with some serious bruises, and some anxiety about walking him. After just one visit, we were able to get a good handle on his mouthing. Now we will work together to give Rocky some tools to help him cope with his over exuberance around people.
He is well on his way to being a well mannered citizen ❤️🐾🐶

01/17/2021

Charlie the bernedoodle puppy wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms by his four-legged siblings. Harley and Tyson were not thrilled with the idea of a puppy in the house, and were letting everyone know about it!
After just one day of working with all three dogs together, their relationship changed.
Having multiple dogs in your household requires leadership and control. Especially when adding a new puppy.
These pups’ parents have taken control of the pack, and are seeing the wonderful results.

Now if only we could all learn to get along as easily ❤️

01/07/2021

6 month old Kobe ❤️
Showing how it’s done. His parents are wonderfully committed to helping be the best dog he can be. At just 6 months old, he’s mastering the walk. He can be a handful when he’s riled up and ready to go, but he’s learning so many tools to deal with his rambunctious side. He makes me proud.

01/04/2021

Parker is a sweet boy who wants to give so much love....
but sometimes he gets carried away with himself and his playful mouthing becomes more a frenzy of teeth, and it can be scary.
His owners are committed to helping him learn to stay in a calmer state of mind, and give him some tools to de-escalate.
Day one- we went over walking and leash manners. He’s off to a good start and I’m looking forward to seeing his transformation.
🐾🐶

01/02/2021

Sweet and sassy puppy Arlo completed her 5 day boot camp today.
Man am I going to miss her!!

In the past week, she has learned sit, stay, come, down, drop it, and leave it. Her parents and her human sisters are doing such a good job, and I know they’re going to help her be her best self!

❤️🐾

01/01/2021

If horses can be taught to walk calmly and politely at our side.. (these girls are about 1100lbs each), then it’s not about physical strength or size.

It’s about rules and boundaries.

What you allow, and what you don’t.

The relationship you build with your animals... trust and leadership.

Do they look to you for guidance?

Or are you following behind?

12/31/2020

Day 4 of Hope and Abbys boot camp!
They are walking so well, and are able to encounter dogs on walks without reacting! They have previously pulled their mom (and me!) down trying to get to another dog. So this is huge.
Lead your dog, love your dog 🐾🐶

12/30/2020

Hope and Abby ❤️
These two girls are as sweet as they come, but boy are they double trouble!!!
They live in a busy neighborhood that’s bustling with dogs, kids, bikes, strollers... you name it.
And whenever they see a dog go by, or god forbid a squirrel... they both take a leap into a fury of barking, lunging, and pulling.
They’ve pulled mom down on more than one occasion, and have been the source of some embarrassment and anxiety.

Sound familiar?

These girls are doing a boot camp, and mom is learning along with the girls how to keep them under control and lead them, not the other way around!

Stay tuned for their progress. I’m so excited to be a part of this.

12/28/2020

Arlo, 16 week old Labradoodle is learning recall!
She’s enrolled in a 5 day boot camp.
Her mom’s main goals for her are recall, drop it, and crate training!
We’re off to a great start!

12/26/2020

12/21/2020

Virtual puppy classes!
5 zoom classes
We will go over: potty training, Sit, down, come, and leash walking
Pm for details