UpDog Canine

09/24/2023

Toasty has been loving Day Camp! Day camps can be done in either half or full days, and your pup will work on training while also going on adventures, getting exposure to new places, and getting mental and physical exercise. Dogs come home tired and fulfilled, plus they get constant maintenance and progress toward their training goals!

At this time, Day Camps are available to any dogs who have had at least one private lesson. Activities will vary depending on the individual dog and our training goals.

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🐕 Balanced, Relationship-based training
🐶 Private lessons
🦮 Service Dog training
🏔️ Off-leash training
☀️ Day Camps
🌎 Field trips

📱 (209) 770 - 1869
✉️ [email protected]

09/23/2023

BIG NEWS!!!

UpDog Canine is now The Wild K9! After stepping away from the industry and deciding to come back, it was time for a fresh start. New name, new logo, but same love for dogs and the relationship they can share with their people.

09/10/2023

So proud of this (not so) little guy! His owner reached out to me looking for guidance on some reactivity towards other dogs. While this is very normal for a young Doberman, it’s important to address it and guide them through it. After a few weeks, his reactivity has improved drastically and he was able to show at a dog show this weekend. His owner reports that he’s been doing great and showing like a champ!

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

🐕 Balanced, Relationship-based training
🐶 Private lessons
🦮 Service Dog training
🏔️ Off-leash training
☀️ Day Camps
🌎 Field trips

📱 (209) 770 - 1869
✉️ [email protected]

09/06/2023

09/04/2023

04/24/2022

Welcome back Lily! Lily is in training to be a service dog, and while her family is on vacation she is staying with us to brush up some skills. Our goal is to prep her for the public access training phase, getting her one step closer to mastering her job. Always a pleasure to have this goofy girl!
Now accepting new clients for private lessons! DM or email [email protected] for more information

04/13/2022

Puppy socialization is a process. Be sure to have a plan in place before your puppy comes home!

03/09/2022

Welcome Bootstrap Bill! “Boots” is here for just a few weeks to brush up on some obedience and to be more reliable in his recall. He’s a very sweet guy, and we’re excited to have him!

02/23/2022

We had a blast meeting all the pups who reached out for new title evaluations over the weekend. Congratulations to all these awesome dogs and their handlers!
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Dallas, CGC ()
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Akira, CGC (.k9)
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Drake, CGCA ()
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Luna, CGC, TKN (.men.tell.no.tails)
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Spirit, TKN, TKI
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Joey, CGC, TKN ()

01/30/2022

For dogs like Sage, the world can be a terrifying place. Her behavior modification has been a long road, but her progress is unbelievable. Through relationship building and structure, she is now at a place where she can face her fears and we can build her confidence around her triggers. Here is a short clip of one of our recent exposure sessions. This park is busy in the evenings, as you can see and hear, and there are a lot of things that Sage is fearful of. We are working at a safe distance from her triggers and playing some engagement and food chase games. Then comes a moment I’m extremely proud of: a cyclist passes us very closely, and she watches. I let her observe, and then she quickly offers me eye contact.

The journey of behavior modification can be long and complicated. But in this moment we can see all the work that Sage’s owner and I have put in paying off in what just months ago would have been a scary situation. Reactive dogs aren’t giving us a hard time, they are having a hard time, and with guidance, commitment, and time, they can overcome their challenges. Good girl Sage 💚

01/28/2022

Blue and her owners have been crushing it over the holidays! Blue has reliable off leash recall, wonderful obedience, impressive food drive and is overall a super motivated, happy pup! I always say that lessons are for the humans who I’m teaching to train their dog, and Team Blue does a phenomenal job on their homework. Always a pleasure to see this super duper girl 💙

11/28/2021

Congratulations to Otto (left), Koda (right), and their human for earning their CGC titles last week! These two boys were superb!

09/29/2021

Huge congratulations to Tatyana and her handsome boy Troy for earning Troy’s TKN and TKI titles at the Doberman Pinscher Club of Sacramento Specialty Cluster a few weeks ago! This is such a fun event, and I’ve been honored to be their evaluator for the last two years.

09/29/2021

Much needed update!

First some quick notes:
-Yes, I’m still available for one on one lessons!

-I do still offer boarding and board and train, but on a fairly limited basis

-Group classes are still TBD due to venue issues

As some of you know, a few months ago I accepted a wonderful opportunity to train with a team of trainers I have admired for years. I took this opportunity to expand my knowledge and continue to grow as a trainer while also working with more dogs. This has definitely impacted my availability, but has been very worth it.

For the time being, I am still very much available for private lessons in the Sacramento area. In that sense my availability is much the same as it was.

Boarding and board and trains are more limited as I want to ensure that the quality of your dog’s stay isn’t impacted by my busier schedule. These services are still available, but my calendar fills quickly so please understand if I can’t accommodate a short notice request.

By far the highest demand now is for group classes, and I understand many of you are waiting on updates. I have a few prospective venues to host these classes, but want to determine that they are open for use for the time frame I’m looking for. If you’re interested in group classes, please comment here or private message me with what class you’re looking for and I will try to schedule it 🙂 I am also looking to start offering “training days” for those of us not necessarily in need of a structured group class, but more a group of dogs to use as socialization/distractions while we work on our individual training goals. I would be present during these meetups as a spotter of sorts to help, but it would be far less formal than a lesson or group class. More information on that to come.

Thank you all for bearing with us for the last few months during this transitional period, and looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

05/21/2021

Sage has been crushing it with training recently! She’s come so far in the short time I’ve worked with her, and her family’s dedication to her training is so impressive. Can’t wait to keep helping them go far together!

05/17/2021

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class!

By popular demand, my AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class is starting next week! The S.T.A.R. program is designed to get puppies and their owners off to the best start possible in their lives together, so these classes are a fantastic opportunity for safe, early socialization with other dogs and people. This class will teach you how to best interact with your puppy and build your relationship, plus you'll get great tips on house training, combatting puppy problems such as destructive behaviors and crate training.

At the end of the class, your puppy will be evaluated for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy recognition. While this is not an official AKC title, you do get a medallion and certificate from the American Kennel Club to acknowledge your achievement together.

This class is open to all puppies up to 6 months of age. Puppies can participate before having completed all their shots, but it is required to have completed all age-appropriate vaccinations prior to attending. I will provide more information on this in the first class email. Class starts Wednesday, May 26th at 6 PM in Davis and will be held every week for 6 weeks.

If you are interested, please send me a message here or email me at [email protected]. Can't wait!

04/13/2021

04/08/2021

Thank you so much to everyone who came out for our first Rally Novice class last night! We have a great group of dogs and their awesome, dedicated owners.

This Rally Novice class is currently full, but keep your eye out for more classes that will be announced here soon!

Awesome photo of Watson by Bex Munson

04/01/2021

You are seen, you are valued, and here you are always safe, respected, and supported. Mostly, today and every day, you are celebrated.

Happy

03/20/2021

The Spring Rally Novice Class is now open for signups!

Class will start on Wednesday, April 7th and meet every week. We will break down the Rally Novice signs and focus on a specific subset each week. At the end of the 6 week class, dogs should have all skills necessary to record and submit courses for their virtual Rally Novice title! It is not a requirement of this class to complete the video submission, as Rally is a fantastic sport to boost engagement and proof obedience skills in a fun way.

Dogs in this class should be familiar with loose leash walking, sit, down, and stay. We will work on the rest!

Hope to see you all soon! Space is limited to 5 dogs at this time.

03/18/2021

Rally enthusiasts!

Keep an eye out for an announcement coming tomorrow about our upcoming Rally Novice class in Davis! The class will last 6 weeks and will cover all Rally Novice signs. We will also have opportunities to record the courses for virtual submissions, with a goal of preparing all participants to earn their AKC Rally Novice (RN) title!

02/11/2021

Thank you so so much to everyone who came out to our Basic Manners Class tonight in Davis! We have a great group and I can’t wait to see what all these pups learn over the next few weeks.

I’ve had several people reach out and request another class after this session wraps up, and that’s definitely in the works! If you’re interested, please send me a message with your email address and I’ll add you to the list!

01/05/2021

I have had a few requests for a beginner obedience class in Davis. This class would cover the skills required for AKC Canine Good Citizen and STAR Puppy as well as some additional skills for manners at home and in day to day life. Participants in this class should also be ready for the AKC Virtual Home Manners title evaluations. This is a great socialization opportunity and chance to learn valuable life skills. This class would also benefit dogs whose skills are maybe a little rusty and need cleaning up.

Please message or email [email protected] if you're interested! Thanks!

01/04/2021

I always advise against dog parks. Try meeting up with dogs from your group classes or other activities and having play days with dogs you know are healthy mentally and physically!

20 years ago, dog parks were barely a *thing*. Doggy daycares were similarly rare. A combination of urban sprawl and an increasingly time-poor family unit has resulted in their spread and popularity.

The idea of having a ‘dog social dog’ has become the norm amongst pet owners everywhere.

But this contradicts centuries and decades of selective breeding.

Dogs have been bred to be OUR companions and working partners. While co-habitation with other dogs sometimes goes along with that, it’s never really been deliberately selected for. In fact, some breeds have been bred to be largely unable to read social cues from other dogs.

Now we’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Making working breeds (even those watered down by backyard breeding and bench shows) dog social. How? Well that’s the entire problem...

Let’s SOCIALIZE with as many puppies and dogs as possible so our wee staffy/collie/terrier/shepherd puppy knows how to PLAY.

* CUE THE PUPPY MOSH PIT *

PLAY is one tiny fraction of a dogs social repertoire, but if it’s 100% of what you do with your puppy, you’re going to end up with problems.

The staffy that obsessively licks other dogs faces until they lash out. Oh, but wait, ‘he’ll never *start* a fight, he just wants to play.’

The heeler that tracks and chases any dog playing with a ball, inching closer and closer each time until WHOOPS, dog fight.

The ‘fun police’ Shepherds, ruling the roost until another one shows up and s**t hits the fan.

Here’s the thing. Dogs don’t NEED dog friends. That’s either comforting, or disconcerting for dog owners.

Comforting to those that are trying to fix their dogs genetics with more and more ‘socialization’ because Karen at the dog park told them that their terrier’s spacial sensitivity and scrappiness can be fixed with PLAY.

Disconcerting for those who have so far gotten lucky and had no incidents, and no fallout in engagement from an excess of doggy interactions.

There are 101 ways to give our dogs what they need and make them happy. The dog park is not the place for that.

It’s the place that creates clients for me.

12/24/2020

Happy Holidays to all our friends! We’re having a relaxing holiday, just snuggling the dogs on the couch, watching some movies and baking cookies later. No matter how you celebrate we wish you health, happiness, and a prosperous 2021

12/22/2020

Huge Congratulations to Rhettcie Rose and her owner Julianne Curtis on earning a whopping FIVE titles today! Rhettcie earned her CGC, CGCA, CGCU, TKN and her TKI!

11/30/2020

“I am a Dobermann, cataloged one of the most intelligent and most feared dogs, I have served the US Navy and I will not narrate my dark past on the German side. They called me the devil's dog, today they ask me to behave like a Poodle, they have gone so far as to wear clothes ...

I am a Malinois:
Gifted among dogs, I shine in all disciplines and I am always ready to work. Today they ask me to relax on the couch all day.

I am an Akita Inu:
My ancestors have been selected to fight with other dogs. Today they ask me to be tolerant of my peers, and they blame me for my reactivity when one of them approaches me.

I am a Beagle:
When I followed my prey, I gave a voice so that the hunters could follow me. I was leading the dance.
Today they put an electric collar on me to silence me, and they want me to return to the call in a snap of fingers.

I am a Yorkshire Terrier:
I was a rat catcher, fearsome in the English mines. Today they think that I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

I am a Labrador Retriever:
My vision of happiness is a dip in a pond to bring my master the duck he just shot. Today we forget that I am a sports dog, I am fat and I have to babysit the children.

I am a Jack Russell Terrier:
I am capable of facing a fox larger than me in its own den. Today they blame me for my damn character and want to turn me into a parlor dog.

I am a Siberian husky:
I got to know the great spaces of northern Russia, where I could pull sledges at impressive speed. Today I only have the walls of the garden on my horizon, and my only occupation is the holes I dig in the ground.

I am a Border Collie:
I am cut out to work eight hours a day, and I am an incomparable artist of herd labor. Today they blame me because in the absence of sheep, I try to control bicycles, cars, children from home, and everything that is in motion.

I am...
I'm a 19th century dog

I am handsome, I am alert, I am obedient, I can put up with being in a purse ... but I am also an individual who needs to express his instincts, and I am not suitable for the sedentary life that you want me to carry.

Spending eight hours a day alone on the patio, seeing you a little at night when you come back, and being entitled to any activity just a short walk to the bathroom will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your garden into a minefield, relieving myself on the inside, being unmanageable the few times I'll find myself on the outside, and sometimes spending my days on my cushion, then you'll think I'm happy to To be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work: in reality I will be in full depression, because it is not the preference of the human, but also that of the dog of the XXI century.

If you like me, if you dream of me forever, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athlete look make you want to possess me, but you can't give me a real life of a full dog, a life that is really worth living, and if not you can offer me the job my genes claim ... then quit me.
If you like my rhythm but are not ready to accept my character traits from rigorous genetic selection, and you think you can change them with your only good will ... then quit me.

I'm a 19th century dog, yes. But, deep there, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who led a herd still sleeps. And sooner or later, you will wake up. For better or worse.”

Elsa Weiss Éducation Canine / Cynopolis
Translation edited by Razas Poderosas y de Trabajo.

11/30/2020

There are many reasons we never recommend keeping littermate a in the same home, and the biggest one is littermate syndrome. This can cause severe behavioral problems down the road including anxiety and aggression.

For more information on littermate syndrome, check out this informative blog post!

[Please note that an update of this article was published in the Winter 2014 issue of Bark Magazine.] By Jeff Stallings, CPDT-KA Upon reading Patricia Leslie’s email, I knew I’d be replying with di…

11/08/2020

We’re live on AKC Marketplace! Check out our listing here: https://marketplace.akc.org/trainer/updog-canine-academy

UpDog Canine Academy Has Training Services In Davis, CA Listed On AKC TrainerFinder

11/06/2020

I always thought, when it came to my dog, I needed to do more.

When my first dog had behavioral issues…

I thought he needed more exercise…

More training…

More mental stimulation…

More interactive toys.

What I never realized was…

He was really good at DOING things.

But the skill he lacked…

The one that got us in trouble ALL…THE…TIME…

Was the skill of doing…

NOTHING.

He didn’t know how relax.

And all I did was keep him busy.

Listen…

I don’t care if your dog is reactive, or if you have a dog that you are competing with in dog sports…

Teach them how to do nothing.

Teach them how to chill out…

How to relax…

And for the really busy dogs…

Make them practice it often.

Your sanity and theirs will thank you 😉

10/26/2020

Congratulations to Blush on passing her Trick Dog Novice evaluation and earning her title! She’s a spunky little girl who rocked her tricks! Great teamwork happening here :)

I’ve had a lot of interest in Trick Dog evaluations, and people have been asking what the video should look like. This is a perfect example! We can also evaluate the Virtual Home Manners titles, just PM for info :)

10/05/2020

09/28/2020

What a great weekend we had evaluating dogs at the Doberman Pinscher Club of Sacramento Specialty Cluster this weekend! We have SEVERAL new Canine Good Citizens, a few new Novice Trick Dogs, and even a few Advanced CGCs! Congratulations to all dogs and their handlers!

Huge thanks to Layni Beal for all your help and to Photos by the Bucket for the awesome pictures!

09/27/2020

Congratulations to Buzz and Xander for earning their CGCA (Canine Good Citizen Advanced) titles today! Xander also earned his Trick Dog Novice (TKN)!

And a huge congratulations to all the other dogs who earned their CGC titles today at the Doberman Pinscher Club of Sacramento Specialty. We had a great turn out and can’t wait to see some more awesome dogs tomorrow!

Thank you so much to Photos by the Bucket for the great photo of these two rockstars :)

09/16/2020

These two best buds had a great weekend together! When your dog is in our care, they become a part of my pack to the biggest extent possible (we obviously accommodate dogs with behavior considerations). This means they join my own dogs in exercise, play, and get the same amount of training and grooming as my dogs. Having Xander this weekend was an absolute pleasure! He has been friends with Stark since I first brought my boy home, so they had a blast hanging out all weekend. Thanks to for the awesome shot of these two!

09/13/2020

Exercise needs not being met can play a huge factor in training success and overall behavior. This goes for all breeds, small or large!

08/20/2020

😂

08/10/2020

🛇 Use your Manners! 🛇
The Sniff test - Stop doing that!
The sniff test - a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they're actually doing.

🚩When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure AT them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe & whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. You are forcing an interaction of a relationship that hasn't had time to develop. To some dogs, this is quite rude & the reason a lot of dogs snap at or bite people. This can cause alot of behavioral issues because of layered stress due to forced interactions.

🚩If they are on lead, they have no where to go if they are sensitive to spacial pressure, so can end up shutting down, shying away or snapping at your hand so you back off. This is an example of how a dog is now using pressure to turn off pressure & make you back off so they aren't so stressed.

🚩People think by offering your hand it can give the dog time to sniff to know you're friendly... they can sniff without being forced to sniff your hand.Their noses are far more superior than ours & they don't need close contact forced upon them to smell you.

🚩Some dogs might not want to know you. You have no relationship with them and that's perfectly fine. They aren't your dog so you don't need to touch them or steal pats for your own satisfaction.

🤔 If you are meeting a dog, what should you do?
⚠Ask the owner if you can interact with their dog. Not all people want strangers touching their dogs. Especially strangers who you are unlikely to see again.
⚠Stand up straight & relaxed, with your hands at your side.
⚠Ignore the dog & talk to the owner.
⚠Don't stare at the dog & don't try to force an interaction by going in for a pat. If the dog wants to know you, it will come up to you & sniff around. Usually they will move away & then come back for a second sniffathon. Some dogs will bunt your hands & wag their tails, which are good signs that you're likely an accepted new friend. Give them a few slow pats down their back (NOT THEIR HEAD) & then stop. Is the dog happy? Has it accepted your interaction? This will determine whether you can give it more pats.

🐶This is a more stress free option for dogs & a reason why in consultations we can develop a good level of trust, especially with fearful dogs & aggressive dogs, without a bunch of negative side effects from forced interactions.

08/10/2020

So excited for our Life Skills/Basic Obedience class to start up this week in Davis! It isn’t too late to sign up for those who are interested. Just PM us for more info or see our event page.

08/06/2020

Hey everyone!

With the state of the world staying pretty much the same, I am considering adding virtual/online courses to my services. If this is something that would interest you, please comment with your favorite emoji!

Bonus photo of baby Stark to help you finish the week strong!