We had an incredible ILK9 Alumni session this morning at the @historicpearl! We got there a little early and had the place to ourselves. Super proud of our owners and the work they put in with their dogs!
See you next month!!
Two peas in a pod!
Nola has been here for about 4 weeks. Her and Rooster have had ample time to get to know each other in a structured way. Although both Rooster and Nola have very easy going temperaments, we still built up their likelihood of meshing well through a lot of passive socialization in the beginning. We then introduced drills with toys and free time for them both while instituting multiple off-switch drills throughout the sessions. This increased the likelihood that they would mesh well and that we had reliable functional obedience with both dogs in case either dog became too intrusive to the other. Essentially, as the owners/trainers we have constantly played playground monitor with these two - finding the balance between structure and freedom while shaping clear expectations and boundaries so their interactions stay positive and enjoyable.
Shoutout to Rooster for following in the footsteps of his big brother, Bass, and being the most tolerant doggo so he can help teach training dogs how to be the best versions of themselves. He’s our best training tool and he doesn’t get enough credit 🥰🐶🐕
Check out this incredible before and after from a 3 year old bull terrier, Nemo, that recently graduated from our behavioral board and train program.
This family went from completely overwhelmed to completely empowered in 21 days!
Check out this quick highlight of Porter’s transformation!
Before training he was impulsive, insecure, and reactive. His owners were frustrated by his behavior because they couldn’t do the activities they wanted with him.
Now, Porter 2.0 is back home with a whole new life ahead of him. He still has his great personality, but an entirely new set of skills to add to the mix! Plus, his owners know how to continue advancing his skills and bringing the best out of Porter.
Congratulations, Porter!!
Leadership is not a part time gig.
You would be amazed at how many behavioral issues in a dog, come from your dog being overstimulated, overly aroused, and under led.
If you can find ways to sneak in some impulse control, obedience, and micro management you will start to form a different relationship with your pup. And by different I mean better, more complete, more fulfilling, etc.
Love your dog by leading them!
We just wrapped up our 3 day K9 Proxemics course at Fort Leonardwood, MO. Our course focused on teaching 8 Army MWD Handlers the basics on Close Quarters Battle (CQB), K9 utilization, substance detection, tactical movement, and some behavioral mod.
These students were a blast to work with and the dog teams made incredible progress. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with our good friends at @pawsandfootprintsllc who facilitated this entire course!
We love giving back to the military working dog community!
Future MWD OOx is growing so fast… He is killing it in his training, too! Exposing him to new environments and working on focus with the handler is key for a healthy socialized pup!
Days on the road are so much better with our dogs!
Who else needs a road trip?!?
(Hi, Bass!)
What a difference a few days of structure and the right tools can make for a dog! RRitter and MMedusa are two very strong dogs with lots of energy, drive, and instincts. Now they just have a healthier way to deal with them!
Counter conditioning fear and anxiety. We see a lot of fear based aggression and reactivity. So how do you go about rehabilitating fear and replacing with confidence?
It’s a combination of structure (obedience), exposure, and reinforcement. Consistent application of all three of those combined will counter condition a dog’s emotional responses to stimulus over time.
Reinforcement is the part that is the most misunderstood. If a dog barks at the sound of a deadbolt (like the video), there is a pretty strong connection between that sound and a situation the dog fears. It’s ok to apply correction for breaking an obedience task when the trigger occurs, but just punishing for the behavior alone won’t work.
Reinforcement is crucial to help change that stimulus (deadbolt) to a positive emotion.
Through reps and consistency you can change your dog’s emotions!
More info to come on why we say no to dog parks and what our solution is instead.
We’ve had a few clients reach out with questions regarding AKC certifications. We’re happy to announce that ILK9 is AKC certified and that we are working on providing this service to past ILK9 clients AND non-clients in the coming months. Stay tuned for dates and how to sign up and secure your spot!
WE LOVE DOGS, TOO! 🤭😍
Our trainers go above and beyond to make sure each dog is getting the exposure they need. When Kane checked into our board and train program, his owner shared with us that Kane was uncomfortable around kids and the owner was concerned that could lead to dangerous behaviors like fear aggression.
This is a short clip illustrating how our board and train program is specially tailored to address the issues of each dog and the specific goals the owner may have.
What is the difference between changing behavior and obedience training? Many owners are simply teaching obedience at a very basic level and expecting that to have an impact on their dogs behavior. For most dogs, that’s not the case. So the next time you work on the relationship you have with your dog, just ask yourself, “Am I working on obedience, or changing behavior?”
Our graduates continue to SHOW UP and put the work in! These sessions are the highlight of the month.
Every time I try to think of new ways to challenge them, they continue to overcome.
Where should we go next month??
#ivyleaguecanineacademy #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogteamleader #dogtraining #dogtrainer #balancedtraining #reactivity #calm #focus #doglogic #obedience #sanantonio #texas
If your dog has confidence issues, they need a job. Giving your dog a job (obedience commands, place training, structured walks) and holding them accountable for that job (Reward AND Punishment) you will increase confidence. A dog with no job is much more likely to develop anxiety, fear, reactivity, and impulse control issues.
LEAD YOUR DOG!!
#ivyleaguecanineacademy #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogteamleader #dogtraining #dogtrainer #balancedtraining #reactivity #calm #focus #doglogic #obedience #sanantonio #texas
A major part of our training approach is environmental exposure to stimulating environments. Here, our training dogs are overcoming a lot of stimulation at The Pearl in downtown SATX.
This doesn’t happen overnight, but with a solid obedience foundation and gradual exposure to different environments, you can get your dog to achieve a calm mental state no matter where you are or what is going on around you!
#ivyleaguecanineacademy #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogteamleader #dogtraining #dogtrainer #balancedtraining #reactivity #calm #focus #doglogic #obedience #sanantonio #texas
Summer is here!! As you look forward getting outdoors with your doggy, make sure you are prepared to keep them safe from heat injury!
-KNOW YOUR DOG’S TEMPERATURE! Ensure you have a thermometer (yes, you need to check it rectally to be accurate) when you are doing activities in the elements. Anything over 107 degrees should be considered heat injury!
-ACCLIMATE YOUR DOG! Doing low impact activities such as “place training” and extended duration obedience is a great way to get your dog out of the AC and let their body get used to the heat. If you go straight from the AC to a high stress activity, your chances of heat injury increase. Having your dog out in the heat is key for acclimation.
-ALWAYS HAVE WATER AND A BOWL! Heat injuries can come up quick. Make sure you have a water source and bowl to give your dog if you start seeing signs of heat injury!
If you think your dog is having heat injury, stop the activity, try cooling them, and contact your vet! Minutes save lives in these moments.
#ivyleaguecanineacademy #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogteamleader #dogtraining #dogtrainer #balancedtraining #reactivity #calm #focus #doglogic #obedience #sanantonio #texas
