The Kindred K-9

06/29/2023

Hello Everyone!
Long time, no talk.
I’ve received numerous request for training within the last few days and unfortunately I’m not currently doing any sessions.
I have a sweet little (almost) two year old and I also work full time plus some, so I’m trying to soak up as much time as I can with her.
Hopefully when things slow down a little at work and I get my home life a little more balanced, I’ll be able to start taking clients again.
Thanks for understanding. 🙂🐾

11/15/2022

Friendly reminder that dogs are not Christmas gifts, they are a life long commitment that you have to be ready for.
However, if you do get one for Christmas.. here are some great tips! 🎄🐾

10/03/2022

Due to a cancellation, I now have Friday evenings open. 🙂
Message me to book!

10/03/2022

Took a break from training for a Barkday Party!

Happy 1st Birthday Milo! 🎉🎂🥳

09/24/2022

Perfect weather for a park trip!

09/20/2022

Hey Everyone!

My apologies for not being super active on here lately. Life has been crazy working full time, running this business, still trying to spend time with all of my family, and raising a sassy 11 month old! 😅
I just wanted to pop on and give a little update on my schedule for anyone looking to book. Thanks to a tag on Facebook today, the rest of my year is filling up fast! I’ve taken on 5 new clients this past week so I’m currently booked until November. If you’d like to start sessions then, please send me a message so I can get you on the schedule!

09/17/2022

Mile and a half of leash training + car ride + DQ pup cup = one happy Milo. 🐾♥️

08/15/2022

I give a long line to all of my clients! ☺️
They’re such a valuable training tool, especially with recall training.

In the theme of management, one of the most valuable management tools is the long line! This is a leash that is usually 10ft or longer in length and comes in a variety of materials. (Personally I am a fan of biothane as it is comfortable in the hand, durable, and easy to clean when dirty.) But often times this is a forgotten piece of the the learning puzzle for guardians.

Commonly I hear that "my dog pulls hard when on a leash for walks!" (and this is often the reason people want to do off leash walks, even before their dog is really ready for that kind of environment) They forget that giving the dog a long line to walk on reduces pulling, provides better access to enrichment like sniffing bushes, and makes a walk more enjoyable for everyone! For urban environments I like to use a 10ft to 15ft long line.

Another common issue are dogs who's recall isn't great, or who struggles to recall away from other dogs, or people. A long line can provide an off leash experience, while protecting your dog from chasing or engaging with animals that don't necessarily want to be besties. For hiking and off leash areas with a long line I recommend a 20ft to 30ft line. For recall practice in a wide open area use up to 50ft.
Leash reactive dogs often do much better on a long line. This is because when we keep a dog close, on a tight leash, it can make them feel trapped, cornered or unable to make the choice to leave. Giving your leash reactive dog 15 or more feet of decision making room allows them to make them choices. And making choices about leaving, or disengaging from their triggers. It can seem counterintuitive for dogs who might display aggressive behavior in the fact of their reactivity, but it can make a big difference in their ability to learn not to panic at the sight of a trigger.

I teach off leash classes for hiking with your dog. And every single class begins with dogs on long lines. Preventing undesirable behaviors (like not recalling, or pulling on a leash) is the first step in our dog's learning how to engage in behaviors we need!

08/10/2022

Congratulations to our Level 1 Basic Obedience graduates from this past week! Milo, Ellie, and Oakley have been star students. ⭐️🐾

08/10/2022

A little place, stay, release action for ya with sweet Oakley. 🐾

08/04/2022

Make sure to come see us this weekend at the Stanton Corn Festival!

On top of all of our goodies we’ll be selling, I’ll also be raffling off five free one hour training sessions! ($250 value!)

Tickets for the raffle will be $5/ticket or 5 for $20.

All proceeds from this raffle will go to Powell County Animal Shelter 🐾♥️

08/03/2022

FAQ: Are there different levels of training?

Yes! All new clients will start with Basic Obedience level 1, unless those skills are proven during the evaluation.

Level 1 will consist of learning foundational skills in your home without distractions. This level will teach your dog how fun it can be to follow commands and lays the groundwork for skills that are key in developing a well mannered pup. Level 1 consist of 1 evaluation and 5 sessions. Price: $250

Level 2 will consist of building on the foundation skills. These sessions will be conducted in a more distracting location such as a park. We may also take a trip to Lowes or Rural King later in the training series to solidify leashing walking and focus. Level 2 consist of 5 sessions. Price: $225

07/29/2022

If anyone knows of any shelters that might need help in EKY this weekend, please tag them below. I only have a babysitter for early morning on Saturday, and maybe for Sunday but I’d really like to help out in any way possible.

07/20/2022

We’re going to be set up at the corn festival!
Come see us for all your dog training needs. ☺️
We’ll be selling training books, clickers, snuffle mats, homemade dog jerky, training treats, and more!

The schedule is finalized and we are ready to go for the 2022 Stanton Corn Festival!!

We hope you are making plans now to join us!! 🌽

07/16/2022

Considering changing up my schedule to accommodate more clients sooner. Right now, I’m booked until almost October and I HATE making people wait but I do work full time and I’m a momma to a sweet little 9 month old so please be patient. ☺️

Currently: 1 session per week for 6 weeks.

Proposal: 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks.

What are y’all’s thoughts on this? Facebook wouldn’t let me make a poll.

07/12/2022

Spots are filling up FAST! I’m so thankful for all of my current and future clients. Y’all are the best! ♥️

I’m completely booked for this month and almost completely booked for next month!

Dates in white are what I have available for the next three months. Message me to get your name on the schedule while you can. ☺️

07/09/2022

The place command helps your dog learn what to do and how to exist in real-world situations. The place command also motivates your dog to learn to be calm while life is happening around them. This is one of my favorite and most valuable commands to teach because you can utilize it in so many situations!
Door rushing? Place.
Hanging out under your feet while you’re trying to cook? Place.
Food begging? Place.
The pups also love it because it’s a comfy place to relax.

Also, y’all please ignore my obnoxious breathing. I’m just getting over a cold that kicked my butt. 😅

07/09/2022

Sweet Milo spent this session learning place! I think today may have been his favorite session because he loved getting to relax on his new comfy mat. 🐾

07/09/2022

Sweet Ellie the Cane Corso puppy is doing amazing. 🐾

On week one of training she learned to sit and settle.
On week two she learned to have patience and leave things alone, even if it’s a big pile of tasty treats or her human brother’s toy bouncing across the floor.

07/01/2022

The importance of great treats:
Treats are your dog's payment and the reason they try hard when first training.
Over time, you can reduce the amount of treats you are using. But when first starting out, training will be a lot faster and more successful if you use a lot of really delicious treats for your dog.

Treat ideas:
Some dogs will try their best for regular food. I personally use Blue Buffalo during training, but if a dog is treat picky or stubborn, deli meat or cheese is a great idea!
Make sure to use VERY small treat sizes.

If your dog does not seem to care for their regular food or regular treats during training, see if your dog likes:
hotdogs
chicken
string cheese
steak
freeze-dried liver
bologna
deli turkey
ham

Learn first - wean treats later:
Many owners are worried that their dogs will forever need a bribe to behave well.
Do not worry about that for now!
First we need to teach your dog.
Then we need to strengthen the behavior.
And finally, when you dog thoroughly understands their task we wean off the treats and only use hand signals or verbal commands.

07/01/2022

Destructive behavior doesn’t mean your dog is trying to be “bad”. It is usually a sign that your dog is under-stimulated.

When dogs don't have enough stimulation or they have no outlets for breed specific behaviors, they will usually create their own entertainment by being “destructive”.

How true is this! Thanks Mighty Dog Graphics for this!

If your dog is bored, they will create their own fun!! Dogs weren’t breed to lie on the sofa, they were bred to work in some way.

Mental enrichment is the way forward, giving you a happy, content and much more cooperative dog.

Find time to look into your dogs breed needs and try to incorporate it into their lives

06/30/2022

FAQ:
How does in home dog training work and what is the cost?

The evaluation is $25. It is required prior to beginning training. It’s a visit that last around an hour to determine the learn-ability, home life, and see how the dog responds to things. After that, it’s $50 per one hour session.

Basic obedience & manners USUALLY take about 5 sessions. They’ll USUALLY learn sit, focus, settle (lay down), leave it, recall (come back), stay, place (go to a specified mat), and leash manners in that time. We’ll also work on nibbling and jumping if it’s a problem. I stress the word usually because it is completely dependent upon how quick of a learner the dog is an how much work the owner puts in between trainings. Every dog is different so don’t get discouraged if they don’t immediately catch on! Just like us humans, learning a new task takes time and plenty of repetition.

With my sessions, I’ll teach the dog how to perform the base behavior and you’ll have daily homework of about 15-30 minutes broken up throughout the day working with the dog to enforce and build upon what was taught at the session.

The price of the training series is $250.

06/21/2022

🥵🥵🥵

06/16/2022

06/13/2022

SAFETY ALERT🚨: Extreme temperatures are projected over the next several days!

Once a dog’s body temperature reaches above 105 degrees, there can be irreversible organ and cellular damage. Flat-nosed breeds, breeds with thick coats, and puppies are at an increased risk!

We recommend:
-Pets be kept at home; indoors in a cool environment
-Avoid time outside during the heat of the day
-Limit walks and outside activities, if possible
-Make sure your pets are secure and they are wearing visible and permanent ID

Symptoms of heatstroke:
-Open mouth panting
-Thick saliva
-Restlessness
-Increased heart rate
-Diarrhea or vomiting
-Loss of consciousness

What to do if you suspect a dog is suffering heatstroke:
-Offer water
-Move to a cool environment
-Wet the pads of their feet with cold water
-Take them to a vet as soon as possible

We will prioritize any heat-related calls. If you see an animal in distress, please contact us immediately at 859-255-9033!

06/13/2022

Hello Dog Mommas and Dog Dads!

Unfortunately, I’ve made the decision to cancel our Paws in the Park group classes due to lack of sign ups. People seem to prefer in home classes for now and the fee for renting the park was pretty steep for just a few sign ups.

Other than 2 spots on Saturday mornings (9-10 & 10:30-11:30 in Powell County) I’m completely booked for the next four weeks! Go ahead and get your name on the schedule because spots are filling up fast!

Thanks to everyone for all the support! 😃🐾♥️

06/13/2022

😁Is your little nibbler nibbling your hands, ankles, or pants…? if your answer is ‘Yes! Please help!’, then this post is for you.

Puppies are ‘bitey’ because they are:

1. Overexcited
2. Frustrated
3. Tired
4. Playing
5. Attention seeking
6. Teething

🐕They may not have learnt how to appropriately interact with you because when they have interacted with their siblings they have nibbled and jumped on them to engage with them, so they don’t know that you don’t like this just yet.

Biting is completely normal puppy behaviour. Unfortunately, what comes naturally to them is not what we like, nor what we want to encourage. It is important that you discourage biting behaviour by not engaging with it at all. This means the moment your pup mouths or bites you, you immediately disengage by removing your hands, folding your arms, and standing up and not responding to your pup for a couple of seconds. Do not yank or jerk your hand away as your pup may think it’s a game.

You can calmly redirect your pup's attention to a toy that’s close by and reward your puppy for holding that toy in its mouth instead by saying ‘Good boy to hold the toy’. Your puppy can’t bite you if its mouth is full, and a toy is a better way of ‘filling’ its mouth.

🐶If your pup picks up something valuable, happily call your pup and trade it for something else like a treat or toy as shouting or getting cross can cause you to become unsafe and unpredictable to your pup.

Manage your environment. Restrict and limit your pup’s access to items or places you don’t want it to go by closing the door, putting up a baby gate, or putting valuable items out of reach. Be patient, dogs behave naturally as they do for their species.
Everyone in the house needs to be consistent so that your puppy learns to play with everyone appropriately, not just you.

❌DO NOT yell or smack your puppy. This will most likely scare your puppy which may make them afraid of you or make them play more aggressively.
Provide your puppy with appropriate chewing outlets that are safe to nibble on. This will help with teething and will help reduce frustration and destructive behaviours and relieve mild anxiety, as well as boredom.
Invest in a few different types of toys to find out what textures your puppy likes the most, and rotate the toys so that your pup never gets bored.

⛔️AVOID small toys that your pup could choke on and sharp parts that could cause injury and NO cooked bones.

🐾The basic rule of training is... Do not respond to behaviours you don’t like. Take the opportunity to reinforce the ones you do like, and if you can’t ignore the behaviours you don’t like then redirect that behaviour into something else more constructive and reward that to reinforce it instead.

06/13/2022

06/08/2022

🐾🐾🐾

We dog trainers are usually well-versed in celebrating small wins. It's how we train everything from recall to cooperative care: We break the behavior we're after into small, achievable increments that the dog can do.

As we see success, we make those increments closer and closer to the end goal.

It's easy to see how this works with dogs. They get reinforced, and they're motivated to keep trying.

So it may not come as a surprise that celebrating small wins is essential in alone-time training, too. When my clients learn to rejoice in the fact that they're able to get the mail without their dog panicking, for example, they're one step closer to celebrating bigger wins.