Up A Level K9

12/07/2023

10/27/2023

The duo you never knew you needed!

This is Rocky and Mika. Rocky is a Target delivery dog and Mika is a Cowgirl!

Don’t forget to like this post if you like Rocky and Mika’s Halloween costumes. The post with the most likes will win a $100 gift card to Pet Smart.

12/27/2022

Thanks Lisa!
We’re so grateful for your trust with Asta & Aspen! We loved having them, and they provided much laughter while with us for the month, and some fun new challenges! I’m so glad they’re doing well back at home. Don’t be a stranger!!! ❤️

10/29/2022

Chief arrived a couple weeks ago anxious and fearful. Through patience, consistency and confidence building activities he now has a calm mindset and is engaged with the handler. We love it when dogs have a breakthrough and we can't wait to see the progress Chief shows in the next few days.

07/17/2022

We train dogs to live larger lives with their owners! We had such an enjoyable 4 hour outing with Maple and Vinci Friday night! All dogs and their owners should too…together! Vinci and Maple now have the ability to walk alongside us and NOT pull. We enjoyed the sun setting on Lake Michigan, and walked down crowds of people and dogs and kids without Maple pulling to greet everyone OR Vinci growling at a stranger or pulling from here to there tracking a scent!
We ate dinner outside and chatted at lengths with passerby’s and friends ❤️
Maple and Vinci knew what was expected of them that night because we took the time to teach them! Now they can go home with their owners and enjoy more privileges and freedoms together🙌
Every dog has the ability to do this, don’t short change your dog!!!

06/16/2022

Thank you Cynthia for your kind words, but mostly, thank you for trusting me with your boy ❤️

Honestly I can't say enough about what Up A Level K9 did to help my dog Ki with his aggression and obedience... before Karens training I couldn't go anywhere with Ki and we love to travel. In 3 weeks he is a different dog, I can walk him anywhere and feel confident and he is a much happier confident dog. She took the time to listen and learn his behavors and teach him the way he needed to be trained. She taught me how to handle him with positive training and I know keeping up with what he learned, he will be the best dog he can be ! Up side I know if I ever need her help, she will be there .. Thank you Up A Level K9 for helping Ki on his journey to be his best self ❤️

06/07/2022

***May 2022 Class 2!***

Our second group in May was a quick one full of siblings, relatives and royalty 👑. Along with basic obedience we are addressing a few behavioral issues; human aggression, separation anxiety, nervousness and counter surfing.

King Charlie (1 yr old, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) is a little pretty boy. He is here for off-leash training. Focusing on his general manners so his owners can take him to work.

Ki (1 yr old, English Shepherd) is smart but severely aggressive towards people. We are mainly focusing on his aggression but also obedience so he has a job to direct his energy towards.

Benji (8 yr old, Terrier Mix) was here previously to address his severe aggression. Now that that has been addressed, his owner is more comfortable giving him freedoms, he has returned for off-leash training.

Princess Gloria (11 yr old, Chihuahua) is Benji’s sister. We are mainly focusing on her severe separation anxiety and to learn how to stay in one place when told.

Zoey (3.5 yr old, Pembroke Welsh Corgi) is a nervy girl. She is here to learn how to listen. Being cousins of Gloria and Benji, she had fun playing with them during her time here.

Charlie (6 month old, Miniature Golden Doodle) is energetic with a short attention span. He is here for off-leash training to have more freedoms with his siblings, Chet and Tucker, who were here previously.

Frank (1.5 yr old, Chocolate Labrador) is a crazy but loving big guy. He is Chet and Tuckers littermate. He lives in the city of Chicago, so having reliability in his commands to keep him safe are a top priority along with tackling leash manners.

Maisie (1 yr old, Miniature Golden Doodle) is a bubbly doodlooo. She has done puppy imprinting and on leash training with us, back for off-leash training. Her reliability in her commands from a distance has really transformed this time around.

Libby (2 yr old, Golden Retriever) is a therapy dog. You may see her at the library reading with the kids. She is here for on-leash training, focusing on her leash walking manners and her counter surfing issues.

05/18/2022

***May 2022 Class A!***

This month we have a pretty diverse crew! Along with basic obedience we are addressing a variety of behaviors, to name a few; reactivity, nervousness, separation anxiety and resource guarding;

Aspen (3 yr old Border Collie/ German Shepard mix) is strikingly beautiful. Here for leash reactivity and to learn to co-exist with miniature blind and deaf dachshund, Cedar! She needs off-leash reliability so she can have the freedom of going to work outside at with her owners.

Shadow (1.5 yr old Sheltie) is an adorable little girl. She gives lots of kisses on command. She was here previously for puppy imprinting and on-leash training, now back for off-leash. Also addressing her prey drive towards cars.

Diesel (4 yr old, Old English Bulldog) “Big D” as we call him around here. He surely fits his name. Here for reactivity and resource guarding his home. He doesn’t discriminate between people and dogs.

Rosie (3 yr old Rescue Brindle Plott Hound Mix) is stubborn with a huge heart and nose. Working on off-leash reliability, a challenge with hounds. She has significant resource guarding of space at home with a child and Bruce, who was here last session.

Ginger (1 yr old French Brittany) is a nervy and impulsive little genius. Here for off-leash training, addressing her resource guarding of high value antlers and major fixation outdoors, a challenge for hunting dogs.

Harvey (6 month old Newfy-Poo) is full of mischievousness. His owners at want to bring him to childcare knowing that he has manners and listens to not only them, but also other teachers.

Chester (9 month old Bernadoodle) is a quick learner. When it comes to outside, its a free for all. Working on impulsiveness and off-leash recall reliability outside.

Maggie (1 yr old Boxer/Pitbull Mix) is very smart and energetic. We are focusing on her issues pottying on-leash, chasing cars and recall reliability (she used to bolt).

Molly (2 yr old Aussie/Labradoodle Mix) is spunky. She is here for on-leash training, separation anxiety, nervousness towards men, barking and jumping.

04/26/2022

13 dogs, 2 handlers, 45 minutes…

How can you achieve this?
By establishing leadership with your dog, being consistent and believable and fair, allowing them to make their own decisions and then holding them accountable to each of those decisions.

We started with each dog working on their duration individually and learning to simply do nothing. We are teaching dogs that there is a time and place for certain behaviors and sometimes just simply doing nothing is what’s in their best interest as well as the owners. Initially, we asked for 30 seconds, then 5 minutes, then 10, etc… building their duration. We added in small distractions like talking, walking, dropping the leash, dropping food on the ground, opening doors, knocking, etc, holding them accountable to staying on the climb throughout each increased challenge. Then we added another dog to the picture, consistently rewarding and correcting. Then we added 11 more... Once the rules were established and duration was built during tons of reputations and sessions with different loads of distraction, then it doesn’t matter if there is one dog or 13 dogs, climb means climb no matter what is going on around them.

And why would you want your dog to be able to do this?
Obviously there are not many scenarios where you might be with 13 dogs that need to sit on a pet cot. However, just like how one dog versus 13 dogs doesn’t change the expectation of a command, one bunny or aggressive dog or vacuum or mailman or car or person or anything, changes the expectation either.

04/15/2022

💥💥 April 2022 Class! 💥💥
Swipe to see some personality pics

This is a young and bright crew, mainly here for their basic obedience, manners, and of course individual needs:

Bruce (6 month Brindle Plott Hound) has ears that hear it all and a nose that sniffs it all. He is working on off-leash reliability, specifically recall off of a scent and some reactiveness towards men.

Max (7 month rescue, Aussie-Standard Poodle Mix) is an energetic little lover. He is learning how to greet people without jumping and improve his leash walking.

Dani (7 month rescue, Aussie-Standard Poodle Mix) is Max’s sister and is a sweet little girl with quite the attitude. Beyond the same needs as max, she is also working on her dominant behavior and appropriately walking side by side with Max.

Luna (7 month English Cream Golden Retriever) is a strong spirited girl working through her excitability and impulse control.

Gus (10 month Husky-Lab Mix) is a piercing blue eyed curious fella working through his anxious mindset and hyper curiosity especially around Cats.

Oscar (4.5 yr old Bernadoodle) is a jumpy and spunky guy, don’t let his age fool you! He is here to work on his reactivity towards dogs, general excitability, leash manners and excessive/constant barking

Stanley (1.5 yr old Visalia) is a polite and sensitive gentleman learning how to make better decisions / understand time and place for his behaviors in a humans world! His hope is to be a hunting dog alongside his dad.

Oskar (1.2 yr old Siberian Husky) is a quick learner and a quick mover, focusing on improving his household manners and reliable recall along with his general mouthy-ness!

04/04/2022

What an amazing trip!! Lindsay and I have spent the last 7 days in Sarasota, Florida at a dog training seminar immersing ourselves in the knowledge and experience of other dog trainers from all over the country. We have walked away with knew knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime. Part of our promise as dog trainers is to never stop our learning so we can continue to evolve and grow our skill sets and connections. We have met some amazing people through this experience and cannot wait to come home and bring what we’ve learned to as many dogs and their owners that we can. Stay tuned for what’s to come, we are coming back more inspired and motivated than ever, watch out 💥. For now, we are enjoying soaking up the sun for a couple extra personal days, see you soon!! ☀️🦮🤓💪🏼😃✨💕💥

03/19/2022

***March 2022 Class!***

This crew is full of smarty pants, all here for basic obedience and resource guarding. We are also working each dog through their unique needs:
(top left to right)
Lola (1.5 yr old rescue Terrier Mix) is a little girl with a big attitude, working on reactivity towards other dogs.
Finn (1 yr old Husky-Lab Mix) is an old soul focusing on come recall and leash manners.
Rooster (1 yr old Old English Bull Dog) is a funny little hunk working on his prey drive.
Gus (10.5 month old Black Lab) is a handsome boy working through his extreme fear and anxiety in new places and stranger danger.
Coco (1 yr old Husky-Lab Mix) is Finn’s sister and is working on channeling her impulsive mindset.
Willie Nelson (7 month old Pit-Hound Mix) is a little sweetheart who worked through his fearfulness on day one, now focusing on his come recall and duration.
Misty Blue Cheese (2 yr old blue heeler) is a spunky herder, working on her reactivity towards people and dogs.
Sake (3.5 yr old rescue Siberian Husky-Border Collie Mix) is a very sweet anxious softy focusing on her leash walking manners and come
recall.

02/18/2022

Highlighting Alaska client Sarah and and Ruby Rose 🌹
These gals do their work! Spoke to Sarah 1.5 years ago when she first took Ruby home! She and her husband Dan met me first on zoom calls where we set up puppy imprinting program and created a language for the 3 of them to understand and communicate clearly to Ruby. Met for 3 in person 2 hour lessons when back visiting ALaska in November/January 2021. Sarah and Dan have since worked with Ruby, and any dog visiting their home and beautiful cabin, Daily with structure, play, and rules. Sarah started with a dog with no obedience, 4 month old puppy, and now she has a dog that walks well on leash, has a come recall, climb command with reliability with LOTS of distractions and can walk her on a treadmill if the day is too crazy to get out or weather too cold or icy! Best part of all of this….THEY DID THE WORK! I created a program, and THEY IMPLEMENTED!!!! This gal and her husband Dan are such devoted dog owners. There’s never a picture with Ruby that doesn’t include a leash on with prong collar, or Ruby climbing on some bench or rock or bridge! Sarah and Dan, I think the world of your dedication to Ruby Rose 🌹
This post is evidence that creating a language and being disciplined allows for more fun and privileges for Ruby from the baby age of 1 year old and onward! So much of dog behavior issues is due to lack of clarity and rules. Once established….boom, skies the limit of enjoyment with your puppy or any age dog! 🙌🥰❤️❤️🌹❤️g_ak

02/17/2022

Zero
aka Butters 🧈
Giving you all a morning “smoochy” 💋
❤️

02/10/2022

***February 2022 Class!***
This bright crew are here for manners and basic obedience!
Top left: Finn is a 1 year old Bernadoodle.
Top middle: Gus Gus is a 9 month old Bassett Hound
Top Right: Finn is a 17 week old German Shepherd.
Middle left: Zero is a 1.5 year old Old English Bulldog/Chocolate Labrador mix.
Middle: Minnie is a 1 year old Dalmatian
Middle right: Rosie is a 1 year old golden retriever/Black Labrador mix.
Bottom Left: Nala is a 6 year old mini fox terrier/beagle/chihuahua mix.
Middle bottom: Buster is a 10 month old Bichon
Bottom right: Benji is a terrier mix rescue 8.5 years old.

Follow along in my stories as I highlight each dog’s training journey!
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01/31/2022

🎓January 2022 Graduates 🎓

Top Left: let us introduce you to Teller, a 1 year old pitbull, coonhound, lab, pinscher mix!His picture is exactly him, inquisitive and always ready for direction! Teller’s owners called back in October because he was too rowdy and sometimes aggressive towards other dogs in daycamp. They knew the stigma pitbulls carry, therefore, felt it imperative to have him trained. They want to take him camping and know they can communicate effectively with him when needed, as well as reliability in all obedience commands to live his best dog life. In 21 days, Teller, the astute student he is, learned all commands and readily applied them in every situation we tested him in! His now bestie, our helper dog Lentil, started as his arch enemy! He simply didn’t know how to act appropriately at the initial greetings. Once he learned growling and lunging weren’t effective, he learned a better way. Through consistency and repetition and guided help, Teller became confident with greeting dogs.

Top Right: Chester, a 3.5 year old wired hair terrier rescue from L.A., came to us because of his growing fear in ALL situations away from home. He also is a known escape artist, and went on a 10 day walkabout in Door County last summer. Chester had no language when he started, not even a sit! He shook like a leaf entering our facility, and every opportunity he thought he had, he would attempt escaping. Through consistency, predictability, and creating a language, both he and his owners understood, he shed his fears. Week 3 he confidently strutted through Home Depot wagging his tail towards each and every stranger!!! He no longer hid in the corner of his kennel, he excitedly stood waiting at the door to have his next training moment or walk. Dogs like Chester are proof that even his biggest fears can yield positive results 💫

Bottom left and middle right: meet the Labrador littermates, Tucker and Chet!! They are 1 year old and have boundless energy! Their prior pastimes involved explosive gladiator moves, counter surfing, barking, and constant nipping and playing with each other! Oh, and they’re also a 2 dog sled team with their owners on walks…😬
Cont ⬇️

01/02/2022

**** 🌹R O S E 🌹****
Let us introduce you to this lil’ 6 month old Border Collie spitfire 🔥 Miss Rose has a voice and wants it to be heard, and she also has an agenda…e v e r y minute of the day 🙃 A common thread between owners, specifically high drive working dog owners, is a lack of language and mental work. Every owner I meet gives more than ample love and affection, paired with fun and exercise, but most do not provide the complete triad: love - exercise- mental stimulation!
Rose spent three weeks and by the end of training she learned a language, boundaries, impulse control, and neutrality to her environment. Watch the video transformation. Start to finish shows the progression towards more outdoor freedoms due to reliability and all the above stated.

12/26/2021

***Introducing December 2021 Class***
Top right & left: Edie 7 months old & Archie 1.5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniels! These two live together and love hard together! They will shower you in kisses, endless kisses and…..
scratch on doors, jump up on legs of all humans for constant need of attention, pull their owners this way and that way while walking, and not reliably come when they’re called.
Bottom left: Koko 1 year old chocolate lab/pitbull rescue mix!
This athletic sweet girl came to us for her selective come recall problem…🙃, deep desire to pull her owner here and there and everywhere she saw a person and/or dog, she is not selective in this case…, and due to her athleticism, her jumping on people is a “b i t” overbearing.
Middle: Murphy, aka Officer Murph is a 2 year old Siberian Husky. He came to us for all the same issues Koko has however, his wolf like appearance was and is more threatening than welcoming! He also has a hankering for daily solo “ walkabouts “. Murphy always comes home, but he’s no wolf, he’s a domesticated dog!
Bottom right: Rose 🌹 5.5 month old Border Collie puppy. Miss Rose came to us in large part due to her bullying her older sister Scooter (15 year old yorki/schnauzer mix less than 5 lbs). She tirelessly demanded play and chased and barked. Oh yes, she also had a thing for exercising her vocal chords 😬
Miss Rose new a few basic commands, but didn’t quite understand the point of them, we came to the rescue!