The K9 Effect

11/27/2024

I have shared Neil before but I'm going to keep sharing until I find his person! Neil is about 8 months old. He was abandoned by his owner, left outside from about 4 months old until about a month or more ago when I picked him up (thanks to a call from a saint of another dog lover). He didn't have a name, a home, or a future. He has a name and and his future is looking bright! Let's get him a home!

11/26/2024

Welcome this adorable little monster to the program! His name is Dre! Don't let all that adorableness fool you. He IS still a Malinois 😈☠️.

11/21/2024

Teaching Freya to find an exit. She's still learning but has really caught on to a couple of different tasks. She's so smart and so sweet. I'm so happy with the direction she is headed.

Yes, I forget to record sometimes, but the route I took through the store from when I gave the command is the route she took me. My priority is to train, not record. But I'm glad I was able to record some of it 😊💜.

11/02/2024

Well, if you're a trainer you know everything there is to know about what the impromptu training session was and how it went just based on this picture 🤣. If you aren't a trainer, I'd love to hear your best guesses 🤔! Freya did awesome!

10/30/2024

When I say "Sorry, I'm busy" or "I can't, I have plans"....this is the busy. These are the plans 🧡.

This sweet girl is Rotini. She is up for adoption at . Her story is a harrowing one. She was found in a drainage ditch with her litter of brand new puppies in the rain just trying to survive. Fixing the Boro took in her and her pups. They are all now a few months old and off to their new homes and fosters. Rotini momma is looking for a home that isn't hectic, someone that would love to take couch naps, go on the occasional walk, let her lay in your lap often. She is a lab mix of some type. Due to her experiences in life, she does need to be the only dog. She is a homebody doesn't run off, she WANTS to be home.

Feel free to PM me with questions about Rotini!

10/25/2024

As someone in the dog world, when you educate and educate, and save and rescue, and discount and don't charge for services, and take on more than we can physically or mentally handle but make it work because it means saving a dog with no regard for what WE need....

It is SO hard to keep from screaming.

10/21/2024

Freya has done a great job being the best girl she can be. Every dog has their challenges and Freyas biggest challenge right now is being distracted. So I laid the ground work for her at home and out in the yard, then gradually moving her to higher intensity public spaces.

If you tell me your dog can sit, my immediate question is going to be "where and under what circumstances". If you want your dog to be proficient in public, then you have to start by teaching them that YOU are the focus and what the standard is. Then you transfer that expectation from the house to the sidewalk, from the sidewalk to a parking lot, from the parking lot to the vet waiting room 👩🏻‍⚕️, from the waiting room to outside dining restaurant 🍽, etc.

Not sure where to even start 😔? Contact me, and we can go over training packages. 😊

10/18/2024

Hey everybody. It's been a long couple of weeks with the hurricanes and being without water or power and so many other things happening.

In the midst of everything, I saw a young lady on FB post a dog pleading for someone to take him before the inevitable thing that happens to stray pit mixes happens. So I went out, picked this very handsome, very friendly, dog loving, 6 to 8 month old boy. He is a happy, sweet, friendly kiddo who was failed by his human who has sent to jail months ago and left him to roam outside and fend for himself.

The good news is that he is now at , safe with food, water, shelter, and beginning some obedience training with me! He is looking for a new home that will love and cherish him as much as I already do. I can not emphasize enough how friendly this dog is. He is a cuddle bug through and through. As soon as you go in his kennel, he is crawling in your lap and giving kisses. If you're looking for a young dog, one that is friendly, maybe a playmate for your other dog, or a companion to dote on, to go on walks and adventures with, let me or Shady Acres know. You're welcome to come for a visit. We'll even do some training sessions with you for free once you adopt him! He had no name so I took the liberty of naming him NEIL!!

I sure hope his new person is reading this RIGHT NOW 🥰

🐾

09/29/2024

Please always remember 2 things when watching my or any other trainers videos. 1) The training session is always longer than the video. I sped up and cut out things to meet 90 seconds. (2) The dog(s) in the video typically have been IN training for a few days to a few weeks, and for my personal dogs, a few years. Don't compare YOUR training or where YOUR dog is at to anyone else. You're where you're supposed to be!

Tony, the black and white mixed breed, came to me with dog reactivity. Tony's story is long, with most of it unknown. He is from a shelter in NY and was generously saved by my client and fully paid for training to get Tony where he needs to be. This video was taken on the 6th week of Tony's 7-week program. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work. This is the first time doing this exercise to this extent. I typically start with one dog and recall and reward the dogs around each other. No reward and verbal correction and placing the dog back if they come when their name is not called. I introduce one dog at a time, always ensuring the dog in training isn't showing signs of high stress or on the verge of reactivity. Brought 4 other dogs into the picture and repeated the process each time, remaining consistent.

I made sure to have one of the dogs run into Tony's view to test his reactivity, and he did a great job remaining in place without correction. Most of his reactivity comes from not knowing what to expect. REACTIVITY DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN AGGRESSION. Tony has no idea how to play or engage properly with other dogs. Doing exercises like this allows him to learn boundaries and that he can be around other dogs in a static position.

The music is not owned by me, I have no rights to it. It is only on here for the Algorithm 🤣

09/15/2024

I decided not to put any music to this. I think it's important for people to hear the simplicity of what is being said to the dogs we train, the clarity we speak with, and the changes in pitch, tone, and inflection 🗣.

BUT, I wanted to show Wolfgang in this video because he is a very special dog. Coming from a background of absolute neglect from birth/ownership until about 5 months old when his current owner took him from the awful conditions he was found in. Wolfgang had NO socialization with dogs nor humans, was severely sick, and to top it off, he is mentally underdeveloped. He was highly reactive at that young of an age to everything from people to other dogs.

In the video you see he's working with a muzzle. This has helped calm him down when he has to go in public 🧘🏻‍♀️. It's helped him learn how to put trust in his handler. As you can see, he did encounter another dog along the way. What you don't see in that video is how that "service dog" (🙄) was pulling and posturing at Wolfgang when it walked by as Wolfgang just laid there and watched. The "service dog" did it again as we approached, you could see the dog was ready for a confrontation. Wolfgang made sure to watch our backs as we rounded the corner. IN CASE YOU DIDNT CATCH ON, THAT IS NOT A SERVICE DOG, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PATCHES ON THE VEST SAY. THAT IS A DANGER TO OTHER DOGS ESPECIALLY TRUE SERVICE DOGS. Anyway, back to the amazing job Wolfgang did. I was so very proud of him that day. He even tolerated the surprise human coming out of the isle. This was MONTHS of work. This was countless hours of repetitive training. This was one step forward 2 steps back over and over again until we reached breakthroughs.

follow Niraj Patel to see more of Wolgang and the WHOLE crew, including two pups from two different litters of mine. 😊

09/14/2024

When I say "Pet Professional", what comes to mind? Is it your Veterinarian? Your trainer? Your groomer? Well all.of the above are correct. If your groomer tells you about the structure of your dog, it isn't because they hate your dog. It's because they want the best for your dog. A groomers literal job IS structure. Same thing if I tell a training client that their dog is behaving out of the norm for that breed or their dog is walking oddly. You don't have to be a VET in order to see something wrong with a dog.

We all have the same goal and that is to make sure your dog is the happiest AND healthiest they can be.

I said it in the video and I'll say it again. If you thing your pet professional should just "shut up and do their job", then you don't deserve that professional. ✌🏻

09/06/2024

Let's see those service dogs! 💜 🐕 💜

September is Service Dog Awareness Month, a time to honor and recognize the incredible work that service dogs do to assist individuals with disabilities. These loyal companions provide essential support, ranging from guiding the visually impaired to alerting those with hearing impairments, and even detecting seizures or low blood sugar levels. The way of the warrior is mirrored in the dedication and training these dogs undergo to serve their handlers with unwavering loyalty and precision.

Service Dog Awareness Month also aims to educate the public about the rights and responsibilities of service dog teams. It is crucial for everyone to understand that service dogs are not pets but working animals with a vital role. They are granted access to public spaces, such as restaurants and stores, to ensure their handlers can navigate daily life with dignity and independence. Honor above all, respecting these rights is a fundamental part of supporting those who rely on these remarkable animals.

Lastly, this month is an opportunity to highlight the various organizations and trainers dedicated to raising and training service dogs. Their tireless efforts ensure that these dogs are well-prepared to meet the specific needs of their handlers. By spreading awareness and fostering understanding, we can all contribute to a more inclusive and supportive society for individuals with disabilities and their service dogs.

08/24/2024

Oh my Goosey (no, not mine mine). I love seeing this boy every day. He truly makes my day. Having the pleasure to work with him, watch him grow, and become one bad ass retriever has been more than a privilege.

Shady Acres Retrievers

08/20/2024

The most rewarding part of my job....seeing dogs go home and being successful. Photon went home last weekend and his owners are so happy to have him home, happy, and we'll adjusted. Their work isn't over, it's just beginning, but now they have a starting point, a guide, and support! 💜

Also, shout out to KEngle K9
for grooming him! I'll be making another post in the next day or two about what the owners were told about their dog from a previous groomer, what the dog was actually showing, and how to continue a good groomer experience for the dog!

07/29/2024

THIS IS SO COOL 😭😍

I couldn't be more grateful for this long line (SO EXCITED TO GO TRACKINNNNGGGG) and this beautiful leash! I truly appreciate it. Thank you American Leash Co. , this really made my whole year.

Guys, if you want quality, beautiful, versatile dog gear, go check them out. Mindy has put together an AMAZING brand. Thank you so much 🙏.

07/19/2024

Serious question.
Is there ANYTHING cuter than a dog named Cookie Dough playing with a Cookie Monster toy 😍 🍪 ?

Personally, I don't think there is 🤷🏻‍♀️

PLEASE go to www.fixingtheboro.com to fill out an application and set up a meet and greet to adopt baby Cookie Monster....I mean Cookie Dough 😉.

07/18/2024

Cookie Dough is just a baby, but she is already such an impressive little puppy! She is SO smart and easy to work with. I brought her home Sunday the 14th and placed her kennel between my two oldest Shepherds (you see her playing with) who are quiet and well mannered in their kennels. She doesn't bark and is very clean. She doesn't chew or destroy her blanket. She is brave and curious. She is THE sweetest. She will give you ALL of the kisses. All of them. You don't even need to ask. She'll just give them to you for free 💋💋 💋!

Plus, while she's here, with me, a trainer, she will begin obedience training! This gal has WINS written all over her!

Please fill out an application with Fixing the Boro in order to adopt. A meet and greet would be awesome! 😃💜

Fixing the Boro is located in Statesboro, GA