Galactic K9 Dog Training

11/05/2023

27/06/2022

A quick reminder that our basic obedience and puppy obedience group classes start this coming Saturday, July 2nd, and are filling quickly!

Call or message us today to reserve your spot!

Puppy class begins at 9am
Basic obedience begins at 10:30am

See you there!

10/06/2022

Basic Obedience Group Class starts… NOW!

This class is open to dogs 6 months of age and older

First session of classes begins Saturday July 2nd at 10:30am at Galactic K9 in Jacksonville, FL- See you there!

Message or email us at
[email protected] to register today

10/06/2022

Puppy Socialization Group Class begins… now!

This class is open to all puppies up to 6 months of age

Our First class session begins Saturday July 2nd at 9am at Galactic K9 in Jacksonville, FL- see you there!

Message or email us at [email protected] to register today

26/11/2021

✨Galactic K9’s 2021 Black Friday Sale✨

Now through Cyber Monday enjoy our biggest sale ever!

✨$500 off ANY 2022 Board and Train Program!

✨20% off ANY private lesson package!

✨Buy 3 Get 2 Free online consults! Five online consults for $90!

To book your Galactic K9 training service, call/text us at 786.469.0617

26/11/2021

22/08/2021

It’s never a bad day when you spend it working with some amazing pups 💜
Applications will be opening soon for Service Dog Pilot (co-trained with Galactic K9 and )
Keep your eyes peeled!

19/08/2021

Are you ready to start your journey into one of the fastest growing dog sports?

This is the place to start!

Our three hour workshop will cover everything you need to know to get started in the exciting sport of Rally Obedience!

Topics covered will include:

•How to teach your dog the foundational behaviors for Rally INCLUDING rear end awareness, tuck sits, fold downs, and more!

•A rundown of all Rally signs, rules,
regulations, point deductions, and scoring!

•How to make equipment at home, set up a course, and film your runs for virtual titles!

•How to troubleshoot behaviors, develop a start line routine, build your dog up for competition, and maximize your score!

•Tips and tricks for your first trial, how to enter, how a rally trial works, and how to present yourself and your dog as best as you can!

•And so much more!

Workshop will be held virtually through Google Meet on August 22nd @ 12pm EST
$30 per student

A single 30 minute private follow up consult with your trainer included in base ticket price!

Register through now through Friday 8/20 for an additional FREE half hour follow up consultation after your workshop- 1 on 1 with your trainer!

04/08/2021

What time is it? Summertime!- remember to keep your pups safe and cool!
Overheating is a serious concern in the summer months, so here are three ways help your pup beat the heat!
1. Play in the water!
Wether it’s off leash play at the beach, or a fun kiddy pool in the back yard, getting your pup wet will definitely help cool them off!
Now is the time to play with the hose, jump in ponds, and even make some time to try out dock diving!
2. Avoid the midday sun!
Making sure you take your walks early in the morning or late in the evening can help keep your dog cool as a cucumber. Avoid heavy exercise in the middle of the day, and provide plenty of cool water and shade if you do let your dog out into the yard!
3. Pupsicles!
One of the best ways to bring down your dogs internal body temperature is to let them *slowly* eat or drink something cool! Fill an ice cube tray with blueberries and water, freeze, and scatter them for a fun and chilly enrichment game.
If you feed raw meaty bones, try offering them frozen for a longer lasting tasty treat! Get creative with your longs and freeze them to help ease the heat on those long summer days!
How are you helping your pup heat the heat this summer?
*disclaimer* This is not intended as medical advice for your pet, if you believe your dog is undergoing heat stroke or there is an emergency get them into air conditioning and CONTACT A VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL.

20/07/2021

✨Protective Equipment for Your Dog✨
While Figment May look *very* cute in his boots and goggles, they serve an important purpose!
Protective equipment for your dog definitely has as important as a place as your standard collar and leash do!
Boots can be used to protect from hot pavement, ice and snow, and even dangerous terrain while hiking in the wilderness or hoofing it in the city!
Dog goggles can be useful for a dogs in a variety of situations. Police and military working dogs use them to keep projectiles and debris away from the dogs eyes, but they are also useful for adventurous hiking dogs, service animals, and even dogs with visual impairments!
Muzzles can also be protective equipment for your dog! In addition to being used as an amazing behavioral management tool, muzzles can be used to help prevent dogs from picking up and eating things they aren’t supposed to.
Ear protection is available to help working dogs keep their hearing safe from loud sounds including helicopters, concerts, guns shots, and fireworks! They can also be useful with dogs who have a sensitivity to thunder and other loud noises!
There is a variety of equipment available for you and your dog to use, and definitely some things that I didn’t touch on!
Do you use any protective equipment on your dog?

16/07/2021

Hazel is here to remind you to spend at least five minutes training your dog today!
Did you know that most* dogs learn best when given multiple short training sessions (think 5-10 minutes) than when given one long training session?
In addition to this, 5-10 minutes a day is usually enough to help keep your dogs obedience/tricks/etc. maintained!
If you want to give an extra boost to those small sessions, incorporate play after training! Playing after training can help your dog retain information, plus, it just makes them look forward to training time even more!
What do your daily training sessions look like?

11/07/2021

Congratulations to Cider and her handler on earning their Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Community Canine (CGCA), and Urban CGC (CGCU) yesterday!
This team has worked so hard to get here and I am very proud of what they have accomplished!

The Canine Good Citizen program tests ten basic obedience skills. These range from politely greeting a stranger, ability to follow obedience cues, reaction to various distractions, and more. The CGCA and CGCU build on those skills with harder test items.
It’s a great baseline to work towards for any family dog and a great first step if you are working towards training a service dog, therapy dog, or even competing with your dog in sports!
Want to get your dog CGC tested? We are AKC Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog evaluators! Send us a message to get started!

07/07/2021

Just a reminder that training isn’t linear.
No matter the struggles, no matter the set backs- you and your dog are exactly where you need to be on your training journey.

03/07/2021

More pets are lost on July 4th than any other night! With that in minds, here is your Pre-Independence Day reminder to:
-Keep your pets safely contained
-Make sure they are wearing a collar and tags for identification
-Check to see if your pets microchip information is up to date
-Stuff and freeze all your tasty kings and chews so your pup has something to work on during the fireworks
Have a safe 4th of July!

29/06/2021

Cider and Aslan are here to remind you that it is not only illegal to misrepresent your dog as a service animal, but it’s also extremely harmful to legitimate service dog teams!
Because of increased misrepresentation of service animals, real service dog teams are being discriminated against by locations they are legally allowed access to!
In addition to this, the vast majority of pet dogs are not trained to the same standards as a service animal, and can be dangerous to have in public! Between my dogs Phasma and Figment alone, we have had over 25 incidents with illegitimate service animals!
So before you decide to slap a vest on Fifi or Fido and call them a service animal to avoid a hotel pet fee, think about all the harm you could be causing a real service dog and their handler!

12/06/2021

Let’s talk about dog sports!
While the ribbons, titles, and brags are fun- the real reason I participate in sports with my dogs is to connect with them.
Even if you’re a complete newbie, there is a sport for you and your dog. Sports like FastCAT and Dock Diving are a great way to get to your feet wet in dog sports (also, you will literally get yourself feet wet on the dock). You can a Barnhunt instinct test or even a herding instinct test (if you have a herding breed).
If you have a dog who loves disc or one who has the potential to, get in with your local league!
If you’re interested in sports like Agility, Obedience, or Rally, find a local group class and start training! These sports are a fantastic way to really help connect with your dog as they are all about teamwork.
If you and your dog love learning new tricks, maybe some trick dog titles and Stunt Dog competitions are for you!
There’s a dog sport for everyone- I highly encourage you go check ‘em out! Get out there and have FUN with your dog!
Do currently compete in any dog sports with your dog?

29/05/2021

Congratulations to Percy and his mom on their new AKC Canine Good Citizen title!
Percy and his mom have been our clients since October and they have grown so much together as a team! They have worked hard to reach this milestone- We are very proud to have them in the Galactic K9 family 🥰
Want to get your dog CGC tested? We are AKC Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog evaluators! Send us a message to get started!

13/05/2021

Pay your dog, and pay them well.
If you’ve ever had a lesson with me, you’ve probably heard me say “pay your dog” quite a bit. What do I mean when I say “pay”? Reward of course!
Whenever we ask our dog to perform a behavior, we are asking them to work. Do you work for free? No- I didn’t think so!
Rewarding or “paying” your dog is not the same as a bribe. It’s not saying “if you do X, I’ll give you Z” it’s saying “Thank you for your work, you earned it.”
Every dog’s preferred currency is going to look different. We typically split them into four different types: Food, play, praise, and environment. .
Even within those categories, dogs may prefer different things. Some dogs make go nuts for cheese, while others think freeze dried liver is the best thing on the planet. Some dogs love to be praised and let while other dogs may actually find that to be aversive. Some dogs love to tug, others mien to fetch. Some dogs will take a sniff break as a reward, and some might even take drinking water as reinforcement.
Figure out which currency will motivate your dog to work hard- then go out, train, and pay them well!

02/05/2021

Want to earn your service dog’s CGC titles at the happiest place on earth? Here’s how!
Galactic K9 will be holding CGC evaluations on May 6th, 2021 at Disney Springs! Testing will begin promptly at 11am.
Limited to 9 slots per test! Pre-registration only!
$15 per individual test, $40 for all three titles!
The CGC tests are as follows: Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Community Canine (CGCA), Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
Additional Tests available for $10 each: Trick Dog Titles (Novice-Performer level) and Virtual Home Manners (VHMA or VHMP)
Need some help practicing for your evaluations? We’re here to help- book an online consult today and we’ll coach you step by step!
For non-service dog friends who want to take their CGC tests as well, send us a DM and we’ll get you set up!
Ribbons available for all teams who pass CGC, CGCA, CGCU, VHMP, and/or VHMA!

24/04/2021

✨Everything is better when you do it with friends ✨
Did you know that working around a confident, more experienced dog can help expedite your dog’s training? It’s true!
This is one of the reasons why when I’m working a young inexperienced dog in public, I will bring one of my older seasoned dogs like Phasma or Figment along (so long as it would not interfere with the other dog’s training). Having their calm, stable presence can help the inexperienced dog settle near distractions, get over fears, and even help them walk properly.
In other cases, we might use a more experienced/trained dog to help a trainee work through reactivity, learn to ignore other dogs, or practice for trials and tests.
It helps to have a few good friends with good dogs or dogs who are working on their training goals- go out and train together at a park or outdoor mall and work towards those goals together! (appropriately socially distanced and safe of course!)
Here, Fig and benefited from each other’s company while his Mom and I worked through some pretty crazy puzzles 😆

11/10/2020

🏴‍☠️ We're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves- Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!
Figment and Phasma had an amazing weekend at the Pirate Cluster!
Phasma had her first two ever FastCAT run at 10.06s and 9.41s and she LOVED it. She did well at dock diving and had a blast as always 💚
Figment earned three titles and a new personal best in dock diving this weekend! He now has his Farm Dog Certification (FDC) Canine Good Citizen Advanced (CGCA) and Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGCU)
We got to spend the weekend with our good friend and and it just made it all the better 🥰

08/10/2020

to our last dock trial!
Fig and Phasma both have dock diving this weekend and we get to see Figment’s breeder again! If you’re going to the Ft. Pierce Pirate Cluster, feel free to come say hello!

04/10/2020

🍂Galactic K9 Autumn Sale🍂
Enjoy 20% off all 2 and 4 week board and train programs
Book two online consults and get a third free!

01/10/2020

🐾Shaping Confidence🐾
I had a conversation with one of my good trainer friends ( )recently about boosting confidence in young dogs. We talked about a few different methods, but the one that really stuck out to me was simple free shaping of behaviors.
Free shaping is a method of training that asks your dog to problem solve and think for themselves. You capture behaviors using a marker (voice, clicker, etc.) and gradually “shape” the behavior into a finished product. Using this method empowers your dog to try new things and offer new behaviors to earn rewards.
Using this method helps open so many doors in your training. We start with confidence building exercises and move on to tricks, tasks, and so much more. I find this to be exceptionally useful with puppies and adolescents in fear periods- it’s a game where they can’t lose! What better way to build confidence in the world around them?
I’d been having some issues with Figment as he has been in his adolescent fear period for some time, so we’ve taken a step back, and are purely free shaping our training sessions at the moment. I’ve seen a majorly positive change in him- he’s much more confident in his environment, is offering new behaviors, and even his tasking has improved!
The majority of Phasma’s tricks were shaped and she is probably my most confident dog and is a queen of offering new behaviors!
What behaviors have you shaped with your dog?

23/09/2020

Hope everyone has a happy !
Swimming is a fantastic game exercise that can be done with a dog of any age. It’s low impact and can help build up your dog’s endurance!
Does your dog like to swim?

15/09/2020

🎃🍂The Galactic Pack is feeling Autumnal 🍂🎃
Have you started celebrating spooky season?
Yes, we know Flip’s bandana doesn’t match the theme perfectly- let him have his happiness 😂

13/09/2020

Here comes trouble!
Sandy is a very high energy 4 month old Belgian Malinois x Bull terrier mix.
As your typical Quarantine Puppy, she came to us with virtually no house manners, moderate reactivity towards people/cars/dogs, and an inability to settle down or be alone for any period of time (isolation distress).
After five days of instilling boundaries, structure, and routine- I can safely say that Sandy is thriving! She spends much less time whining in the kennel, is learning to behave appropriately around other dog’s and people, and is well underway to learning he basic obedience commands!
If you brought home a puppy during quarantine, what challenges have you faced?

08/09/2020

Do service dogs have to look “professional”?
It’s a common misconception that service dogs have to look “professional” or use specific gear to be legitimate. In reality, a service dog’s gear has no bearing on their legitimacy whatsoever.
Gear is a very personal thing to both handler and dog. What works for one team may not work for another, and what one team deems “professional” may not fly with another. Gear can be used as a tool, but it can also be a form of self expression for the handler!
Sometimes, we customize our gear based on the the handler’s needs. For example, my service dog Figment has several gear sets. Some are classic black and white, some are fun themed sets. Some are mobility harnesses while others are just vests with patches. I use different gear based on what I may need that day (if I’m feeling off balance or foggy, I might pick up a harness with a grounding handle vs. a vest that doesn’t have one)
Sometimes we customize the gear to the dog. For example, when Phasma was working, she would often work in just a bandana or nothing at all due to her gear shyness.
Wether it’s an “amazon vest”, a nice leather harness, a cape, or a vest- it’s the handler’s choice what to put on their dog! The gear does not make the dog a service animal- the training does!

05/09/2020

Service Dogs are not here for your entertainment.
Service dogs are highly trained to be calm and attentive of their handler’s needs in every situation possible. They must ignore everything from dropped food on the ground, to a fireworks show, to untrained pets trying to have a go at them- all to keep their handler safe!
When individuals rush up to a service dog asking to pet (more often than not, just petting with no asking) or squealing and making kissy noises at the dog, it makes it much more difficult for that dog to focus on their job. Handlers do their best to prepare the SD for that situation, but there will always be a dog in training or a dog having an off day that WILL be distracted in these instances.
Another issue handlers face is the backlash of the public when they try to defend their dog. A simple “Sorry he’s working right now” or “We’re trianing, maybe next time” is often met with anger and hostility by the person wanting to interact with the dog. Remember- the dog is NOT here for YOU, they are here to do their job. There’s no reason to be nasty!
On occasion, you will meet a handler who may let you say hi if their dog is feeling up to it/the handler is feeling up to it/for training etc. It is all up to the handler’s preference- we must just remember not to feel entitled to an interaction with a service dog as every team is different!
Have you ever had a positive interaction with a service dog team? Service dog teams, what has been your most positive interaction with the public?