K9 Learning Academy

02/09/2024

How quickly summer comes and goes. It was wonderful to see Cooper again! He has really grown into a nice young gentleman with great behavior and obedience. He graduated our basic course last June. Mom & dad have bigger goals for him now that he is grown out of most of his puppy energy. A few refresher lessons was all it took to get on a continued path of confidence and neutrality. We all need a refresher on things from time-to-time, no?

16/08/2024

Jumping into the weekend like...

02/08/2024

The NJ office is on vacation! We apologize for any delay in communication while we enjoy family and friends. End of summer sessions resume 8/12. Inquire about fall session dates! Thank you for your loyalty. Happy dog days of summer!

31/07/2024

Bourbon completed his behavior and obedience course today! Kudos to mom, Robyn, for her dedication to this beautiful boy. Bourbon has great obedience and continues to make the right behavior choices proving that his mom was successful in shaping those behaviors. We have big goals for him in August, as he will be spending two weeks with his trainer. Keep a lookout for updates on Bourbon. He is definitely becoming the big man on campus!

25/07/2024

Three cheers for Milo & Luna for graduating basic behavior and obedience class! Milo was very skittish to the one male in the household. Throughout the training, mom & dad built up Milo's confidence. We are happy to say Milo digs his dad a lot more now. Luna is an energetic girl. She most benefited from obedience in our Longevity of Leave-it philosophy helping her impulse control. Both dogs aced their final exam and are doing great! Have a wonderful summer White family!

20/07/2024

Soon-to-be graduate, Ellie, has a new baby sister! Meet Daisy! Our last lesson for Ellie/first lesson for Daisy included: setting up puppy boundaries & expected behavior (crate training, housebreaking, chewing, focus cues) recognizing body language cues of the older dog & natural correction, and applying our "longevity of leave-it" to the new dynamic of two dogs. Congratulations on the new addition! We look forward to seeing her learn and grow.


18/07/2024

It's been a wonderful and busy summer so far for the New Jersey office. Please expect delays in communication the first week of August, as we will be on vacation. Now scheduling evaluations and training sessions for the rest of August. For more information, send us a message! 

16/07/2024

Temps will feel like in the 100s today. Please be mindful of your pet's comfort and safety. Not only because it's the law, it's the right thing to do. 🐶❤️

https://www.nj.gov/health/vph/documents/Guide%20to%20Prevention%20of%20Animal%20Cruelty%20Laws%202018.pdf

13/07/2024

Welcome to the newest students of k9 Learning Academy! There are many facets to this family dynamic that we have begun to navigate. Each dog has his/her own personality playing an essential role in the pack. All are benefiting from the education surrounding the most challenging part in dog-training....the human. Dad has a way of being that is essential to human-to-dog communication and is focusing on timing and cadence. Mom has been so receptive to our coaching that she is already seeing changes in their dynamic. We acknowledge that this won't be an overnight process, but daily changes in habits will build the relationship she desires with each of her dogs. We love the progress they are seeing and we are eager to continue to develop it. Keep up the great work!

12/07/2024

Happy 2nd birthday to K9 Learning Academy alumnus, Nico! 

07/07/2024

Remember Bailey? She had fear reactivity to a number of things upon arriving to her new home. Mom, Kathy, has been working our behavior modification practices and basic obedience to help Bailey create confidence. Additionally, to help her create neutrality in the experiences of life. The report today was fabulous! Kathy and Bailey are continuing to transform. It is an amazing mindset for Kathy to notice progress over perfection. And, boy did we hear a lot about the progress today! We felt confident to pass Bailey through her first course with us! Kathy was left with summer homework to continue this great transformation. We look forward to hearing more wonderful stories!

05/07/2024

CONGRATS, BONNIE! On completing your behavior modofication and basic obedience course. We love to hear about and see the growth and transformation of both the dog and the owners when they experience the value of learning how to "speak like a dog." Everyone wins! Best wishes for a long happy life!

26/06/2024

Big boy Boerboel, Roman, came to us with very good obedience. However, mom and dad were a bit concerned about his pushy, over-excited behavior. Using his solid obedience, we created a new set of human habits and introduced ways of leading Roman to "make good choices." Having a dog that is different from every other dog you have owned can be challenging when the things you've always done aren't communicating the same way with your new dog. Sound familiar? If so, send us a PM! We'd be happy to set up an evaluation!

25/06/2024

June is the best time to celebrate our spring graduates! Carter is looking dashing in his cap with tassel. His high-drive personality made him a shoe-in for good obedience work. Looking forward to hearing his updates throughout the summer! Congrats!

24/06/2024

"Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"BANANA!"
Banana is a spunky girl with high drive. A happy-go-lucky attitude still gets her in a little bit of trouble as she thinks the world (including shoes and electrical cords) are her oyster! As new adopters, mom & dad reached out to us right away to learn the best way to communicate with their happy and independent girl. Happy to say, lesson 1 was a hit! Banana, and more-so her parents, nailed it. Banana passed out from so much mental stimulation even before her trainer left the home. Love it! Good luck Vizzini family!

19/06/2024

You ever have the feeling you're being watched? Frankie is patiently waiting for his trainer to enter. He is a basic obedience graduate who is receiving a refresher course this week. Any alum need to brush up on a few skills? Send us a PM!

18/06/2024

🎈 Happy 10th Birthday, Miller! 🎈 Miller recently moved into a new home and began showing signs of anxiety, including chewing at the wall. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! In a 4 lesson anxiety-modification program, Miller is learning to be confident in his new surroundings. A training session on his birthday? Now that's a party!

17/06/2024

K9 Learning Academy students, Bailey and Charlie, are out for a walk on this gorgeous day. Remember to find and walk in your shady areas. Pavements get too hot for puppy paws. If you wouldn't walk barefoot on it, neither should they.

16/06/2024

15/06/2024

K9 Learning Academy basic obedience alumnus, Nico, is currently working on long-line obedience with his trainer. His mom has some big goals for him and taking his training to the intermediate level will get him there. Any alumni looking to polish up their skills or anyone looking for behavior modification training should send us a PM. Now booking for July!

12/06/2024

Words have value! When you constantly repeat yourself, your words lose value. So, how do we hold our dogs accountable for listening to our verbal command if we should only say it ONCE? Use movement. Dogs read body language. Make yours confident. Just a few steps back from a distraction--in Bella's case, she was focused on another dog--can break the tunnel vision and have your dog turn back to you and "check-in."

11/06/2024

Meet Misty and Paula! They make a great pair, but one could say at times "double trouble." Misty is toy-motivated, Paula is treat-motivated but will gladly steal what her older sister is interested in. That's right--puppy energy! We are currently entering the manners portion of training now that they have the 3 tools of engagement under their collars--"leave-it, touch, watch!" Dad has big goals--stop jumping, stop begging, stop stealing, and better walking skills. We will keep you posted on their progress!!

10/06/2024

The NJ office is BOOKED for June! For more information regarding our July start dates, please PM us. Summer sessions begin after the July 4th holiday.

05/06/2024

It's June! A perfect month to feature some of our spring graduates! Alice may not have liked posing in her cap, but she passed her final exam at a pet store with flying colors. She was super engaged with her mom & dad. When she got distracted, mom or dad used what they learned in training to get her to re-focus and respond to them. Alice and her parents were a joy to work with! Every session was filled with giggles. Some people just have that contagious spirit and these were those people. Best of luck to all of you! Looking forward to hearing updates as Alice ages.

31/05/2024

Newer K9 Learning Academy student, Kona, will be learning "place" today. Place has so many useful applications; from aiding in reconditioning over excited behavior towards the human children, to stopping the counter-surfing, to building impulse control. Kona's parents will be coached first, how to take her to her place and have her sit & stay until she's released. Intermediate place work practices her ability to be sent to place. Advanced place work has the dog put herself in place when paired with an external stimuli like a knock on the door. Interested in seeing how place work can benefit you and your dog? Send us a PM! Have fun today, Kona!

30/05/2024

Meet TANK! He really lives up to his name. This energetic, happy-go-lucky, lover boy doesn't know he isn't a tiny lapdog. With great potential for excellent obedience, his mom and dad are learning the ways of behavior modification training layered with basic obedience. Tank is on his way to being a very polite boy. Welcome to K9 Learning Academy!

29/05/2024

HUGE TRANSFORMATION POST! Bailey showed signs of fear with an array of things from loud airplanes and cars, new people, and everyday household noises like the ice-maker. After weeks and weeks of building trust--trust with her mom, Kathy, trust with her trainer, Erica, trust in her surroundings and understanding that her handlers have everything under control--Bailey had a breakthrough training walk! Mom reported that it's her best one yet and that she's so relieved and sees so much potential in her sweet, timid girl. A HUGE part in modifying fear behavior is reworking the human's unintentional support and reinforcement of said behavior. In our attempt to sooth a fearful dog (any reactive dog) we give attention to the dog in a way that we think calms them. What the dog understands is that this is the correct reaction for this situation because I'm getting attention for it. And, a fearful habit persists. When the human fully understands this, we can begin to capture and mark calm, neural behavior communicating to our fearful dog what the desire way of being actually is. Our hearts are so happy here at K9 Learning Academy. Thrive, Bailey, thrive!

15/05/2024

Another rainy day in New Jersey! K9 Learning Academy alumnus, Lacey, loves a good towel drying and massage. But, what she loves even more is indoor mental stimulation activities in the form of obedience lessons to curb the boredom. A bored dog gets into trouble. If your dog is showing signs of naughty behavior, there is a good chance he/she is bored. Message us for tips and tricks on how to provide mental stimulation support to help your dog have a fulfilled lifestyle. Especially, on these dreary days.