CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. Balanced Dog Training in Tucson, AZ and the surrounding areas.
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This little pup is growing like a w**d, both in manners and in stature! Gunnar is here for Phase 3 of our puppy program and it’s so fun to share in his progress. He has matured from an 8 week old pup at the beginning of his training journey, to a now 5 month old boy! Gunnar graduates this weekend and we are proud of him and his parents for all of the hard work they have put in throughout the program. We know it will have a life-long impact and we are so proud of them!
I love the floppy ear stage!! Shepherd puppy ears have so much character ❤️
Gunnar started his puppy program with us a few weeks ago and is growing (both in size and manners 😄). His parents have been putting in the reps in between sessions and it shows 💪🏻
We have one more in-home session next week to wrap up Phase one of our three phase puppy program. He will be joining us in a couple weeks for Phase two!
We are really excited to offer a three phase puppy program that grows with your puppy. So many owners ask me when they can start training their puppy. The answer is the day you bring them home!
It’s so much easier to build upon a solid foundation that is established early on. So many common behavior problems and stressful moments can be completely avoided when you are able to start off on the right foot (or paw 🐾) with your pup.
It’s never too early (nor is it ever too late) to start training and guiding your pup. Today is the day!
For those of you who have decided to bring home a puppy this Christmas (or for those of you who are thinking about it), we are here to answer any questions you may have. We would love to help provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to live the best life possible with your puppy!
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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:
CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.
We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!
Firmfoundationsk9.com
We are so excited to be a part of this event! Come visit us at the Firm Foundations K9 Training booth this Sunday. We may even have a special guest with us… 🐾❤️🐾❤️
Jumping. Pulling. Spastic. Tuned Out.
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Relaxed. Focused. Calm. In-tune.
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We love being a part of transformations like these!
This video includes footage from Millie’s drop-off session, as well as her first walk with us. During her drop-off and the first half of her walk, we simply let Millie be Millie… you can see pretty clearly her baseline of existence when she is left to her own devices 😄
In the middle of her walk, we switched things up and got to work!
- I swapped out her choke chain for a prong collar
- I conditioned the prong collar in order to communicate gently, clearly, and effectively with Millie
- I dialed in her focus with a few repetitions
And then we were off!
The walk back home was dramatically different from the first half, even amidst the same distractions.
What was different?
Communication. CONNECTION. Guidance. Leadership.
All in a way that Millie was able to understand.
We essentially began to unlock the “language barrier” and started to have conversations with Millie that finally made sense to her.
This is what “training” is all about.
It is a journey to FREEDOM and new LIFE.
Our passion here at FFK9 is rooted in teaching dogs and their owners how to communicate effectively with one another. This foundation is then used to enable and empower dog owners to become effective leaders and guides for their four-legged family members. This then takes a large weight off of the dog’s shoulders.
We love dogs and we love people. We don’t want either to have to suffer for the sake of the other. Instead, we want you to be able to live your best life, TOGETHER!
———
At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find:
CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.
We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!
Firmfoundationsk9.com
WELCOME MILLIE!!
Millie is an almost 2 year old Goldendoodle who is here for our 2 week Board & Train program. She came to us with a host of pushy, headstrong, high-energy, teenage antics. At home, Millie has become rather uncontrollable for her family. Some of her issues include:
- Pulling intensely on the leash (She has even injured a family member’s knee by pulling her down on a walk).
- Jumping and pawing at family members, including young kids, and routinely causing skin tears and bruising on her “grandparents.”
- Ingesting items such as socks, tissues, and nerf-gun ball pieces (the latter of which resulted in a 3 day vet stay for a small bowel obstruction).
- Jumping over a 6 foot wall to escape the backyard.
- Stealing food from the kids hands, the counter tops, and the trash.
- Excessive attention seeking and separation anxiety.
We are excited to have Millie here with us and to help her and her family find CONNECTION, FREEDOM, and LIFE, TOGETHER!!
Stay tuned for more updates on her training journey!
WELCOME RIVA!!! Riva started her board and train with us yesterday and will be here for the next few weeks. Her mom adopted her from PACC a couple weeks ago and quickly discovered that Riva has some anxiety issues and nervousness that transfer to multiple areas of her life. These include triggers to certain noises (such as a gas stove, toaster oven, dishwasher, etc.), crate anxiety (shaking, whining and digging in the crate), anxiety when left alone (barking, howling, pacing, digging at the door, etc.), and nervousness around people.
We are excited to welcome Riva and her mom into the FFK9 family! We can’t wait to see what lies beneath the surface with this girl, how much we can draw out of her, and how much confidence we can build throughout her training journey. We will do all we can to help her and her mom find LIFE together, beyond the borders of her current anxiety.
Stay tuned for updates on her progress!
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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find:
CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.
We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!
Firmfoundationsk9.com
The Walk.
So many dog owners struggle with it.
Pulling, lunging, barking, whining, jumping, nervousness, over excitement, aggression… the list goes on and on.
Whatever issues you face while walking your dog, just know you are not alone.
This is one of the number one areas dog owners struggle with their dogs. It is also one of the number one priorities for most dog owners. You want to enjoy walking your dog. You want to be able to take them places and experience life together, without it being stressful, without it seeming impossible.
I know, first hand, how defeating it can be to struggle with the walk. My GSD Beorn (who was the reason I was introduced to the balanced dog training world) was definitely one who knew how to raise my blood pressure and my anxiety levels on the walk.
I, like a lot of dog owners, was trying so hard to live the life I had envisioned for both me and Beorn. I wanted the best for him and for our life together. I simply had no idea how to achieve it.
Come to find out, I was doing all the wrong things, without knowing they were the wrong things. I unknowingly encouraged the very things I was seeking to help Beorn overcome.
I had the best intentions, with the worst strategies, because I simply didn’t know any better. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
Thankfully, we didn’t stay there. I dug and searched and dug and searched, until one day I came across something new. I started following some balanced dog trainers on social media, and the rest was history. My passion was ignited and my dog training journey began!
So just know, wherever you find yourself on your dog journey, you are not alone.
And the best part of it all?
There is hope!
———
At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:
CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.
We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!
Firmfoundationsk9.com
WELCOME TOBY!!! (aka Tobias Emmett Bowie)
Toby is 10mo old and comes to us from San Diego, CA, where he was rescued by our friends at Save the Dals with Save a Spot
He is here to establish a solid foundation in overall manners and obedience, despite his easily distractible “puppy brain” and some typical dog antics (jumping, pulling on the leash, etc.). Our desire is to set Toby up for the best life possible, as well as the highest chance of success in his future adoptive home!
Stay tuned for more info on his progress!
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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:
CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.
We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!
Firmfoundationsk9.com
The long awaited Embark DNA test results have finally arrived!! Is anyone else surprised by some of these?
Koa is home and doing well! He’s still pretty groggy from the surgery, but everything went smoothly. Now it’s time for some rest and some extra pets! ❤️
Big day for Koa Brindle!! We dropped him off at Arizona Spay and Neuter this morning for his neuter surgery! Big thanks to Katie Powers and Spay and Neuter Solutions for helping make this possible! We will let you all know how he’s doing after we pick him up this afternoon. Send prayers for a swift and speedy recovery for ❤️
The beauty of the “place” command!
Having an almost 5 month old is so much fun! It also means protecting her and having boundaries set in place for the dogs, especially as she gets older and more mobile.
We have multiple large dogs, including high drive working breeds. Having the built in “on/off” switch for our dogs is crucial for everyone’s safety and well-being.
Relaxing on a cot may not seem like much. However, when it is part of a structured “place” time, it not only gives everyone in the household a chance to relax, it also gives the dog a job. It is mind work, builds impulse control, and teaches dogs how to be calm on command. It can also ease anxiety, nervousness, fear, etc. and help address issues such as pushy, dominating, aggressive behavior, as well.
This is how we are able to live with a 5 month old and multiple large dogs, in less than 1200 sq ft. Wrestling, playing/rough housing, running around, or any other higher energy activities are reserved for outside on our property. It’s like teaching your kids the difference between an “inside voice” and an “outside voice” or riding their scooters, bikes, etc. outside vs inside. It’s okay to have these rules and boundaries with your dogs, as well.
The “place” command, and learning how to be calm on command, are taught to all dogs in our board and train programs. We incorporate your dog(s) into our everyday life for training that becomes a lifestyle, which can then be more easily transferred home with you. All dogs become a part of our family while staying with us, and we care for them as one of our own.
Upon graduation from our program, your dog and your whole family will be considered part of the Firm Foundations K9 family, and we don’t take that lightly! We love each and every graduate and their family members. As such, we offer ongoing support as well as “family gatherings,” such as pack walks and group field trips to bring our community together.
Are you ready to take life with your dog to the next level? We are ready for you!
Message us here or call/text us at 520-230-2516 for more details! We can’t wait to meet you!
Who could resist such a face??
We sent Koa’s Embark DNA test off last week and it arrived at the lab yesterday!! This specific DNA kit includes breed type and genetic health screening. We should have results in the next couple weeks!
In the meantime, we wanted to hear all of your guesses! We’ve heard guesses of Plott Hound and Mountain Cur so far. We can definitely see those as viable options. What do you all think he could be?
It was a tie between “Mr. Brindle” on Facebook and “Koa” on Instagram. So we decided Koa is his “first” name and Brindle is his “last” name, for a full name of “Mr. Koa Brindle!
Thank you all for your suggestions and participation in naming this wonderful boy. It was fun reading all of your suggestions and the meanings behind them.
I’d say our boy is special enough to deserve a full name, don’t you?
Some of you were very close! Here are the “official” results from his vet visit on Wednesday!
We were fairly close with our guesses, according to his vet visit. We thought it would be fun to see how close your guesses are, as well!
Comment with your guesses/estimates and check back in with us for the answer!
To all of his supporters, Mr. Brindle would like to say thank you so much for your outpouring of generosity towards his Journey! The flood of support and love you have all shown has been beyond incredible and a huge blessing!
We were able to use $512 of your donations today to have a mobile vet come to the facility. We highly recommend Dr. Heller with Homeward Bound Veterinary Services! He was thorough and was able to help Mr. Brindle feel as comfortable with the process as possible.
With his services, we were able to have Mr. Brindle's leg and sores checked out, get him up to date on all of his vaccinations, and have a blood panel and f***l test performed. Dr. Heller started him on some antibiotics for the sores and also gave Mr. Brindle some de-wormer, as a precautionary measure.
His examination showed no immediate concerns, aside from treating the sores, and we are waiting on results from the lab tests.
Thank you all for your ongoing love and support for this boy! ❤️
He has been known by a handful of names throughout the community, and on social media. These include (though I’m sure are not limited to), “Brindle Dog,” “Mr. Brindle,” “Mr. B.,” “Buster,” and “Buddy.”
We thought it was about time for him to have a more official name and we want YOU to be a part of it!
This boy has captured the hearts of many, brought inspiration through his sense of adventure, and knit together a community who has rallied to support him. He deserves a name that embodies his spirit!
For the next 48 hours, submit your name suggestions in the comments. You can suggest as many names as you’d like. However, if you have multiple suggestions, please place each one in its own “comment” so it’s easier to see each name.
The top 5 contenders will be put to a vote starting Friday morning. We can’t wait to hear what names you come up with!
A big Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing Fathers out there, dog daddies included! 😄 We wouldn’t be who we are without you.
Good morning! I just wanted to share a quick picture that was taken in the morning yesterday during a break in the shade. We had Mr. Brindle out, working on his leash skills, which were already showing some improvement from his first steps on Day 3, which were pretty few and far between.
We’ll be posting a video, hopefully a little later today, showing his continued progress last night.
Let me just say, I’m super proud of this boy! I can’t wait to share with you what we experienced with him last night!
Many of you have been asking about where and how you can donate/contribute to Mr. Brindle’s care and rehab process. Here is a link to his Go Fund Me page, for those of you who would like to contribute to his journey:
Mr. Brindle has finally been rescued after wandering in the Twin Peaks/Continental Ra… Megan Croft needs your support for Mr. Brindle's Journey to a New Life
Welcome “Brindle Dog”! For those of you who are unfamiliar with his story, here is a little bit about him:
Brindle Dog has been roaming in the Twin Peaks/Continental Ranch/Sunflower area for the past several months and has gained quite a following on local social media groups. There have been several neighbors and various teams in the area who have been documenting sightings of him, leaving food/water for him, and doing all they can to try to capture him so that he would not have to wander in the washes and on the streets alone. Despite their best efforts, he continued to dodge and evade all of their attempts.
Yesterday, we had our first glimmer of hope in awhile regarding Mr. Brindle. We received a phone call from a Sunflower resident who has slowly been gaining his trust over the past few months. She stated that when she started feeding him, he was “skin and bones” and she would put food out for him at the end of her driveway. She said she was now able to get him to come inside her house, but that he is still very wary of people.
This resident was kind enough to allow us to come inside her home. We were able to put a leash on him, load him up in a crate in the back of our vehicle, and take him home with us.
After months of anticipation, we are excited to finally have this boy here with us. Now we can start the training/evaluating process.
I can’t wait to see what lives beneath the surface and how much we can boost Mr. Brindle’s confidence. The hope is to eventually find a home for Mr. Brindle where he will be able to thrive and live his best life. Until then, we will document his journey and keep you all posted on his progress.
Introducing our very own logo! We’re pretty excited about it and everything we’re going to be offering this year at FFK9. Stay tuned for more announcements!
In the meantime, what do you all think of the logo design??
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The magic of Christmas with an extra buddy along for the ride! 🎄 Brida started her board and train with us the week before Christmas. It has been such a pleasure to have this sweet girl here learning and growing with our family throughout the Christmas season. Though it has been busy, it has been really fun to watch her begin to display more and more of her sweet side, and less of her over-excitable, super amped state she lived in before. Brida is almost 9 months old and had a bit of a rough start to life. After suffering a leg break, she was surrendered to a veterinarian staff member and placed on kennel rest for 6 weeks. Once her leg was healed and she was set free from kennel rest, she tried to make up for lost time. Brida’s energy level has been through the roof. Her brain escalates extremely quickly at any little distraction and she has an almost impossibly hard time focusing or calming her mind. She has enjoyed jumping on people, jumping up on counters and tables (including jumping completely with all four paws up onto the counter). She has a history of separation anxiety, escaping from the crate, excessive vocalization, destructive behaviors, stealing food/trash, mouthing/nipping, playing over-exuberantly with another dog in the house, reacting to cars on the walk, excessive jumping on guests (to the point of jumping on and over their heads when they are sitting down), and destroying and ingesting bedding and toys. Brida will be continuing her training with us for the next week and a half, as we help shift her brain into a calmer, more relaxed state of being. We can’t wait to see how much she grows and to share her progress with all of you! #ffk9brida #gsd #germanshepherd #marana #gladdenfarms #tucson #orovalley #catalinaaz #southernarizona #maranadogtraining #tucsondogtraining #tucsondogtrainer #orovalleydogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogs #maranadogs #orovalleydogs #boardandtrain #boardandtraintucson #boardandtrainarizona #ecollartrainin
Koa received the best Christmas present he could have asked for this year… his forever HOME!!! We are so excited to announce that Koa is now safe, sound, very well loved, and finally home ❤️ It has been a long journey and he has worked hard and waited patiently for this day, and it has finally come! Just in time for Christmas! 🎄 I love that Koa will be spending his Christmas this year with his forever family! We will definitely miss his sweet face around here at FFK9. He will forever hold a special place in our hearts. However, we love how much he will be loved and cared for throughout the rest of his life with his new family. We couldn’t be happier with where he landed! In this final update for Koa, we want to take a minute to give a huge thank you to each and every one of you who have loved and supported this boy so much throughout his journey. He wouldn’t be where he is today without you! I know he captured so many of your hearts with his special, sweet, and tenacious way of being. We appreciate you! Koa, as well as our family here at FFK9, hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, surrounded by people you love and who love you! Hug all of your 4 legged family members for us! 🐾❤️🐾 ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9koa #ffk9family #merrychristmas #rescuedog #homeforchristmas #foreverhome #ifoundmyforeverhome #dogtraining #tucson #tucsonarizona #southernaz #balancedtraining #balanceddogtraining #christmasmiricle #tucsondogtraining #dogtrainerlife #community #connectionfreedomlifetogether
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! ❤️🎄❤️
I was that dog owner, the dog owner who so desperately needed help. This is why I’m incredibly passionate about owner education and helping equip owners with what they need to become effective leaders and guides for their dogs. I want you all to be able to live the best life possible with your dog(s). It’s one thing for us to train your dog. It’s another thing entirely to train you, and to teach you how to unlock communication with your dog. We want you to be able to build layers upon layers of LIFE on the foundation we have set with your dog during their stay with us. This is what the go-home sessions are all about - the transferring of knowledge, followed by the implementation of that knowledge through hands-on practice. It is the passing of the baton from us to you to continue on your journey to new life, together. We want you to be successful. We want you to find FREEDOM and joy in dog ownership. We absolutely love dogs, but we love humans even more. We are here for you. You are not alone. ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9family #community #balanceddogtraining
It was such a pleasure to have Riva back with us for a few days while her mom was away on a business trip. We love spending time with our FFK9 family members when they return for a visit! ❤️ The best part of this specific visit? Seeing how free Riva is now and how much fun we can have with her now that she is in a much better mental space. She has opened up so much since the first time we met her! Huge kuddos to Riva’s mom who has put in so much hard work throughout Riva’s training journey. Her mom did all of her homework while Riva was here with us for her board & train, she was fully engaged and eager to learn at the go-home sessions, she wasn’t afraid to ask questions or reach out for help when she needed it, and she has put in countless reps of guidance and leadership exercises back home with Riva. It really shows! Riva would not be where she is today if it wasn’t for her mom’s persistence, determination, and willingness to learn and put into action what Riva needs. Way to go Mama! 👏 I hope you all enjoy seeing us have a little bit of fun with miss Riva before she went back home on this fine Sunday afternoon ❤️ Until next time… ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9riva #balanceddogtraining #youarenotalone
Jumping. Pulling. Spastic. Tuned Out. ———> Relaxed. Focused. Calm. In-tune. ——— We love being a part of transformations like these! This video includes footage from Millie’s drop-off session, as well as her first walk with us. During her drop-off and the first half of her walk, we simply let Millie be Millie… you can see pretty clearly her baseline of existence when she is left to her own devices 😄 In the middle of her walk, we switched things up and got to work! - I swapped out her choke chain for a prong collar - I conditioned the prong collar in order to communicate gently, clearly, and effectively with Millie - I dialed in her focus with a few repetitions And then we were off! The walk back home was dramatically different from the first half, even amidst the same distractions. What was different? Communication. CONNECTION. Guidance. Leadership. All in a way that Millie was able to understand. We essentially began to unlock the “language barrier” and started to have conversations with Millie that finally made sense to her. This is what “training” is all about. It is a journey to FREEDOM and new LIFE. Our passion here at FFK9 is rooted in teaching dogs and their owners how to communicate effectively with one another. This foundation is then used to enable and empower dog owners to become effective leaders and guides for their four-legged family members. This then takes a large weight off of the dog’s shoulders. We love dogs and we love people. We don’t want either to have to suffer for the sake of the other. Instead, we want you to be able to live your best life, TOGETHER! ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9millie #balanceddogtraining #bettertogether
Jumping. Pulling. Spastic. Tuned Out. ———> Relaxed. Focused. Calm. In-tune. ——— We love being a part of transformations like these! This video includes footage from Millie’s drop-off session, as well as her first walk with us. During her drop-off and the first half of her walk, we simply let Millie be Millie… you can see pretty clearly her baseline of existence when she is left to her own devices 😄 In the middle of her walk, we switched things up and got to work! - I swapped out her choke chain for a prong collar - I conditioned the prong collar in order to communicate gently, clearly, and effectively with Millie - I dialed in her focus with a few repetitions And then we were off! The walk back home was dramatically different from the first half, even amidst the same distractions. What was different? Communication. CONNECTION. Guidance. Leadership. All in a way that Millie was able to understand. We essentially began to unlock the “language barrier” and started to have conversations with Millie that finally made sense to her. This is what “training” is all about. It is a journey to FREEDOM and new LIFE. Our passion here at FFK9 is rooted in teaching dogs and their owners how to communicate effectively with one another. This foundation is then used to enable and empower dog owners to become effective leaders and guides for their four-legged family members. This then takes a large weight off of the dog’s shoulders. We love dogs and we love people. We don’t want either to have to suffer for the sake of the other. Instead, we want you to be able to live your best life, TOGETHER! ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9millie #balanceddogtraining #bettertogether
The Walk. So many dog owners struggle with it. Pulling, lunging, barking, whining, jumping, nervousness, over excitement, aggression… the list goes on and on. Whatever issues you face while walking your dog, just know you are not alone. This is one of the number one areas dog owners struggle with their dogs. It is also one of the number one priorities for most dog owners. You want to enjoy walking your dog. You want to be able to take them places and experience life together, without it being stressful, without it seeming impossible. I know, first hand, how defeating it can be to struggle with the walk. My GSD Beorn (who was the reason I was introduced to the balanced dog training world) was definitely one who knew how to raise my blood pressure and my anxiety levels on the walk. I, like a lot of dog owners, was trying so hard to live the life I had envisioned for both me and Beorn. I wanted the best for him and for our life together. I simply had no idea how to achieve it. Come to find out, I was doing all the wrong things, without knowing they were the wrong things. I unknowingly encouraged the very things I was seeking to help Beorn overcome. I had the best intentions, with the worst strategies, because I simply didn’t know any better. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Thankfully, we didn’t stay there. I dug and searched and dug and searched, until one day I came across something new. I started following some balanced dog trainers on social media, and the rest was history. My passion was ignited and my dog training journey began! So just know, wherever you find yourself on your dog journey, you are not alone. And the best part of it all? There is hope! ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9toby #community #balanceddogtraining
The Walk. So many dog owners struggle with it. Pulling, lunging, barking, whining, jumping, nervousness, over excitement, aggression… the list goes on and on. Whatever issues you face while walking your dog, just know you are not alone. This is one of the number one areas dog owners struggle with their dogs. It is also one of the number one priorities for most dog owners. You want to enjoy walking your dog. You want to be able to take them places and experience life together, without it being stressful, without it seeming impossible. I know, first hand, how defeating it can be to struggle with the walk. My GSD Beorn (who was the reason I was introduced to the balanced dog training world) was definitely one who knew how to raise my blood pressure and my anxiety levels on the walk. I, like a lot of dog owners, was trying so hard to live the life I had envisioned for both me and Beorn. I wanted the best for him and for our life together. I simply had no idea how to achieve it. Come to find out, I was doing all the wrong things, without knowing they were the wrong things. I unknowingly encouraged the very things I was seeking to help Beorn overcome. I had the best intentions, with the worst strategies, because I simply didn’t know any better. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Thankfully, we didn’t stay there. I dug and searched and dug and searched, until one day I came across something new. I started following some balanced dog trainers on social media, and the rest was history. My passion was ignited and my dog training journey began! So just know, wherever you find yourself on your dog journey, you are not alone. And the best part of it all? There is hope! ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com #ffk9toby #community #balanceddogtraining
It was so fun to watch these two boys connect and have fun together on Sunday at the in-law’s house! The boys have been on a few Pack Walks together in the past, but this was the first time they were set free to play together. We’d call those two a successful play match 🐾 ❤️ 🐾 #ffk9koa #ffk9nimbus #balanceddogtraining ——— At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family! Firmfoundationsk9.com
When life doesn’t hand you exactly what you want, Strider says, “Follow your determination, have an open mind, and go find and create it for yourself!” (Pretty wise for a doggo! 😄) There were no toys or balls in the near vicinity while he was out for a potty break, so Strider took it upon himself to create one, the old fashioned way. He brought over a large stick and dropped it at our feet. This dog will make a toy out of anything and would play fetch all day if you let him 🐾
We train for FREEDOM. With freedom comes FUN!! It’s hard to believe this boy came to us about a month and a half, ago acting feral, afraid, and shut down. Look at him now! Dogs are pretty resilient creatures. During his stay with us, Koa has learned so much. My favorite thing is watching him learn how to walk in freedom. He doesn’t let the past hold him back. He embraces the present and soaks it up for all it’s worth! Maybe we could learn a lesson or two from this boy ❤️
Home Goods excursion with Koa Brindle! This boy is doing so well one week post surgery 💪🏻 Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers for his recovery! 🙏 We thought it was about time to get Koa out of the house and let him stretch his legs a bit after having some much needed down time over the past week. Thankfully, his training here makes moments like this possible. We can allow him some activity without the risk of him going overboard and jeopardizing the healing process. We absolutely love the kind of life this fosters for the dogs who come through our program ❤️ It’s all about bringing out the best and being able to live the fullest life possible with the dog in front of you! We would love to help you find this with your dog: CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER. Message us to get started! #mrbrindle #koa #brindledog #community #marana #twinpeaks #tucson #orovalley #maranadogtraining #tucsondogtraining #orovalleydogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogs #maranadogs #orovalleydogs
I don’t think this dog has a mean bone in his body! His gentle spirit shines through, even in the presence of the “Garden Guardians,” our kittens Maverick and Goose. #brindledog #mrbrindle #community #marana #twinpeaks #tucson #orovalley #maranadogtraining #tucsondogtraining #orovalleydogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogs #maranadogs #orovalleydogs #kittens #gardenguardians
Now that Mr. Brindle is getting more comfortable around us, our property, and our calm stretch of road, it’s time to help him face some new challenges. These clips from Day 6 show that while Mr. B has certainly made a lot of progress in his first 6 days here, he still has quite a way to go on his journey to freedom, confidence, and new LIFE! I know he has the capacity to live this way - to walk confidently, without fear, trusting his human to guide him and keep him safe. It is our job to help him discover his own abilities and to show him that we are his advocates and his protectors. He is not alone anymore! Every day, this boy shows us what he is made of - that he is a fighter, a warrior, a hero, and extremely BRAVE! We are so proud of him! #brindledog #mrbrindle #community #marana #twinpeaks #tucson #orovalley #maranadogtraining #tucsondogtraining #orovalleydogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogs #maranadogs #orovalleydogs
This Brindle boy just keeps surprising me! I already knew he was special before he came to us. How else could he gain such a following and stir so many hearts the way he has? He managed to capture mine the first time I saw a post about him. It was on a local community page on Facebook. I found myself volunteering to take him in and help rehabilitate him, without a second thought. Day 4 proved to be another one where he exceeded my expectations. My strategy yesterday was essentially to give him the reins and allow him to go where he wanted to go. We utilized Mokka again to help him feel more comfortable exploring. Movement while attached to the leash, any movement that wasn’t trying to flee, was the goal of the day. Mr. B blew my goal out of the water. Every time I work with this boy, he gives me a little more. The past couple days, he has surprised me with just how much more he was willing to give! He may still have a long way to go on his journey, but I cannot begin to tell you how proud of him I am for how far he has come already! #brindledog #mrbrindle #community #marana #twinpeaks #tucson #orovalley #maranadogtraining #tucsondogtraining #orovalleydogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogs #maranadogs #orovalleydogs
Last minute reminder… come join us tonight! Bring your dog, bring yourself, come join the community and have some fun! As a bonus, you may learn some new skills while you’re at it. We’ll be at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park tonight.
Do you have a dog? Do you want to be part of an awesome community? Message us for more details!CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.#firmfoundationsk9 #packwalk #community #marana #maranadogs #tucson #tucsondogs #dogtraining #balancedtraining #tucsondogtraining #maranadogtraining #orovalley #orovalleydogs #orovalleydogtraining
Some highlights of Mr. Riggins’ second day here! Riggins is gaining more focus and learning to channel that energy for something positive. I’m proud of this boy’s progress in just one day, and I’m looking forward to uncovering more of this pittie’s potential as the next few weeks progress. #pitbull #pitbullsofinstagram #dogtraining #balancedtraining #marana #gladdenfarms #gladdenfarmsdogtrainer #maranadog #maranadogtrainer #tucson #tucsondogs #tucsondogtraining #tucsonsmallbusiness #maranasmallbusiness
Check out my newest Bud and board and train, Riggins. Riggins’ heart is as big as his head, but that “friendliness” can be a bit much to handle at times 😂 I can’t wait to help bring out the best in this cutie “pit-tootie”. *Disclaimer - I’m a day late on posting “Day 1” 🙈 so you’ll be seeing Day 1 and Day 2 posted in today. Twice the fun for you though! #pitbull #pitbullsofinstagram #dogtraining #balancedtraining #marana #gladdenfarms #gladdenfarmsdogtrainer #maranadog #maranadogtrainer #tucson #tucsondogs #tucsondogtraining #tucsonsmallbusiness #maranasmallbusiness
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It all started with Beorn - six weeks old, six pounds, and a bundle of cuteness and fluff... that is until I got him home.
From the moment we walked through the door that first day, he was relentless. The endless whining, destruction, and chaos in those first days, further developed into lunging, barking, and aggressive tendencies toward both dogs and human "strangers."
Being an inexperienced German Shepherd owner, I did everything the wrong way. I got him too young. I had no idea how to effectively communicate with him. I was afraid to create structure or set boundaries. I tried treat-only training, exercising to "tire him out," going to dog parks to "socialize" him, and nothing seemed to work. I found myself frustrated and discouraged, and felt I was "failing" him as an owner. I was in way over my head!
This is when I found balanced training. I had spent countless hours researching and studying various training methodologies. I started following several balanced trainers on social media. This is when I began seeing replicable results in action. After observing countless lives changed and dogs lives potentially saved, I developed a trust and respect for the world of balanced trainers. It was then that I decided to send my boy to a board and train program while I was living in California. Our lives were forever changed!
When Beorn came home from his board and train program, he was not a "new dog," but rather an almost "enhanced" Beorn. They had greatly diminished all of his negative qualities and exploded the good. They found a way to draw out his full potential and provided us an opportunity for a NEW LIFE of FREEDOM, TOGETHER. I was no longer stressed or worried about all of his behavioral issues. We could simply enjoy life, infused with a new richness and a deeper BOND.
Through all of our years together, we had been there to see and help each other grow in ways that no one else could. Even in his more difficult days, Beorn had been there and had walked with me through some of my darkest days. I would come home from a long shift in the ER to find his smiling face. For a moment, the world would be a better place as we went for our morning hikes, exploring the unknown. It was he and I "against the world."
Through our new life TOGETHER, he has learned to trust me as a leader; and I have learned to communicate with him in a way he needs and understands. I am his advocate; and he is my adventure buddy. I show him a way of life that boosts his confidence and decreases his anxiety; and he ignites in me a desire to explore and truly live. I keep him SAFE; and he keeps me WILD.
Having lived the "before" and "after" with Beorn, a passion grew within me to help others find this new way of life that had been gifted to us. This is when I decided to quit my full-time job as a Registered Nurse in order to pursue dog training (try telling that one to your friends, family, and co-workers!). I can honestly say that there hasn't been a day that's gone by that I have regretted!
Since that moment, I have continued to immerse myself in the world of dog training - there is always more that can be learned. I have also been fortunate enough to train among some of the best trainers in the country. Now I'm excited to take all that I have learned and offer it to you and your canines!
Beorn and I can't wait to help you find CONNECTION, FREEDOM, and LIFE - TOGETHER.
Welcome to Build A Bond K9! 👣🐾
