True Potential K9

09/10/2024

💯🎯

08/11/2024

THE CUP GAME!!!!

This is such an easy, cheap, and useful game to not only enrich your pup but also build trust and confidence in fearful dogs!! The only materials needed are solo cups and a treat that may be cut up into tiny pieces so you don’t overload your calories and can offer many cups to play with.

We used all-beef, low-sodium hot dogs cut into 1/4ths long wise, then cut into sliver-sized slices horizontally. 1.5 hot dogs are used in total, so splitting that between the two minimizes the food content. 🌭

⚠️ WARNING: if your kiddo has pancreatic health issues, avoid hotdogs to not overload the pancreas! ⚠️

This is enriching in MANY ways!
- Building confidence! 🏅
(Great for shelter dogs with trauma)
- Mental Stimulation! 🧠
- Useful in increasing scent working skills! 👃
- Improving problem solving skills! 🧩
- Relieves boredom! 😴

In addition to offering enrichment, this builds relationship and trust by engaging with them on their search! ❤️

This is a great exercise to do when there’s a rainy day, which is why we played today! These kiddos were restless, so CUP GAME ACTIVATED! 🥤

Those of you with dogs who have world fears or are scared of certain areas of your home, outside even objects - THIS IS USEFUL!! Once your kiddo has a well-established correlation that the cup = treat and fun, place the cup in the fearful area, OR A FEW. With your encouragement they can overcome their fear of areas or items by associating the cup that has a high reward and confident feeling correlation, they can begin to associate that scary place with positivity! Keep in mind you’ll need to do this slowly, lots of positive encouragement and place the cups in a trail leading up to the scary place. Once my fearful kiddo, Reya (black dog) has a well-established relationship and correlation with the cup, I will showcase this in action by using cups in her scary places! Stay tuned! 😜

Once your dogs become confident with the game, you can make it more challenging by placing cups in odd places, such as the ones seen here!
- wobble boards!
- Placing the cup on cardboard boxes! 📦
- Placing them onto chairs (that are supported) 🪑
- Placing them under chairs! 🪑
- Puting them in boxes! 🗃️

The last thing I’ll point out is how Reya gained confidence within one game!
- The beginning of the video, she is hesitant and afraid to approach the cup. Mom to the rescue! I grabbed additional treats and placed them on top of the cup as well as around the cup. When she was brave enough to oh so gently touch the cup, I knocked it over for her to encourage her.
- The middle of the game she was touching cups by herself, but still needed help here and there. However, you can see her ears are no longer tucked back, and her tail is slightly up rather than a fearful low and leaning back stance!
- By the end of ONE game, this kiddo was even brave enough to knock over a cup that was on a cardboard box! 🎖️

You can also see how her trust built with me throughout the game. At first it was hard to lure her to the cup as she was hesitant in my intentions. But the middle, she was wagging her tail every time I gave a verbal positive congratulations on getting the treat as well as looking to me for guidance. At the end, all tail wags, searching for more and even gave a big ROOOO in enjoyment! 🔊🐶

Last note: SAVE THE CUPS FOR FUTURE GAMES! It helps them correlate the positivity and cup = treat best if you use the same color every time. 😉 So, these shall be placed in the doggie shelf for future fun! 🤩

Please feel free to ask any questions if you are having trouble with getting your dog to knock over the cup - we’re here to help! ❓

ENJOY!! I look forward to seeing future cup game videos so we can all see the fun!🤩

07/24/2024

That focus though 👍

04/15/2024

Wow! 😱 Thank you thank you thank you! 😁 Such an honor and surprise…we are forever grateful to our clients and their canine companions/partners who trust us with their training and enhancement!

03/06/2024

WDA (Working Dogs of America, Corp) is both a fun and practical way to get dogs and their handlers out doing things together.

There is something for everyone no matter your breed or experience in sport or working dogs.

True Potential K9 invites you to reach out to learn more about WDA as we are currently the only training facility in the state of Colorado listed by the organization to offer a training venue specifically for the sport.

Let’s get some dogs on the field and working!

We are in the beginning stages of planning for our next WDA Championship Trial to be held in May or June 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO! More details to come but we want to get the qualification information out to everyone now. Please share and get entered into the upcoming WDA trials! You can find the list of trials on our Event page and on the WDA website.

Qualification Period: January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025.

Qualification Criteria:

Any dog competing in WDA trials with TWO passing scores in protection gripping titles and at least ONE score meeting the requirements below is qualified:
a. P1, PS1, PD1 need at least a 175.
b. P2, PS2, PD2 need at least a 170.
c. P3, PS3, PD3 need at least a 165.

Dogs can also qualify by obtaining ONE passing score at either the WDA Eastern Regional Trial hosted by Carolina K9’s on November 2 & 3, 2024 or the Western Regional WDA Trial - Hosted by True Haus Kennels on November 23 & 24, 2024.

Here is a link to the all of the 2025 WDA Championship Trial guidelines on our WDA website: https://www.workingdogsofamerica.com/Content/sdaweb/clubs/championship2025/WDA%20Championship%20Guideline%202025.docx

02/04/2024

A little bit of engagement goes a long way 👍

12/25/2023

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️💚⭐️🎅🏼🐾

12/06/2023

Trainer Nancy in working with this beautiful on confidence in new places, distractions, and new dogs 👌🏼.
We always say “everything is new until it’s not”…exposure at an early age is always best, but older dogs can still gain environmental confidence with a little patience and leadership.

12/01/2023

This dog already has her “reward”…yet she CHOOSES to heal because 1) she likes to “work” 2) she enjoys being praised with a simple “good girl” 3) she knows it makes me happy when she listens. 👌
This dog hasn’t spent hours a day doing obedience work, she wasn’t trained on an e-collar, prong, etc (we use them if needed but not to teach).
Her desire to work with her handler is pure relationship and bond.
Solid relationships with your dog make for the best tool for training. Yes food, toys, etc all work but the desire comes from your relationship. ☺️
If you wish to build a better bond and relationship with your dog we’d love to help!

11/25/2023

We had the pleasure of doing a short board and train with this sweet little puppy Ripley. He stayed for some basics and much needed socialization. He is such a fun puppy and we were especially honored since he is a son of Nitro!
We love helping both new and experienced dog owners get off to the right start! 😊

11/02/2023

Formerly afraid of a whole lot of things, Blue is gaining more confidence, and learning to relax more out in the world. Coping with stress or anxiety, or even fear isn’t something that comes easily for all dogs…we love helping them be able to enjoy life more.

09/29/2023

Dog Reactivity. Many struggle with it and many let it go on so long it actually becomes aggression.
If your puppy or dog is displaying this you CAN get it under control.
Barking, lunging, pulling, hackles up, etc typically are either a fear response, or the dog just not knowing HOW it is suppose to behave. We can coach and give the proper skills for fixing this behavior.
So the owner gets anxious or frustrated, keeps the leash tight, panics when another dog is spotted, or avoids walking the dog altogether…this just continues the cycle.
The sable pup on the right lost his mind at the sight of other dogs on our first session.
These pictures were taken on our second session.
We determined he is not aggressive and just reactive because he didn’t understand what was expected. After 1 week of his owner doing the homework and using the coaching given, there was a tremendous difference.
We decided learning how to walk among dogs using a calm and balanced dog was appropriate and the turn around was incredible!
We encountered many other dogs during the session and he never exploded even once.
If you struggle with leash reactivity whether it’s towards other dogs or people, we would love to help!

09/18/2023

Wow! What an honor and nice surprise this is! 😱❤️ Thank you thank you thank you!

08/26/2023

Just a couple of happy, adolescent pups bonding over training and play ☺️

Did you know that training no matter how basic or advanced is great mental stimulation for dogs as well as a wonderful way to build your bond and engagement? 💡
Training also opens up the avenue for more adventures and hobbies for those who want a long lasting relationship with their dogs! 🐾
If you have ever considered training for your dog- no matter the reasons…we at would love to help you! 😁
We have trainers in and to serve your dog training needs.

07/08/2023

A glimpse of a clients life, while under my care.

Rainy day (or month…)? Bring the fun inside with brain teasers, elementary scent enrichment, and simple games!

I’ve rather enjoyed setting up these obstacle courses for these goofballs. Great opportunity for enrichment and challenge them, mentally.

If you have a dog with anxious behaviors, games and increasing mental stimulation can make a huge difference on your dogs overall health and behaviors. Many times these OCD/anxious behaviors stem from boredom - they’re stir crazy. By offering opportunities of engagement, it allows an outlet for this wound up anxious energy.

This doesn’t mean you have to dedicate a huge chunk of your time towards this, it’s hard to balance, or find the time - I get it. But puzzle games, snuffle mats, fun way for them to eat kibble, even teaching them the names of their toys; 5 minutes of your time even once a week, would have an astronomical effect on your dogs overall behavior.

This is surely not a ‘cure all’ for puppers who suffer with anxiety, depression, or OCD. In order to accurately assess and change behavior and wellbeing dogs who have these issues, requires a trainer whom specializes in behavior analyses and modification. If you feel that your household struggles with these issues and want change, please contact us at True Potential K9 - we have several qualified professionals who can help!

05/29/2023

Remembering all who gave the ultimate sacrifice…🙏🏼🇺🇸

05/24/2023

This! 💯% on point 👌🏼

VanBuren K9 Academy: Real-World Dog Training in Abilene, TX & Asheville, NC.

05/14/2023

Happy 2nd Birthday to Zinny! 🥳🩵