Front Range K9 Academy

01/20/2024

Caution: Possibly Inflammatory Post!

What should you REALLY look for in a dog trainer?

The internet is full of articles touting claims like "The Top 5 Things to Look for in a Dog Trainer" or "How to Find the Right Dog Trainer for Your Dog".

A quick scan of most of these articles quickly begins to read like a vanilla ice cream recipe.

News flash - your dog trainer's job isn't to give you the warm & fuzzies all the time (though sometimes we do that, too!)... Your dog trainer's job is to help you and your dog have your best life together!

Read on to find out how to find the best dog trainer for your dog:

Let's debunk some myths, and talk about what people should REALLY be looking for when they're interviewing dog trainers.

01/16/2024

Woohoo! We've been voted a neighborhood favorite for the 3rd year in a row on nextdoor.com!

Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support!

The BEST thing you can do for a small business is leave a positive review on nextdoor, yelp, or most importantly, the almighty Google (it's all about the algorithms these days).

If you had a great experience with us - let every know and give us a little 'bump' with a great review. We'd appreciate it so much!

01/16/2024

Are You Suffering from Puppy Amnesia???

Is your new puppy driving you crazy? Ready to give up? Worried you might not be cut out for raising this little hellion - when your last dog was such an angel?

Read on to find out more about the all-too-common dog owner disorder of "Puppy Amnesia" and whether you have it.

"Our old dog NEVER acted like this!" I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that sentence from a new puppy owner.

01/13/2024

Hey New Puppy Owners - Let's talk about Puppy Socialization!

It seems like in the last week I've heard the phrase "puppy socialization" a dozen times.

Trainers advertise it.

Veterinarians recommend it.

Bad dogs seem to be missing it.

And oh how owners love to tell me how much of it their dogs got as puppies.

But just what kind of puppy socialization did those dogs get? Does socialization mean you have to take your dog to a special class? Does it mean you take your puppy to the dog park every week? To doggy daycare? Puppy play dates?

It could mean all of those things. Or none of them.

Let's think about this from human terms. Which one of these statements seems a little strange?

1. Humans (much like dogs) are social animals with social rules.
2. Humans (much like dogs) learn how to 'behave' from other humans.
3. Humans (much like dogs) learn their best behavior from other humans at Chuck E. Cheese and in McDonald's McPlayPlace.

Hmmm. It does look like there is something wrong with that 3rd statement, doesn't it? And yet, the type of 'socialization' that a lot of dog owners are giving their dogs is the same as children running wild in the play tubes and ball pits of popular kiddie restaurants. (Yes, I'm picking on dog parks - as the doggie equivalents of Chuck E. Cheese.)

So...Where did you learn to be polite? I bet you learned in lots of places, in lots of ways. Usually from older, well behaved adult humans. And I bet those teachers, pastors, parents, grandparents and other well behaved adults tried to steer you clear of 'bad influences' - whether the bad influences were adults or kids. They taught you that there was a time and a place for play, and a time and a place for manners - and usually, those times and places are very different!

Where does all of this leave us when it comes to dogs? In a pickle, I'm afraid. Because we have a lot of opportunities for dogs to get together and learn bad habits, but not a lot of opportunities for them to learn good ones.

You must even beware of those popular 'puppy socialization classes.' Too often they are really the same as the dog park - all rough-house play, no rules. Sure, dogs need to get out and have a good time. So do humans. But they still need to follow some basic rules of etiquette. And some (or most) of what proper dog socialization looks like might surprise you!

Here are the most common rules dogs & their owners break when it comes to canine socialization:

1. Greetings: Many, many dogs are guilty of being too intense when greeting new dogs. "Intense" can mean too playful, too dominant and pushy, too submissive, simply 'too much!' About the only thing a dog can't overdo when greeting another dog is be too aloof! Aloof dogs avoid a lot of trouble.

TIP: Polite dogs do not strain and pull to get to each other for face-to-face greetings. If your dog or puppy is doing this, get some training now! And please, for the love of Pete, when the other dog snaps at your dog don't say "It's the best thing that could have happened to my dog. He's so pushy with other dogs! He has to learn his lesson." Newsflash: It's not other people or other dogs' job to teach YOUR puppy manners. It is YOUR job.

2. Play: Many dogs do alright with the initial greeting, but then their play actions get out of control.

TIP: Polite dogs do not always control the play. They know when enough is enough and take frequent breaks. They don't body slam other dogs. They keep 'four on the floor' - they keep all four feet on the floor when playing. They don't hump other dogs. Hu***ng is NOT play - it is dominance.

3. At home: Sometimes even dogs who live in the same household are not being polite with each other. A lot of owners shrug at fights over toys, food, sleeping space, and human affection as "just being dogs." I say, not so!

TIP: Polite dogs co-exist peacefully within their pack. All of the rules of appropriate play apply to dogs that share the same home. No mounting/humping behavior is allowed. The play should be balanced and not dominated by one dog. Play sessions should be short - 10 to 15 minutes at a time, with frequent breaks.

In nature, as puppies get older, play sessions should become less frequent and of shorter duration. This is enforced by the older dogs. But if you socialize your dog with older dogs that aren't polite, they will teach your puppy bad manners!

This is important to prevent problems later on. One of the most common stories I get from dog owners whose dogs are fighting each other is: "They used to play all the time, all day long...and just suddenly they've started fighting."

Dog are like kids - they need supervised play and it's all fun and games until someone gets tired and cranky. Your job as a responsible owner is to teach them how to have fun appropriately!

Got a new puppy that needs some training? Beware of Puppy Classes that are all play and no training! Visit or call us today to find out how to get your puppy started out right: https://www.k9counselor.com/puppy-class (720) 839-1102

Denver area puppy training, dog training classes. We help with potty training, teething, chewing, problem solving, & crate training for your puppy.

01/11/2024

Let’s talk play…

Dog have all different play styles - some like to chase, some like to be chased, some like to play ‘bitey face’ games, while others like to play tug with toys.

What kind of play does your dog enjoy the most?

With my own pack (71lb GSD, 70lb Husky mix, 26lb Whippet), Marlee likes to chase, Duke enjoys variety (on the ground, wrestling & with a bit of chase mixed in), and Baja likes to outrun everyone 🤣

No matter your dog’s preference, it IS important to make sure there are some rules & boundaries around play, as it can quickly escalate.

As youngsters, Duke & Marlee’s play was ALWAYS supervised - they were strong, energetic, & enthusiastic - I put boundaries on their play so it wouldn’t get out of hand. Inside there was no play together - they were large & we were living in a small apartment on the third floor. Outside, they were given a bit more freedom, but play was still kept in check. I monitored & made sure the play was reciprocal and they were taking breaks. I also ended their play sessions after just a couple of minutes.

I didn’t get a second dog (or a third dog) to tire out my other dog. They were not left to play ‘all day’ - instead we hiked (a lot), I played with each dog separately- with tug toys, flirt poles, frisbees, etc. and we trained (& did other activities for higher energy young dogs).

As they grew, their play continued to be a short, healthy outlet. They can play with toys, without toys, in small spaces and in large open spaces. Because I did so much supervision of their play as young pups, they actually won’t play with each other unless I am in the same space (& they choose to play pretty close to me - almost too close… as I have gotten slammed into a few times 😅)

So, what does healthy play look like?

…Switching roles, bouncy body movements, dogs choosing to ‘handicap’ themselves in different ways, and the dogs taking breaks…

Periodically while playing together one dog will stop - they may sniff the ground, look at something, etc. The other dog should also stop and wait for play to resume.

Duke ‘allows’ himself to be caught by Marlee, Marlee throws her body around in goofy ways & sometimes pounces. Marlee is loud while playing - play growling, teeth clashing together, but it is all in good fun.

When Baja was integrated into the pack as a tiny, little nugget, the big dogs didn’t quite know what to do with her at first - she was fast & bouncing around them like Muhammad Ali ☺️. It took a few months for them to all adapt - Baja gained confidence boxing with the big dogs, despite Marlee’s noise, and the big dogs got used to her speed.

Duke & Marlee don’t play the way they do together with Baja - with B, there’s more chasing and running.

Just like with all dogs, big dog & little dog play should be closely monitored. If Marlee is getting too intense (prey drive takes over as she is chasing), I call her away. Play sessions are short (3-5 minutes) and they don’t choose to play every time they go outside - they sometimes critter, sniff around or watch for squirrels in the backyard.

I would not expect my three to play the way they do together with other dogs , as play is a VERY intimate thing (which is why dog parks are not a good option). When we are with other dogs, they socialize & mostly ‘work’ around each other on field trips, hikes, or inside.

If you’re having issues with managing multiple dogs or with play - it’s time to assess how your dogs are interacting with each other.

Is it non-stop playtime, all day, every day?
Is one dog too rough?
Is one dog constantly nagging the others to play?
Are your dogs able to disengage and take breaks in play?
Does your dog have a brain around their friends?

If you are struggling, this week, let’s try and manage play sessions a bit better - shorten the duration to 3-5 minutes, step in if play is seeming too rough, engage in play one-on-one with your dog instead of allowing constant play with other dogs, if you have multiple dogs do more ‘work’ time (structured walks, place, other obedience) instead of all the unstructured out of control play and see if it helps.

A long (2 minutes) video is posted below which includes unedited clips of my dogs playing with each other in different environments.

What do you notice? Do you see the breaks one dog initiates? What communication signals do you see between each dog?

The first clip is Duke & Marlee. Notice the breaks & bouncy body language. Duke also seems to think he deserves a cookie so he comes to me a few times during the clip 😅. Anything else?

The second clip is Duke & Baja. Notice Marlee playing off to the side. She is choosing not to engage with the other two & that is OKAY!

The third clip is at the beach - open space & much more running around. (This was also the first time my parents saw the Whippet’s speed, so ignore the commentary 🤣)

The fourth clip is all three again, but in the training studio. While there’s not much play happening, there’s loads of communication happening. What do you see here?

Need help teaching good play to your dog(s)? Call or visit our website today! (720) 839-1102 or https://k9counselor.com

01/05/2024

This week in "What Goes on in this Dog Trainer's Mind..."

What made YOU decide to train your dog? (hit us up in the comments with your answers!)

I've often wondered this through my 33+ years as a professional trainer, and it just now dawned on me to ask!

In going about my everyday life, I see a lot of dogs. Some are well-behaved and happy - walking along nicely without pulling on their leashes, looking to their owners for guidance with devotion in their eyes, wagging and panting happily when they get a treat or meet a new person or discover a new smell.

On the other hand, I also see the not-so-well-behaved dogs, too! The ones straining out in front of their owners on straight, tight leashes, bouncing off every person they meet in over-stimulated excitement. These are the dogs who are often completely disconnected from their humans, and struggle in our human world - lunging, barking, digging, destroying things in the house, and maybe even experiencing actual aggression problems.

In today's world, there is no shortage of dog training information out there - from (often) free blogs, webinars, online training courses, youtube videos, and of course, the good ol' library - full of free books to read about dog behavior, no matter what type of training you're looking for.

A quick google search reveals that in the greater Denver area, there are hundreds of professional in-person dog training options (over 70 different options on the first 3 pages).

So...what made YOU decide to train your dog?

Was there a one-time incident that put you over the edge?

Have you always had dogs, and always gone to professional trainers, so it was a given that you'd do the same with your newest dog?

Did a friend or family member suggest training?

Did you meet a trained dog out in the world, and think, "Hey! I want a dog like that!"?

Did you see something on a tv show or social media that planted the seed in your mind that you wanted to go to training?

What was it that made you decide to train your dog? (And if you're feeling generous, we'd love to hear what made you decide to train with us at Front Range K9 Academy!)

pic for socmed tax! :)

01/01/2024

Got dreams of off-leash freedom for your dog in the new year!?!?

On-leash adventures are GREAT & we do them all the time, but it is truly an INCREDIBLE thing to let your dog “be a dog” and explore areas where off-leash is permitted.

The dogs got in way more steps than I did on this hike 😅.

We can help you reach your dog training goals! Visit us at k9counselor.com, or give us a call today! 720.839.1102

[Videos feature Baja (1 year old Whippet), Duke (5.5 year old Siberian Husky mix) and Marlee (5 year old GSD).]

12/31/2023

Happy New Year from my pack to yours!

Anyone have New Years Training goals? Let’s hear them!

My goals for the new year are centered around sports & obedience with Baja. Duke & Marlee love Nosework & I’ve been playing around with a bunch of different sports to see what Baja enjoys including Weight Pull, Barn Hunt, Nose Work, Fly Ball, Lure Coursing, & Agility. 😊

Baja -
1. Continue building her confidence on a wall board for her Flyball box turn.
2. Conditioning for running sports (exercises, weight pull, hiking, sprinting & trotting)
3. Advanced Obedience skills - finishes, fronts, jumps + continued basic obedience work in different locations
4. Off leash reliability & continued work with e-collar around distractions - we’ve done a ton of long line + light line work.

Marlee -
1. Work on setting easy Nose Work hides outside and in different locations to improve her ability to work through different kinds of distractions, confidence, & independence in searching before starting to trial with her

Duke -
1. Practice vehicle searches using a variety of vehicles & buried hides in different locations
2. Enter more AKC Nose Work trials (he’s super close to titling in Novice with a few elements!)

What are your dog training plans for the new year???

12/24/2023

Wishing you joy & warm snuggles this holiday season!

12/23/2023

Two important questions for dog owners:

1. "Why don't professional dog trainers' dogs have the same problems our client dogs have?"

2. "Is your dog THRIVING in your human world? Or just surviving?"

Food for thought on our dog blog: https://www.k9counselor.com/dog-blog/6e8d37ugymwjck7trs3abi4pfowpfd

12/17/2023

Another beautiful weekend at the Lure Coursing field!

Sunshine & plastic bunnies - what more could a Whippet ask for!?

12/10/2023

I thought this was fake - but checked my Amazon anyway, and sure enough, had it happen to me! CHECK YOUR AMAZON Addresses, folks!!!!

12/09/2023

Are you thinking about getting yourself or your family a puppy/new dog for Christmas?

There are tons of posts out there advising against this, so we're not going to beat a dead horse.

Just some things to think about:

Have you considered that new addition to the family is just like having a human new born in the home? Like a newborn human, puppies need a LOT of attention throughout the day. They need a "baby proofed home" because just like human babies, they are curious and LOVE putting things in their mouth. Puppies will whimper and cry at all hours of the day and night. Puppies will wake you up multiple times in the night for various reasons including having to go outside to potty! Puppies will also have those potty accidents in the house.

On the other hand, puppies also bring with them joy and unconditional love and a verve for life that is rarely found anywhere else.

If you've gone through your checklist of puppy proofing, scheduling a pet sitter or time away from work to meet your new puppy's needs, and stocked up on dog beds, and bowls, and toys and all the other wonderful things... and you're ready for that new family addition, our team at Front Range K9 are here to help you, your family, and your newest addition with any of your training needs!

Visit us at k9counselor.com, or give us a call today! 720.839.1102

12/09/2023

Baja & Jax wish you a happy & snuggly snow day! 🥶❄️☃️

12/08/2023

UPDATE! Cheyenne was found safe (after 8 hours on the lam) under a porch - no injuries! She's home safe with Nathan & Jenn. 🥰🥰🥰

12/01/2023

Thanks for the great review, Lisa & VIOLET!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Meg was awesome to work with on Core Obedience with our 1 year old Great Dane, Violet. Our main concern was Violet’s leash reactivity with other rowdy dogs, and we wanted to polish up on some obedience training. Meg was very thorough on explaining on what we needed to do in order to set Violet up for success. The emails she sent after each training session reviewing what we went over in class and what our homework was were very helpful. I highly recommend bringing your dog to Front Range K9 Academy."

11/30/2023

Two new articles - written by veterinarians - on the so-called 'mystery' dog respiratory issues...perhaps not a mystery at all? Perhaps a lot of media hype?

https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/canine-infectious-respiratory-disease-complex

https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2023/11/articles/animals/dogs/respiratory-disease-in-dogs-sweeping-across-the-us-outbreak-of-disease-or-media-attention/

We will continue to exercise caution and disinfection protocols, but the latest news we're seeing (and hearing from our own contact with local veterinarians) is very reassuring.

I’ve held off writing about this but since I’ve been answering many emails about it every day, here we go. The questions I keep getting (as usual) are

11/28/2023

Your dog’s health & safety are our top priority!

In light of recent news reports on a new strain of canine respiratory illness, we want to put your mind at ease:

*We haven’t had any reported cases from any of our clients at this time*, and we are working in close conjunction with local veterinarians to monitor the situation.

In the training facility:

We are implementing the same precautions we used to mitigate human contagions during Covid: disinfecting the training room flooring, the training benches, all leashes, and tie-outs between clients; as well as trainers keeping their handling of client dogs to an absolute minimum, and lots of hand-washing throughout the day and in-between clients. (After all, we want to protect our own dogs, too!)

Additionally, we are:

Screening all potential new and current clients for reports of any illness, and requiring a minimum 14 day hiatus on training (or as recommended by a veterinarian) for ANY suspected illnesses.

Rotating between various disinfectants and cleaners, to ensure we kill any 'resistant' pathogens.

Never allowing community water or food bowls within the facility.

Running air purifiers.

Never allowing close contact between client dogs. This has always been our policy - even in our small group classes, dogs are never in direct contact with each other, and generally remain a minimum of 6 to 10 feet apart at all times.

It’s important to remember that caution - not panic - is recommended by the veterinarian professionals studying this illness.

Additionally, keep in mind that reports of these new strains have a tendency to go through local media hype about once a year, and generally most dogs are never exposed, and those who are usually get through it with no problems.

We are asking all of our clients to be watchful and proactive: to avoid dog parks, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and other areas where dogs are in close contact in large groups, and to let us know if their dogs are experiencing any symptoms of illness before coming in for training.

Reported symptoms to watch for include:

Eye/nasal discharge

Coughing

Sneezing

Unusual respiratory rate

Decreased appetite/lethargy

If your dog is experiencing any of the above, a vet visit is in order - and you should delay training until your dog has a clean bill of health!

11/28/2023

Wow, what a trip that was! Duke, Baja, Marlee & I made it back to Colorful Colorado last night.

12 days
3,661+ miles
54+ hours of driving
13 States
4 AirBnBs
4 stays with family
2 beach trips
5 hikes
2 park visits
9 kids
Many rest stop potty breaks
3 happy (but tired) dogs
Countless unforgettable memories…

It’s an incredible experience getting to watch your dog just be a dog - from running around at the park with nieces & nephews, to chasing each other on an open empty beach, to exploring interesting AirBnBs and hiking in new states. Love these dogs and the adventures we get to have together!

11/22/2023

Just popping in with a sandy beach nose “boop” from Baja! She had an absolute blast running around on the beach with Marlee & Duke!

Monmouth, New Jersey

11/21/2023

Baja, Duke & Marlee checking in from Pennsylvania!

We are 1,858 miles into our 3,661 mile round trip to visit family for Thanksgiving. We’ve already spent about 27 hours in the car with more miles & and hours to go!

Road tips, while a great adventure, can be stressful….especially when traveling with dogs. This was my first time traveling with all three for such a long distance!

I am already so proud of these amazing dogs and thankful for great rest stops, family welcoming our fur and dirt into their homes, hiking trails next to the highway and much more.

The dogs have experienced their first overnight sleepovers with young kids (nieces & nephews), co-living for a very short time with another dog, and will get to see the beach and step foot in the ocean. Duke has also now traveled from east coast to west coast - he’s a well traveled boy!

Besides the crazy idea to road trip home and a partner willing to do it all with me, TRAINING has made this whole trip all possible.

Here is just some of the training (that I can currently think of 😅) that has been helpful during this trip:

1. House manners - staying off furniture when not permitted, not jumping up on guests, no counter surfing with food around,
2. Leash manners - loose leash walking for rest stops, walking around local parks
3. Off-leash skills - recall & staying in close proximity when off-leash hiking or roaming a yard without a fence
4. Crate training -calmly and quieting crating while driving, not busting out of the kennel door ever (but especially useful when next to busy roads and at rest stops)

Duke, Marlee & even young Baja, have EARNED lots of freedoms and privileges; they are a joy to be around and to bring places.

Stay tuned for some more east coast adventures!

11/17/2023

Annnnnnnd...technology fails again.

To our valued potential customers - we have just discovered that our website forms for new dogs have not been coming through to our email for over 9 days! :(

For those who know us, we are ALWAYS prompt about responding to emails - when we know they exist!

We're so sorry for anyone we've missed.

Yet another reason there are days that this ol' dog is tired of all the new 'tricks' of a technological world.

So - I'm now getting off the dang screens and training some dogs in the real world....

"Down. Stay."

11/15/2023

PSA - sorry if this posts twice! Our FB is being weird.

Be careful what your dogs are chewing on!

Long time clients & friends, Nick & Kristi, with their Doberman girl, Greta had quite a scare this week.

The cow bone Greta was chewing slipped right over her jaw and stuck fast.

Luckily, Nick & Kristi were home, and after a visit to the vet, some sedation, and a gigli saw - Greta is fine.

This could have been a much worse disaster than it was. So...just a friendly reminder to always supervise what your dog is chewing on, and try to make sure the size & shape are appropriate for your breed!

11/15/2023

Are you expecting training to make your dog - not be a dog?

As the old saying goes, "The leopard doesn't change its spots."

And, as trainer Lisa Lucero points out below, there is no "Ctrl-Alt-Delete" combination of buttons to push to make your dog anything but a dog.

Too many owners are confused about what training & management will do for their dog - and hoping it will make the dog deny its instinctive behaviors, which is impossible. This post helps to reorient owners and trainers as to what exactly to expect from training & management.

There are five natural outlets for dogs: running, digging, chewing, barking (guarding) and play (chase and acquisition, aka hunting and predatory behavior). These are natural behaviors that all dogs desire, some more than others. It is our job to provide our dogs outlets for those behaviors as there is no way to extinguish these behaviors 100%, because these are the fibers that make a dog... a dog.

How do we minimize unwanted behaviors? Training and management!

What's the difference between the two? And how do you know which to utilize?

Training does NOT change your dogs’ preferences, personality or desires. Training allows us to get more control of our dogs by interrupting their thought process with a task that is incompatible with the behavior we are trying to mitigate. Those tasks are heel, sit, down, stay, and recall, generically speaking.

For instance... Your dog (we'll call him Max) is chasing a squirrel, and suddenly it darts across the street. You call out, "Max, COME!" and Max turns on a dime and runs back to you (because you have trained Max well through the process of repetition, with evidence-based, scientific training techniques).

Did your recall prevent Max from being squashed by the oncoming car? YES.
Did Max want to catch the squirrel? YES.
If Max still wants to chase squirrels in the future, does that mean he is NOT TRAINED?! ......NO.

Why? Because chasing prey is innately DOG. And 'Training' is not 'Programming.' We cannot CTL+ALT+DLT hardwired system components!

Training uses incompatible behaviors to eliminate problem behaviors. For example, a dog cannot jump on your guests if they have a bomb-proof sit, or they are on their place cot (stay). The dog cannot lunge at passing dogs (or try to visit them) if they are busy focusing on heeling while on leash. Training interrupts the natural behavior and replaces it with something HUMANS value, instead.

Management prevents a dog from being able to perform unwanted behaviors by creating an environment that supports our behavior goals. Supervision, using a leash, using a crate, fencing or barricades, dog runs, etc. are all examples of management that can block the opportunity for the dog to make bad decisions.

So ultimately, Max cannot be loose and unsupervised around squirrels. He needs a human to interrupt that innate, voice in his head that says, "GET THE SQUIRREL..." AND/OR, he needs a fence, or some form of containment to prevent him from chasing the squirrel into the street (aka Management).

More examples....
Digging? If your dog is digging in the yard, you cannot train them out of it. You can supervise them in the yard, and interrupt the behavior with a training command. You can correct (punish) digging as it occurs, you can build a dog run with buried wire or concrete flooring, and/or give them an appropriate area to dig (doggy sand box with toys and goodies burried inside!). This is the training/management COMBO.

The same goes for barking at passer-bys out the window (guarding), aggression towards prey animals or other dogs (same), a desire to run off if given the opportunity (looking at you, huskies!), and other primal desires our dogs are born with.

It is important to both respect our dogs for the animals they are, and help them navigate our very human world safely.

Learn to think like a dog trainer by asking yourself if you have spent the time to teach the dog what to do INSTEAD. What does your dog know (well), and how can that skill counteract what your dog is doing that bothers you, or is unsafe?

What form of management can help you block the unwanted behavior in the first place?