Team K9 Training

  • Home
  • Team K9 Training

Team K9 Training Professional Dog Training and Education for dog owners and dog trainers.

Being overweight, not wanting kids, not drinking alcohol, working lower-wage jobs, struggling with anxiety & depression…...
05/05/2025

Being overweight, not wanting kids, not drinking alcohol, working lower-wage jobs, struggling with anxiety & depression…

What do all of these things have in common?

They’re all morally neutral.

However, due to social conditioning - many people are looked down on as tho their character is morally flawed.

Same thing happens in the dog world.

Crate training doesn’t make you evil. It’s morally neutral.

Having a reactive dog doesn’t make you a bad dog parent. It’s morally neutral.

Since the beginning of time (literally) the things which people do not understand, sympathize or empathize with are labeled as “evil” “bad” or whatever they choose to label it.

Sometimes extending so far as to say it is immoral.

Many people who insist that these things are a moral failing and are in fact not morally neutral typically lack the ability to think critically, lack empathy, sympathy and the ability to look outside of themselves.

Usually so they themselves can feel superior to others.

So here’s your gentle reminder that these choices you make for YOUR dog are not moral failings.

You’re doing a great job, I’m proud of you ♥️

Is there anything else you would add (dog related or not) to this list?

Which one gave you the best chuckles? 😂Share to your story and tag someone who would get a laugh so you can help make th...
02/05/2025

Which one gave you the best chuckles? 😂

Share to your story and tag someone who would get a laugh so you can help make their day with humor!

30/04/2025

“Not food motivated” dogs should be put through this protocol as well.

Making your treats your using more engaging and dynamic is how to get a more enthusiastic dog that “listens” to you.

If you’re sitting in a lecture hall and the old professor has the lights dim, he’s sitting on a stool and he’s reading in a droll monotone voice text from the 1800s - YOURE GONNA BE BORED!!!

If he instead had the lights up, opened a window, had a presentation, he walked around the classroom, selected students at random to read this next paragraph of text - YOURE GONNA BE ENGAGED!

Boring handler mechanics = a bored and tuned out dog

Same thing with play as well. If you want to use toys in your dog training…

YOU AS THE OWNER NEED TO MOVE MORE!

Handler mechanics are an underrated skill in dog training but are a big part of success.

In Part 2 I’ll share things you should incorporate when you successfully transition into a toy and mistakes most people make.

Do you do any of these in your dog training?

Did you learn anything new from the 3 food drills you’re going to try out?

Dogs are surrendered to shelters because of the inability to walk on leash.Leash walking, barking, jumping are some of t...
29/04/2025

Dogs are surrendered to shelters because of the inability to walk on leash.

Leash walking, barking, jumping are some of the highest surrender reasons.

The issue?

It’s multifaceted and nuanced as always - but a big one is the Human’s misunderstanding of how dogs learn.

You see dogs go through 4 phases of learning.

Many humans stop at Phase 2 but expect Phase 3 and 4 without ever formally teaching it.

Imagine a dogs brain like this….

When learning something, take a literal snapshot of that moment.

-Where were you standing? In front of them? Next to them? Behind them?
-Where are you located? Kitchen? Living room? Bedroom?
-What equipment items are being used? Leash? Food?
-What’s your energy? Excited? Tired? Frustrated?

NOW…

If anything at all from the above changes, it’s like a new command to the dog.

If you go from Living Room to Garage, guess what?

You gotta build up a new “picture” for the dog.

Quite literally, take pictures from the side when you’re training your dog and circle all of the things that are different from other training sessions.

That’s not even taking into account SMELLS or sounds.

You see how not just leash walking would be challenging?

So yes, if you can’t even gain success in your kitchen you should start inside the home!

Luckily, dogs can generalize (Phase 3) pretty quickly

…but you have to take the baby steps to get their! Don’t just toss your dog into the deep end!

Do you do leash walking drills with your dog?

Tbh i think I should have divided up the second one to include “how much money I make to take care of my dog” and “unlim...
25/04/2025

Tbh i think I should have divided up the second one to include “how much money I make to take care of my dog” and “unlimited PTO to go on adventures with my dog”

lol what else would you include for the second slide?!

You’ve probably seen the advice…“Give your dog a massage.”“Try calming chews.”“Just add enrichment and long walks.”And w...
21/04/2025

You’ve probably seen the advice…
“Give your dog a massage.”
“Try calming chews.”
“Just add enrichment and long walks.”

And while those tips can be helpful, they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to regulating your dog’s nervous system.

What social media often promotes are trendy, surface-level strategies.

They sound nice (and sometimes look aesthetic), but they aren’t the foundation your dog truly needs to feel safe, calm, and confident.

🎯 If your dog is struggling with anxiety, reactivity, overstimulation, or stress-related behaviors…you need to look deeper than a snuffle mat or calming music playlist.

Nervous system regulation in dogs is built on meeting their biological, emotional, and relational needs consistently.

That means:
✅ Predictable routines
✅ Structured decompression time
✅ Clear communication using consistent cues and markers
✅ Physical exercise that’s appropriate for your dog’s breed, age, and energy
✅ Safe socialization and frustration tolerance training
✅ Supportive training that prioritizes trust and safety
✅ And YES, meeting their most basic needs: food, water, movement, quality rest, and access to a calm handler they feel securely attached to.

✨You don’t have to ditch the snuffle mats or ditch the idea of a “calming corner.” But they’ll only go so far if the foundation isn’t there.

If you want a dog who feels secure, relaxed, and responsive to training, nervous system regulation isn’t optional, it’s essential.

📌 Save this pyramid for reference the next time you find yourself wondering why your enrichment routine isn’t “fixing” your dog’s behavior.

👋 Let’s stop romanticizing the surface and start supporting what truly makes a difference.

—

🧠 Want to learn how to build better regulation in your dog’s training? Comment “VGC” to get the details on our 5-week Virtual Group Class.

✍🏽 What else would you add are “trends” that are surface level?

Dog ownership is much like parenting for human children.There’s multiple ways of doing it and everyone believes their wa...
16/04/2025

Dog ownership is much like parenting for human children.

There’s multiple ways of doing it and everyone believes their way is the correct way.

And of course there are people who are not parents who believe they have the answers to parenthood.

For many parents - they’re doing the best they can with the knowledge they currently hold.

In my opinion, I believe that 99% of dog owners love their dog and do what they do because they’re trying their best with the information they have.

There are layers and layers of misinformation out in the world.

So that provides a spectrum or bell curve of where dog owners stand.

Many of us start at the far end and find our way to the middle.

But that only happens when we are presented with new information, life changes, and are open to new ways of living with our dog.

Sometimes you may find yourself at a far end of the spectrum because if live circumstance or the type of dog you got.

If you have a dog aggressive dog due to a bad incident at a dog park - you’re going to end up at the spectrum of “all dog parks are bad and they shouldn’t exist. No dogs benefit from them”

If you have physical impairments maybe you require then use of a head halti or prong collar. But those that have not lived your experience will not be able to fathom your situation and instead react and judge.

It’s all a spectrum.

And we’re all moving up and down that spectrum based on how life moves us.

We’re all doing our best ♥️

Where do you fall on most of these? Middle? At the ends?

13/04/2025

(April 1st thoughts) Social media algorithms push out content at different times.

There’s been some content on my timelines, across all platforms, that was originally posted on April 1st but is just now being served to me on a delectable platter of hilarity and double takes.

At first glance, they’re good for a laugh (or at least one of those soft exhales through your nose that feels like uproarious laughter in your mind).

But then… I read the comments.

Fitness influencers joking about how water is dangerous and “real athletes only drink soda.”

Pickleball enthusiasts falling for a joke about overhead hits being banned due to an epidemic of eyeball injuries.

Dog trainers sharing a completely fabricated “study” claiming sunshine causes aggression in dogs.

And yet, the comments on these obviously satirical posts?

UNHINGED.

People arguing, debating, defending, and (worst of all) believing.

It makes me wonder: Has media literacy become a lost art???

If we can’t pause for a moment to check the date on a post…

If we can’t recognize sarcasm or satire…

If we’re basing our outrage, opinions, or even our decisions on fake content…

That’s not just embarrassing…it’s dangerous.

👉🏽So here’s your friendly reminder: Not everything you see online is real. Not every video is true. Not every opinion is worth absorbing. And not every headline deserves your attention.

Think twice. Read more than the caption. Check the date.

Pause before you repost. (Or worse, take it as fact and start regurgitating it to anyone and everyone)

a little skepticism can go a long way in keeping the internet (and your brain) a little less chaotic.

I know it’s not dog training! But I have many dog trainer business owners who created content on the other app and are w...
10/01/2025

I know it’s not dog training! But I have many dog trainer business owners who created content on the other app and are worried about all of their content they developed.

I’ll probably delete this later depending on the Supreme Court ruling - but for now:

Please share to your fellow content creators and save it for instructions on how to do it for free.

- with love

Human nature often leans towards binary thinking.It helps us make quick decisions that aid in survival. But now that we ...
26/11/2024

Human nature often leans towards binary thinking.

It helps us make quick decisions that aid in survival. But now that we have graduated from the caves and our hunting gathering roots - we should take more time to expand our ways of thinking.

Dog training in specific seems to bring out this trait in us and we toss things into only two buckets:

• “Good”
• “Bad”

However that’s not how the world works and the majority of events, circumstances, tools, methods, techniques and more will operate on a spectrum.

In dog training we strive to use food. But what happens when that food becomes coercive? What happens when you accidentally turn it into a punisher? What happens when it becomes a contingency for engagement and obedience?

Everything will have a risk and everything will have a benefit.

I’m not here to tell you what is “right” and “wrong”

I’m here to tell you that there isn’t a “right” and “wrong”
I’m here to hopefully get you to THINK and think critically.

So….what is your critical and insightful thoughts?

🚨3 Big Mistakes that are accidentally made and what to do instead! Compete with video examples 🤌🏼I used to train behavio...
12/11/2024

🚨3 Big Mistakes that are accidentally made and what to do instead! Compete with video examples 🤌🏼

I used to train behaviors with low arousal and excitement because the end result I wanted was a low arousal behavior.

While yes, for some dogs that may need to be the case or in certain situations - but I was seeing some of the dogs not WANTING to do the behavior.

Slow movement. Hesitancy.

Taking a look at the training, it became clear that when the behavior was first developed, there wasn’t a lot of happy emotions the dog was experiencing.

It was neutral at best.

Upon testing and expanding my knowledge - for several years now I now start behaviors with as much enthusiasm and happiness I can bring out from the dog.

It’s easier to reign a dog in that does something very excitedly and chisel it down into the end behavior

Vs a dog that is slow, unmotivated and has a negative view of the behavior to build them up later one. Because sometimes you can’t! (Or at least it’s very hard)

Now in the video examples I provided - you don’t have to be that extreme in your excitement and enthusiasm with your own dog, but Forest is:

- hesitant
- nervous
- skittish
- apprehensive
- sensitive to social cues/behavior

So I need to compensate and bring energy through my own behavior.

Not make it serious and draining.

I hope these tips can help you if you’re working with a dog who is similar to Forest in some degree!

Do you have a dog that can be nervous, timid and shy? Do you help them with your own behavior?

Trick or Treaters present an EXCELLENT and unique opportunity!How often do you get the opportunity to get your doorbell ...
31/10/2024

Trick or Treaters present an EXCELLENT and unique opportunity!

How often do you get the opportunity to get your doorbell rang a whole bunch?!

If you have a dog that struggles with the doorbell and starts to behave anxiously or gets nervous - use this as a training session!

However, don’t forget that Halloween is the 2nd highest day of the year for dogs to go missing!

So - keep those collars ON & make sure they’re on SNUG!

Not only that but keep a leash on your dog or put them into SECURE locations!

Medications are ok btw! If your dog is having a really rough time, make sure you provide medication before the festivities begin.

Do you have any other Halloween tips or advice?

If not, happy Halloween my friend! 🎃🌙🕸️🕷️🦇

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Team K9 Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Team K9 Training:

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Claim ownership or report listing

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share