Evolved K9 Training

14/05/2024

Oops!

If you tried reaching out for training this past week, our phone crashed and all the data was lost including texts and calls.

We are back up and running so if you’re looking to schedule an appointment, please reach back out and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

12/02/2024

This handsome boy completed a board and train with us and is ready for an adopter!

04/02/2024

Adopt this handsome boy and receive free training through us!

He has already completed a board and train and has incredible leash manners. He is a wonderful dog. Please help us to spread the word and find his forever home.

02/02/2024

We are heading into the new year with a brand-new website. It has been completely remodeled and updated and features photos of our beloved dogs and client dogs. Stop by and take a look if you have a free moment.

https://evolvedk9.com/

07/01/2023

02/11/2022

27/07/2022

Congratulations to one of our client’s, Boris!

Boris came to us for a board and train a few months ago. The goal was to help him get the foundation for his owners to reach all of their goals, and to problem solve some quirky behaviors he was experiencing.

From here, they continued regular at home training and built on this foundation. A great example of how important it is for client’s to follow through and continue working on the training we’ve started.

A rescue dog that likely would have been euthanized in the shelter system is now an AKC Champion with his CGC, Trick Dog Novice and Trick Dog Intermediate.

27/03/2022

Did you know we help with many of the local rescues?

Bruce was on a euthanasia list, he was injured and he only had a few short hours before his time was up. Luckily, Bug A Bull Rescue and Education Program stepped in and pulled him. However, when he arrived they were shocked to find he was completely deaf which was never mentioned to the rescue.

This is where Trevor stepped in. Over the course of several months, Trevor earned his trust and taught him the basics of being a good dog. Bruce lights up every time he gets to see Trevor, he’s undoubtedly his favorite person. He smiles from ear to ear and bathes him in kisses, he dances with excitement when he sees his collar because he loves to learn.

From an unruly dog who had no manners, to a dog who’s ready to start his life with a new family.

26/03/2022

Ready for some education this Saturday?

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐕𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

So often we hear people state that they walk/run their dogs to "wear them out". While in theory this sounds like a great idea, what typically ends up happening is that the dog builds stamina and before long the dog needs a 5 mile walk/run to even think about being worn out.

The truth is, dogs are athletes! Which is why they are so good at a variety of sports from agility, to dock diving, flyball and so much more. The more you exercise your dog, the more stamina they are going to build.

𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍'𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐆

Exercise is an important aspect of any dog's well being. What we are saying is that there are better ways to stimulate your dog if the goal is having them burn off some energy and tire out. The good news is, you don't need to walk 5+ miles to reach this goal.

𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Ever wonder why your dog seems exhausted after an hour long training class? It's because they are being mentally stimulated! Mental stimulation is not only important for your dog's well being and behavior, but it also helps to wear them out.

Here are some of our favorite mental stimulation activities -

◾ Spend 10 minutes a day going over a training regimen in the comfort of your own home. It doesn't have to be long!

◾ Schedule a class! It doesn't have to be for obedience. Things like agility and scent work are fun for everyone.

◾Go on a walk around the block, but work on your obedience during the walk. Have your dog in a heel, have them sit at corners, work on ignoring other people and dogs and keep them engaged.

◾Go somewhere to train! Take your dog to Lowe's or Home Depot, while you get some shopping done have them work on things like heeling, sitting when you stop, and down stays.

◾Buy a treat puzzle! You can mentally stimulate your dog even when you are not home. Buy a treat puzzle that makes your dog work for the treat.

◾Play search games with your dog to find a favorite toy or treat!

We hope this information helps you to keep your dog more mentally satisfied, and that everyone has a fantastic weekend! If you have the time, try to implement one of these and let us know how it goes.

15/03/2022

It's the last day to vote for us for "Best of Reno 2022" under "Best Dog Trainers".

We want to once again thank everyone who nominated us for this. We appreciate each and every one of you, and it has been wonderful serving the local community.

https://rgj.secondstreetapp.com/og/81c8c5d2-6bd4-4f1f-9166-e560e66fc9af/gallery/319911918

08/03/2022

Let's talk about crates!

Did you know that the type of crate you purchase can greatly impact your success with crate training and even save your dog's life? It's true.

So often we have people reach out who are at their wits end because their dog is destroying or escaping their crates, and that's because most people are not purchasing adequate crates for their dogs. We even see people who's dogs suffer injuries and have heard stories of dogs becoming trapped between wires and dying.

Here's the breakdown -

- 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 -

𝐖𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 are meant for dogs who are accustomed to their crates and do not try to escape ever. They are not meant for anything else. They can be DANGEROUS if dogs attempt to escape them. Dogs can break their legs and even suffocate getting stuck between wires. Often times, these crates can increase separation anxiety issues as well. Only a dog who is completely reliable and accustomed to a crate should go in one.

𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 are also meant for dogs who are accustomed to their crates and do not try to escape. These crates are VERY easy to chew threw and can be DANGEROUS causing blockages if your dog ingests pieces. Dogs can also move these crates across rooms.

- 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐔𝐌 -

𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 with normal doors are meant for dogs who understand the basic concept of crate training, and simply are a bit much for wire crates. These doors can still be popped by a dog who is determined to escape, but are great for dogs who are hit and miss with wire crates and it's much safer for a dog to pop a door then have a wire crate collapse on them. Dogs tend to have less separation anxiety due to the fully enclosed nature.

𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 - You've probably seen an ad for one of these. They are usually wood, and blend well with your home décor. These tend to be a little more heavy duty than the "light" options, but still aren't good if your dog is determined to escape or likes to chew on wood.

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐀𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 may seem like a heavy duty crate, but many dogs still have issues with separation anxiety in these and display escaping behavior. This is because the bars often have wide enough spaces for dogs to jam extremities, or even their heads, through the bars, and many dogs can also get their mouths around the bars and damage teeth/gums.

- 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 -

𝐑𝐔𝐅𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 are a great option for dogs who get out of crates. Their design is one seamless piece of very thick plastic, and leaves no room for dogs to stick any extremities out or even get their mouth around anything to chew. These crates can give great peace of mind for owners that their dog will not escape, nor hurt themselves. The only downfall is that these crates are not large enough for XL breeds such as St. Bernard's.

𝐕𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 come in XL varieties and the vault door system makes it so dogs CANNOT pop the door. They come in options with and without side windows for dogs who like to pop them out. These are fantastic for very large and powerful dogs who need that extra crate security.

The point being, a good dog crate is an INVESTMENT. You should expect to spend $400 on a good dog crate, and it should last you a lifetime. You can work with a reputable trainer to teach your dog that crates are a POSITIVE part of their lives and a place of comfort and security. They should never be used as a form of punishment. We use crates often to help dogs overcome separation anxiety, we also use crates to save the lives of dogs who display extreme destructive behavior when left loose who would otherwise lose their homes.

28/02/2022

We are so happy to announce we have been nominated for "Best of Reno 2022" under "Best Dog Trainer".

If you'd like to vote for us, please head over to the following link -

https://rgj.secondstreetapp.com/og/81c8c5d2-6bd4-4f1f-9166-e560e66fc9af/gallery/319911918

We want to thank each and everyone of our clients who have nominated us and gotten us to the final round. We absolutely love serving the community, and hope for a wonderful 2022.

15/12/2021

RENO AREA FRIENDS I NEED YOUR HELP!
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 700 homeless people die from hypothermia EVERY YEAR! For Christmas this year we want to give out winter gear to the homeless. If you have any old winter gear sitting in your closet, sleeping bags, NEW socks, or anything you are willing to donate, I will be collecting all of the items and handing them out to homeless people in need for the rest of the year. Thank you for your help and I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and New Year!

22/05/2021

Hello Everyone!

We wanted to take a moment to address a review that was left on our page, regarding a missed text message.

As many of you know, we are a small family owned business. What you may not know is that on top of having this business we also have a second business, 3 children, our own pets, and Direct for a local rescue. We are incredibly busy, and often have hundreds of emails, phone calls, page messages and texts to answer weekly. It’s a lot for two people to manage, and we do our very best to accommodate. We have illnesses, family emergencies and events just like the rest of you.

We have been incredibly gracious listing our private phone numbers to help people via text and it’s very disheartening when a late night text message is accidentally looked over and turns into a review and angry text. We care very much about our clients, and want to get everyone scheduled but please be understanding. Just like everyone else, we are human and sometimes things get glanced over. Please be courteous when texting us, ensure you are sending a message at an appropriate time and if we don’t respond, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Thank you so much.

14/01/2021

Barry completed his board and train and returned home yesterday, his Mom says.....

“Big Butted Barry Boo (BBBB) just got home from 15 days of board and train. He learned so much: Sit, stay, wait, down, lay down, place, touch .. walking on lead like a gentleman. When I take the leash to walk him, he is like .. I am Siba the Westminster champion of the world!!

He is more confident in his crate. Went straight to crate for bed, not a peep. Which is good for him and us.

He loves his momma! I was afraid he wouldn’t remember me because he is young.

Love this boy!”

We loved having you Barry!

15/11/2020

When Kobe came to us for a board and train from Res-Que he was beyond terrified. At the sight of men he would cower, drag his head on the floor and urinate. If pushed, his fear would would be amplified with growling as a means to scare people into leaving him alone and relieving body pressure. The world was a scary place due to his past experiences.

Bulldogs can be a difficult breed to work with for many people, as they are stubborn but incredibly sensitive. We are happy to report that after his board and train, with only minor bumps in the road, Kobe was able to figure out that people are actually pretty amazing and there was nothing to be scared of. He’s now been adopted into an incredibly bulldog savvy home that understands his needs and is providing an environment that is just what he needed all along.

Congrats Kobe!

22/09/2020

So you have an aggressive dog and you’re considering surrendering him/her to the shelter?

This is something we hear weekly. An owner has a dog who’s been acting aggressive, usually has bitten a person or other dog, and the family has reached the end of their rope. The solution is simple, we will give them to a local shelter or rescue.

That doesn’t work, and here’s why.

While our local shelters are absolutely incredible, “No-Kill” doesn’t mean that no dogs are euthanized. It means that under a certain percentage are, and that small percentage is for dogs with serious aggression and health issues. If your dog is aggressive, there is a good chance they will fall into this statistic and if they have bitten before and broken skin the shelter absolutely cannot adopt them out for liability purposes. The shelters don’t have trainers on staff, and they often don’t have the resources to call in a trainer, especially not for intensive behavior modification. Your dog ends up alone, confused and euthanized.

The same goes for rescues. Most of our local rescues stay completely full with dogs at risk at the shelters, many don’t even take surrenders because they don’t have the room. The few that do, require the dogs go through evaluations. If your dog has bitten, there’s a high chance they won’t be able to take them due to liability risks. A lot of rescues won’t take behavioral cases at all, because it costs thousands to rehabilitate a dog which is a financial hardship on a non-profit. The local rescue that does behavioral cases often has months to year long waiting lists, and they turn down most inquiries.

Why are we telling you this?

We want owners to understand that training is a part of the financial responsibility you take on when you purchase or adopt. We don’t want people living in a fairytale where you drop your aggressive dog at the shelter and they get intense training and find their happily ever after, because that’s typically not true. Please, stand beside your pet and sign up for training with a local professional, if the dog is so aggressive that training and medical professionals feel it cannot be turned around, please be with your dog during their last moments.

30/07/2020

Robo is here for work day training!

While his parents are busy for the day, Robo will working on his socialization, house manners and obedience with us.

Our work day training is a great way to ensure that your dog is getting the training they need, while you’re able to go about your day and get what you need done as well. This handsome little guy will have a great day full of productive training, and hopefully go home a little worn out.

❤️❤️❤️

13/07/2020

We are so proud of Guinness!

When Guinness first came to the rescue, he would have a meltdown over the sight of another dog. Through patience and hard work, Guinness made significant progress and could enjoy walks while ignoring other dogs completely. He even learned to hang out off-leash at the kennels and ignore the dogs barking at him from their enclosures instead of trying to initiate fence fights. Guinness was also taught to crate from just about anywhere in the house/property in case of an emergency where another dog may be spotted loose.

We are so happy for you.

04/07/2020

We will be taking the weekend to spend time with family and mourn the loss we faced yesterday. We will begin responding to messages again on Monday. Thank you to everyone, I know many of you met Hero in group classes and loved him. We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend. ❤️

17/06/2020

Kenny completed his board and train!

Kenny is a gorgeous Great Dane puppy who came for a two week board and train. His parents were not enjoying his lack of house manners. He was counter surfing, couch jumping, climbing over chairs and so forth. This is something we often see in young Danes as they’re eye level with the counters and therefore... all the goodies!

Kenny was also starting to challenge his owners and mouthing. Although he has a superb temperament, we wanted to nip these unwanted behaviors in the butt before he’s even bigger.

This handsome guy now know his boundaries. No more jumping on people and mouthing, or refusing and ignoring. Kenny is solid on his obedience including here, sit, down, place, stay and heel. He also hasn’t been couch or counter surfing or climbing on the furniture. He now understands the dog beds are the place for him, and will stay on his bed even with the kids running around and a box of treats in front of him. With continued upkeep, he should have no issue being the families ideal dog.

Congrats Kenny dog! We knew you would succeed ❤️

08/06/2020

Blue completed her board and train!

This beautiful girl came for a 2 week board and train to work on her obedience and some dog reactivity. It turns out, Blue loves every dog she meets, she just lacked confidence and it was coming through in her walks where she would pull, bark, lunge and so forth at passing dogs.

After her stay, Blue now has wonderful manners including solid leash manners. She ended up meeting dozens of dogs and making friends with each and everyone of them. With her confidence up, obedience and manners where they should be and continued maintence training Blue should have no problem enjoying walks with her family. She should also have no problem making plenty of furry friends.

Congrats Blue!

06/06/2020

Should you go to the dog park?

As the warm weather starts to hit, people are starting to swarm to the dog parks to enjoy the nice weather with their dogs. We often get asked our position on dog parks and if we think they are a good idea and the simple answer is, no.

Why?

• We receive anywhere between 1-3 requests a week for behavior modification due to a dog park related incident. Typically speaking, the dog needing behavior modification is NOT the instigator, but merely a victim.

• Your dog may be the most social and friendly dog around, but you cannot control what dogs other people are bringing to the park. You’d be shocked at how many people will bring dogs with known behavioral issues to the dog park. We have clients who enjoyed the dog park for years without issue, only for their dog to end up seriously injured due to one person’s negligence.

• We often train near dog parks (they’re a great distraction) and we can’t begin to count how many incidents we’ve personally witnessed. They happen on a regular basis.

• Depending on the severity, some of these dogs are never able to truly enjoy groups of dogs again. A serious attack can cause lifelong consequences for how your dog socializes.
—————————————-

But how is it different than a dog play group?

• When you take your dog to a doggy daycare or playgroup, each dog is individually evaluated to ensure they are fit for such interactions. They are also often placed into specific groups with dogs who fit their play style.

• There are trained individuals monitoring all interactions to ensure that dogs are not getting out of hand. These individuals are also trained in how to properly separate dogs if an incident should occur, we have heard of dogs being; tased, punched, kicked and even worse when people are panicking and trying to separate at dog parks.
________________________________

But my dog loves dogs and needs to burn energy!

• Form a play group with friends who have dogs that you know your dog gets along with. Whether you meet up at one or your homes, go on a hike together or do a beach day... it’s much safer to form groups with dogs you know get along.

• Sign up for a doggy daycare to let your dog have some monitored playtime with dogs who’ve had evaluations, we love Animal Oasis Reno

• Truthfully, your dog is going to benefit far more from mental stimulation. Unlike their human counterparts, dogs have incredible stamina. This is why many people report their dogs can go on runs or play all day and still have energy to burn. Your dog needs mental stimulation to truly feel tired and it benefits your dog in the long run. Try creating a training routine to engage your dog, have a friend and their pet join. Look into various dog sports such as scent work, obedience rally, agility and so forth where your dog can make new friends while using their mind.

We hope you are all staying safe and enjoying the weather.

22/05/2020

Luna has completed her board and train!

Luna is a 1 year old Golden Retriever mix that presented with fear aggression. When greeting new people, Luna would bark and growl aggressively as an attempt to scare them off. She was terrified of new environments and avoided other dogs completely, her first days in board and train she didn’t want to let anyone touch her. The purpose of her board and train was to build her confidence, stop the aggressive behaviors and give her the opportunity to enjoy life as any dog should while giving her handler peace of mind.

After two weeks in our board and train program, Luna accomplished all of her goals. She now is able to go on outings where she meets and passes by people (even those with loud music), dogs, geese, bicyclists and so much more. She no longer feels the need to react with aggression and truly enjoys her time in the great outdoors, now meeting new people and even playing with strange dogs.

With continued maintenance training, Luna should have no problem living life as a normal dog. She may always be a more “shy” dog, but she should be able to do things like meeting new people, playing with dogs, enjoying walks and hikes and so forth.

Congrats Luna!

13/05/2020

Luke has completed his board and train!

Luke is a 6 month old Border Collie who was presenting with serious food aggression. He was willing to bite/attack anyone who came near his food bowl whether with feet or hands. Luke was also lacking constitency with his obedience, which is something we see often with dogs this young. However, this lack of obedience/control made his food aggression more dangerous, as he wouldn’t listen around the bowl and would drag his handler to the food.

After a two week board and train, Luke now has reliable obedience and control even around his food bowl. He now knows recall, sit, down, stay, place, heel, crate, leave it and more. He now ENJOYS working. During this obedience video, there is a food bowl with food and treats in the middle of the work area. He is no longer obsessing over the bowl or attempting to drag the handler to the bowl, he only goes to it when asked to and he honestly rather work for his treats. Let’s be honest, how many dogs can even do this level of obedience at 6 months of age?

We created a manageable routine for the owner, where Luke will now call off the food bowl. Once he calls off he will sit or down, stay and allow the owner to retrieve the bowl without getting up. He will also eat with the bowl between the handlers feet without becoming tense or biting/attacking.

Congrats Luke!

04/05/2020

Client update!

Cooper is a 6 month old Doodle puppy who came to us for a slew of bad puppy behaviors. Some of these included jumping all over people, nipping, not coming when called, not sitting and staying, counter surfing and so forth. His jumping had gotten so bad, that she had started keeping her child and the dog separate as Cooper would jump all over him and knock him over.

After two weeks in board and train, the client reports that Cooper is a different dog. He is calmer and he’s happy to show off his obedience both during practice and real life situations. She can now let Cooper and her son play and interact without worry of him knocking her son down, but he still has his great personality.

We love receiving little videos like this, because while we can post before and after videos all day long.... what really matters is how the dog is acting back in their home. It also shows that the owner is doing their part, because no matter how well the dog does in training... if you don’t implement it and practice at home, your dog will regress.

Congrats Cooper and family! We can’t wait to see you in your maintenance training ❤️

08/04/2020

We just wanted to make a quick clarification.

We just received a call from County that the same person is continuously calling and reporting our business for offering training during the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening to "go to the news".

For clarification purposes, this could not be further from the truth.

Evolved K9 is dedicated to ensuring the safety of our clients, and our own family. At this time, we have received special permission for board and trains where we have to meet specific health-related protocols for drop-off and pickup that are contact-free. We are NOT offering any in-person classes at all. We apologize if anyone misconstrued information from our last post.

We are ONLY offering discounted packs of classes for use AFTER the pandemic is over, video consults/classes and board and trains with contact-free pick-up and drop-off approved by the city.

If you have any questions or concerns, please message the page. Taking up the time of our city officials during this time does more harm than good and we are happy to answer any and all questions.

01/04/2020

11/03/2020

It may seem like a silly video, but this is what training is all about.

The truth is, If your dog isn’t learning in REAL LIFE situations it’s going to be difficult for them to improve on the REAL LIFE issues they are having. Our “Work Day Training” program is a great way to ensure your dog is being productive while you’re at work. You drop them off in the morning, they spend the day with us working and you pick them up that evening.

Kenny is a Great Dane puppy, this is his second time at “Work Day Training”. Before this, he knew nothing except being a giant lovable hunk. Here he is in a down stay on his bed, with LOTS of distractions. There’s a child getting food, opening drawers, the pantry and so forth. There’s someone walking around, the fridge is opening, another dog walks by in the background... but he’s expected to listen. There’s no hidden e-collar, just a puppy who’s practicing the obedience he’s learned here in a real life home environment.

Can your dog listen even around daily distractions of all types? One of the number one complaints we hear is that dogs do well during training at various facilities, then come home and it all goes out the window. This is why our "Work Day Training" program has your dog at a variety of locations including in-home, in public places, joining other classes and so forth.