Iron Sight K9s

05/07/2025

Final count… 10! 📝

- Females -
2 Brindle
3 Black
1 Blue

- Males -
2 Brindle
2 Black

04/07/2025

🇺🇸 Freedom rang… and puppies appeared!

This gang of cuties couldn’t wait any longer and came early to catch the fireworks!🎆

Our L litter is a few days earlier than expected but all are well! 8 beautiful babies, 4 males and 4 females 🤗

03/07/2025

"So what’s a few extra minutes at that lamppost."

While it might not seem like it, our dogs spend much more of their lives waiting for us than we do for them. Waiting for walks, food, us to come home, look up from our phones.
So what’s a few extra minutes at that lamppost.

01/07/2025

Gang gang 😎

29/06/2025

Our L litter is due in about 10 days 🫶🏼

28/06/2025

Sharing mozzarella sticks with my best girl and watching the Squid Game finale 🤩

27/06/2025

K9 Heretic got some new gear!

Darla x Stone

Bogata Police Department’s K9 Heretic has received donation of body armor

Bogata Police Department, TX, K9 Heretic has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Heretic’s vest was sponsored by Cheryl Hopper of Hebron, IN and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Arthur L Zimmerman”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,120 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $1,050 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lbs., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call (508) 824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

26/06/2025

It’s easy to get caught up in pressure — from peers, trainers, or even our own expectations. But young dogs don’t need to prove anything. They need to learn. They need to build confidence. And sometimes, they need us to say, “Not today.”

I’ve seen promising young dogs lose confidence, become avoidant, or even shut down completely because someone pushed them too far, too fast — all while their handler stayed silent out of fear of “being difficult” or “slowing down the group.”

Here’s the truth:
Advocating for your dog isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.

If something feels wrong — say something. Slow it down. Walk away if needed. You only get one chance to raise this dog right, and protecting their progress is more important than anyone’s opinion.

Be your dog’s voice. Always.

25/06/2025

We’ve been training inside lately because NC is like an oven after 730am 😩

25/06/2025

Infidel (Creature x Akuma) is all grown up 🤩

23/06/2025

Raising Confident Puppies Starts Early 🐾

Confidence isn’t always something puppies are just born with—it’s something we build with them, step by step.

From their first car ride to their first time walking on a weird surface, every new experience is a chance to say, “You’ve got this—and I’ve got you.”

✅ Expose them to the world without overwhelming them
✅ Let them problem-solve instead of jumping in to “save” them
✅ Praise bravery, not just obedience
✅ Handle their bodies gently, early, and often
✅ Let them meet confident, stable adult dogs (not chaotic ones!)
✅ Advocate for them—don’t let strangers or other dogs push boundaries
✅ Stay calm and clear when they’re unsure. Your energy matters.

Confidence isn’t loud or reckless. It’s steady. Secure. Safe.
And it comes from a puppy who trusts their handler.

Raise the dog who walks into a trial field, a crowded store, or a new place with their head high—not because they were born that way, but because you helped shape that mindset.

22/06/2025

Dogs need to be worked in defense because it enables them to respond appropriately to threats, not just play a game of tug or chase.

Heres how it helps…

⸻

🛡️ 1. Real Threat Recognition

Defense drive kicks in when a dog feels threatened or challenged.

It allows the dog to:
• Recognize when a person or situation is actually threatening (not just a game).
• React with seriousness and intensity appropriate for real-life protection scenarios.

⸻

🔥 2. Adds Seriousness to the Work

Without defense drive, many dogs will treat bite work as just a high-level game.

Defense:
• Brings intensity and conviction to a dog’s response.
• Makes the dog take a stand their ground posture when challenged, not just chase and bite for fun.

⸻

🚨 3. Balance with Prey Drive

Protection work isn’t just prey (chase and bite)

Dogs need to:
• Shift into defense when the helper is aggressive.
• Maintain clarity and control even when feeling pressure or threat.

A dog that’s all prey might:
• Be flashy but flee when challenged.
• Lose engagement under pressure.

⸻

👨‍🏫 4. Teaches Recovery and Confidence

Building defense helps develop:
• Confidence under pressure.
• The ability to recover quickly from stress.

It teaches the dog to think clearly when threatened, rather than panic or avoid.

⸻

⚠️ Caution: Too Much Defense Too Early = Problems

• Defense should be developed carefully and only when the dog has confidence and clarity.

• Pushing defense too early can create fear-based responses instead of clean, confident protection.

If you have never worked a dog in defense, get with an EXPERIENCED decoy to explain it to you and help you make a training plan.

DO NOT try to do this yourself or to your own dog.