Defy Gravity K9 Rehab & Training

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Defy Gravity K9 Rehab & Training DGK9 utilizes Balanced Training methods for behavior modification.

Having dogs know snappy obedience commands is great, but what we work towards is everyday life training with dogs. Teach...
18/11/2025

Having dogs know snappy obedience commands is great, but what we work towards is everyday life training with dogs. Teaching them how to relax when the world goes on around them. We enjoy letting dogs play, romp, tug, and run, but there also needs to be an "off-switch" when they need to take a break from playing. Or be able to relax when kiddos are running through the house, or supper is being cooked, or guests come over, or the doorbell rings, or the UPS guy delivers that much anticipated package, or....

So yes, snappy obedience and quick movement are great, but that's also easy for dogs. We ask dogs to settle down, relax, and take in the world around them. Drop all of the anxiousness, fears, excitedness, etc. at the cot and be still. It's so much harder for dogs to be still than it is to move and pace. The mind follows the body, and we are creating dogs who are comfortable in their own skin and can watch the world around them while relaxing.

Companionship and being your dog's best buddy are easy. That's why we discuss the topic of leadership so much. Because c...
13/11/2025

Companionship and being your dog's best buddy are easy. That's why we discuss the topic of leadership so much. Because companionship isn't difficult but leadership is.

Companionship, when shared appropriately, is absolutely amazing! It's the affection, the cuddles, the pets, the stuff that "feels good", the buddy-buddy stuff. You know, the easy stuff. The stuff that requires next to no coaching or training because it's enjoyable and people easily gravitate towards those blissful feelings.

Leadership, on the other hand, is sharing the stuff that isn't as fun. It's maintaining those rules, boundaries, and limitations. It's when you share the hard stuff, the tough stuff, the stuff that creates a balanced dog. Leadership is influence and serves as a counterbalance to the companionship side of the relationship. Companionship without leadership causes a rift in the relationship and it is no longer balanced. Typically resulting in a one-sided relationship.

So think about it this way: it's much harder to be your child's parent than it is their buddy. The buddy is the one who shares all the fun stuff but the parent is the one who is really in charge and maintains those healthy rules and enforces them. Being a parent is harder than being a buddy but in the long run, it makes the child happier and they grow into a well-balanced and adjusted adult.

So this is one of the many reasons why we choose to speak so much about leadership, rules, boundaries, limitations, and accountability because it's the tough love. The easy side of the equation is companionship and most of us don't need coaching in that area.


12/11/2025

A little video from Oliver & Henry's owners transfer session this weekend. We are so proud of the boys and their owners!

We spent the first part of the transfer session teaching the owners how to work with the boys individually before putting the boys together and out in public. We are thrilled for them! They learned how to keep Oliver's excitement down while bringing Henry's confidence up along with being both of the boys' biggest advocates. This has opened up the world for all of them so much!

We are but a small stepping stone in their journey together. But we know that they will continue the training "homework" to be able to live a harmonious life full of so many new opportunities!

10/11/2025

Below freezing temps here at DGK9 call for 8 dogs around the fireplace ❤️

10/11/2025

Creating calmness instead of chaos:

Think about your feeding routine with your dog or dogs. Really think about it. For most of us, feeding the dog or dogs is a really rushed process. Most people are typically running late for work and just set the food out, and then what happens... happens. Dogs are jumping all over the place, whining, barking, eating from other bowls, resource guarding, fights, and generally just running amuck, causing a commotion.

Dogs are impatient. Owners are frustrated.

Here's what you have created by doing this: an overly excited dog who has absolutely no impulse control whatsoever. You have, in essence, created a monster.

Now here's the question... what are you going to do with the monster you created? What are your next steps to correcting this? How are you going to create calmness from chaos?

It all starts with YOU. You need to change your routine. You need to be the calm yet assertive leader. You need to set those super important rules, boundaries, and limitations daily... or... be prepared to live with the monster.


**𝗗𝗚𝗞𝟵 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧**There are only 2 board & train openings left for 2025! Both openings are for December! Book your sp...
09/11/2025

**𝗗𝗚𝗞𝟵 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧**

There are only 2 board & train openings left for 2025! Both openings are for December! Book your spot now before the year ends!

B&T Options:

•Stay & Train Program - $2575 (3 weeks)

•Rehab & Train Program - $3275 (5 weeks)

•Aumni Refresher - $550 (1 week minimum)

•DGK9 Puppy Training Series - $50
(lifetime subscription to all unedited step-by-step training videos - FB Group)

If you'd like further and more in-depth information about each program, please reach out. I am more than happy to answer any questions!

I will not start scheduling into 2026 until 𝓶𝓲𝓭-𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻.

To create a well-balanced dog, offer DAILY exercise, discipline, and then affection in that order. This fulfills their n...
09/11/2025

To create a well-balanced dog, offer DAILY exercise, discipline, and then affection in that order. This fulfills their needs as a dog. They get to release pent-up energy, they know what the rules, boundaries, and limitations are, and they receive praise. All of this factors in to a dog who has a well-balanced state of mind. A dog who is comfortable in his own skin. A dog who can be calm in the household or reliable in public because he has his needs met first and foremost.

When these basic concepts are ignored by owners, they see the dog start to offer their worst because they aren't expected to offer their best. They aren't held accountable and their needs aren't being fulfilled. I cannot stress these concepts enough.

I know when I haven't been able to work my dogs as much as I'd like or I relaxed on a rule and, in turn, they are going to become unruly and test the limits. And that's to be expected. I don't become frustrated with the dogs when this does happen because it's on me for not fulfilling their needs, providing consistent structure, or not releasing their pent-up energy. And that's the same for every owner. If you aren't working with your dog the way you should, if you aren't consistent in your training or your house rules, if you aren't releasing their pent-up energy, if you aren't providing structure for your dog, the only one you can be frustrated with is yourself. Period.

So what are you doing with your dog?


Congratulations to Malibu Tessa on the addition of her new home! ❤️This sweet, energetic, young lady hit the jackpot wit...
08/11/2025

Congratulations to Malibu Tessa on the addition of her new home! ❤️

This sweet, energetic, young lady hit the jackpot with her new owners! Her former owners and I are so proud of her and the fulfilling life she has ahead of her with her new owners!

Here's to Tessa and her brand new start in life!


We see and hear many comments from people stating that with love, patience, and time, the dog who is engaging in (insert...
08/11/2025

We see and hear many comments from people stating that with love, patience, and time, the dog who is engaging in (insert any unwanted, reactive, aggressive, or bad behavior) will be okay. But here's the thing, we have to get away from that toxic belief. That approach gets you and the dog nowhere. Instead, it only puts you farther down the rabbit hole.

It’s not a deficiency of love that’s creating the issues. What we typically see is the overabundance of it that’s creating the problems or a complete lack of structure and boundaries.

Here’s something to remember: while we work with some very challenging dogs, and can regularly turn them into much safer, happier, healthier dogs, it’s never due to the love we share. Although we care deeply about all the dogs we work with, and we do love our jobs, we aren’t bathing dogs in love and affection to turn them around.

Typically, we’re being tough, strict, and playing very hard to get with all our interactions. At some point, we’re usually able to soften up and share some affection, but that ONLY happens AFTER the proper relationship dynamics have been set in place. Only after they put their teeth away. Only after they stop being reactive. Only after the aggressiveness goes away. Only after the nervousness goes away. Only after we move through insecurities and fears. Only after....

Owners either want to skip the hard stuff and jump right to the fun, easy, rewarding stuff—or they simply are unaware of how dog/human relationships are built healthily. They see the cute happy-go-lucky pup and smother them in affection only to have some major behavior issue hiccups arise a couple of months down the road. Why? Because there was no leadership from the owner.

And wherever that decision emanates from, the fallout is the same: messy dogs. Dogs who won’t get better because more love was shared with them, but will most definitely get worse.

Why does your trainer get such great results? Is it just timing, mechanics, and training knowledge? Or, perhaps, do they happen to know something else you don’t? Something that helped them discover the other answers.

Let’s just say that the actual training isn’t the hard part. The hard part is learning to understand you, your dog, and your life.

So if “love” means learning how to lead, guide, and help, even when help isn’t fun or comfortable, then “love” away.


Has your dog bought into your leadership? Think about it this way: are you a believable leader to your dog? A leader who...
07/11/2025

Has your dog bought into your leadership? Think about it this way: are you a believable leader to your dog? A leader who your dog can trust and know you have them covered even through the chaos of life or through things that worry them?

One of the main components of having a great relationship with your dog, is having your dog "buy-in" to your leadership. Are you your dog's biggest advocate? Do you lead and guide them through things that make them nervous, insecure, or overwhelmed? But most importantly, are you able to hold yourself together when life throws a curveball all while giving guidance and direction to your dog so they can relax and feel comfortable knowing no matter what the world throws, you have it covered?

Your dog needs to know that your leadership is real through consistent rules, boundaries, and limitations. Through consistent guidance and that you can be trusted to have your dog's back no matter what; even through the challenging stuff and not just the fun parts of life. If you can do this, you'll start to notice your dog start to trust you more, buy-in into your leadership, and ultimately feel safe. It's a great feeling for both you and your dog.

Everything you’ve allowed, encouraged, or simply not stopped in the past is an invitation to your dog to misbehave in th...
06/11/2025

Everything you’ve allowed, encouraged, or simply not stopped in the past is an invitation to your dog to misbehave in the present.

All your interactions are speaking. They tell your dog everything he or she needs to know about you and their environment.

Can they steal the chicken off the counter? Can they growl at you when you sit too close on the couch? Can they guard that chew or food from you? Can they bite you if you touch them in a fashion they dislike? Can they drag you around on walks? Can they blow up every time they see a dog or cat, or squirrel? Can they “own” you? Can they hurt the other dog in the house if they disapprove of their behavior? Can they bite a guest because they don’t like them in the house?

Of course, this list is never-ending. Feel free to add your own struggles and challenges. But just know this: what your dog is giving you is based on what YOU’VE given or not given them in the past.

They’ve simply assessed and assembled the pieces of your relationship and the environment and are making smart, opportunistic decisions based on the leadership vacuum you’ve left to be filled.

What curtails the poor choices listed above? You know as well as I do. Authority. The same thing that curtails, or at least modifies, your poor choices.

It’s simple stuff. We just don’t like it.


Talented trainers CAN help your dog reset, learn new behaviors, become reliably obedient, and even stop seriously proble...
05/11/2025

Talented trainers CAN help your dog reset, learn new behaviors, become reliably obedient, and even stop seriously problematic issues. They can also teach you how to use the tools, the methodology, create structure, share rewards and punishment appropriately, build a healthy relationship, better read your dog...and become a leader who creates a respectful, rewarding, enjoyable life for you and your dog.

However, we can only teach, pattern, and reset your dog, and we can only teach pattern, and reset you. All of our work is simply the beginning, the foundation. It doesn’t last on its own. How could it? The dog lives with you and will respond to what you share moment to moment. If you don’t do what we did to make the initial changes and continue these new ways of being, it only makes sense that your dog, and you, will revert.

The owners that “win” are the owners who learn to be their dog’s trainer...and their own as well.

It’s one of those universal challenges. Knowing something—even something you’ve seen be enormously positive—and continuing the hard work of daily effort to maintain the great results that you know about, is sadly one of the most challenging things we humans continuously work (and often fail) to overcome.

So the good news is, most likely what you need, as far as help, is out there. The bad news is, it requires you to implement it. No shortcuts. No delegating. No outsourcing. It starts and ends with you.


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Why Choose Us?

We’ve been there! That’s right, we’ve been the people with the unruly dogs that everyone avoids. We’ve been the people whose dog is aggressive. We’ve been the people that couldn’t go to the dog park. We’ve been the people whose dog controlled the walk. We’ve been there! We understand what you are going through without a doubt.

Here’s the good news, it doesn’t have to be that way! Once we applied our proven dog psychology techniques, our pack became balanced almost overnight. This can be the same for you too!

We are certified in dog psychology and will help you to read your dog’s body language to what they are trying to tell you. We decided on the name, Defy Gravity, as not so much of a physical thing (however exercise and obstacle training goes along with it), but we also rehabilitate death row dogs that we have given another chance at life and have now found loving homes for. So in a sense, we are beating the odds for these dogs and “defying gravity”.

Here are a few of the things that we can help you and your dog with: