K9 Trix & Training

08/06/2023

Hey, who's this handsome pooch?
Fionn (pronounced as Finn) is a 2-year-old terrier pup that almost became a show dog. Unfortunate or not, life had other plans for him, and that's where we come into the picture. Future show dogs go through a different training process as puppies than companion dogs, so Fionn needs to catch up on some basic manners. We're eager to work with him and his handler, Kelly! Welcome on board!

11/04/2023

Happy National Pet Day!!

Let's welcome our latest trainee, Amica!
She's a sweet two years-old hound mix who got adopted during the pandemic. Like most pandemic puppies, she couldn't experience seeing and interacting with enough people and dogs outside, so we are helping her and her handler get more comfortable on the walks. Leash walking is never easy with an adolescent pup, but consistent cues and proactive communication will change the behavior! We're happy they joined our team! 🥰

23/03/2023

Happy National Puppy Day!
My little trainer assistant, Simon, is turning 6 years old soon. He's been the best companion dog I could ever wish for and I'm sure many of you feel the same way about your pups! Puppies will repay you for all the sacrifices and adjustments you may have to make early on as they get older. A puppy's love is always unforgettable!

03/03/2023

It's puppy time!
Say hi to Aries, yes, like the beloved zodiac!
Aries is a six-month-old energetic Cavachon puppy who came to us for help managing his fiery and playful attitude. He loves to play and seemingly gets irritated if he does not get attention which is why we are here to help. We are super excited to train with Aries and his handlers! 🐶🐾

17/02/2023

Hello there!
Lucy is a 9-year-old toy poodle who recently relocated from Nashville to our area. She's considered a senior doggie who barks at other dogs on walks. Hey, what's new? Well, for one, her environment! Anytime dogs relocate, they go through an adjustment period just like humans do. It can take up to three months for them to settle into the new living environment! Fortunately, a different living situation is also a great time to establish new routines and introduce training, even for a pup as experienced as Lucy. Welcome on board! 🥰

07/02/2023

Watch out for double trouble!
Murphy (on the left) and Charlie (on the right) are two adolescent pups that grew up together and need some help to get back on track with their manners. Murphy can't stay away from deer whenever he sees one, and Charlie is quite untrusting with people generally. We are happy to have them on board and help them conquer their fears and temptations! 🦌🐕

20/01/2023

Congratulations to Waffles, our latest Puppy Manners graduate! Waffles is a now 4 months old pup who began his training journey with us to be house trained, learn some basic socialization skills and of course, to confidently spend time alone. Pst, he passed our intro to training with flying colors! 🐾

17/01/2023

Have you ever wondered what makes a harness good? Are you still walking your jumpy dog on a leash attached to his collar? If so, this post about harnesses may offers you some new insight! 🐾🦮

The harness (if placed correctly) puts less pressure on the dog's body, unlike the classic collar-leash combination.

13/01/2023

Are small breeds more reactive? Yes and no.

While smaller dogs are not, by definition more reactive than bigger dogs, there are a few reasons why they might turn out that way.

Vulnerability to bad experiences, loss of autonomy and lack of empathy are only a few of them.

So how can we aim for less reactivity in small dogs?

- Give them choice whenever possible
- Pick them up less
- Put the same effort in as you would a larger dog by training, socializing and meeting needs
- Advocate for them and prevent bad experiences

24/10/2022

Did someone say training with treats?!
Say hello to our newest trainees, Reese and Luke!
We joined forces to help them learn appropriate leash manners outdoors and smooth communication at home with their owners. If training is done right, these pups soon will be strengthening each other's newly learned, handler-approved behaviors. We're excited to have them on board! 🥰

04/10/2022

Happy World Animal Day! 🐳🦎🐒🐘🦜
We believe that all dog lovers are born nature lovers! For this reason, part of our training fees go to WWF in support of their effort to protect animal species diversity. Please consider donating, if you have the means to.

18/09/2022

September is National Courtesy Month!
Our courtesy is a free single training session for Lucky Dog adopters! Just send us your adoption paperwork ([email protected]) and we'll set you up for a complimentary in-home training session! We're excited to meet you and your new furry buddy!

09/09/2022

Köszönjük szépen minden kedves magyar és angol nyelvű követőink virtuális támogatását! Nagyra értékeljük! A képen Widow, Simon and Chloe.

09/09/2022

Happy Friday, fellow Dog Lovers!
We hope to see you at the dog park! 🐕🏞

02/09/2022

Flexi leads are your worst enemy in communication and training with your dog. This little piece of equipment allows your dog to train you to give more lead every time they reach the end of its given length. Mindlessly walking a dog on a retractable leash in a city with parking garages and crossings is quite dangerous. Our advice is to ditch it for a regular lead, or if you want to hold on to your Flexi, save it for your trail walks!

What is your opinion on flexi-leads?

26/08/2022

Happy International Dog Day!
If this happens, we're off to a great start!

22/08/2022

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." - Emerson

It's common in multidog households that our pups spend all their time together. It's not an issue if they behave well, but what happens if one is a troublemaker?

Finding time for individual training and bonding is just as important for dogs as for children. In the case of dogs that spend every minute with one another, this level of bond is higher emotionally and mentally, causing them to react to the environment similarly.

If we want to break the chain reaction in our dogs' behaviors, we must set time aside to work with them one-on-one. Especially pay more attention to the so-called "trouble maker" whose training needs might be incomplete, unlike his buddy's.

On this picture, Simon is relaxing with one of our B&T guests; Archie, the Chihuahua.

22/08/2022

We know that there is a correlation between stress and unmet needs. When our dogs are stressed, their needs are more acute and when those needs go unmet, they experience more stress.

But there is another layer in this equation: How our human responses and behaviors come into play.

When our dogs' needs aren't met, they experience stress and find outlets for meeting them. This, in turn, stresses us as their guardians because the outlets that are available to them usually aren't aligned with our wants. Ironically, this can result in less of our dogs' needs being met because we disconnect and fail to recognize the root cause. And the cycle continues.

To prevent this, try to be as proactive as possible in meeting your dog's physical, emotional, social and cognitive needs.

07/02/2022

"When the Student is ready, the Teacher will appear."
Meet our newest puppy trainee, four months old Petey! He's staying with us to learn the ins and outs of puppy manners! So far, Petey's learned to signal and potty outdoors, roll over like a hotdog and is currently training to be confident on his four paws in our big world. We're super excited to have him on our training board! 😍

16/01/2022

Welcome to our latest puppy trainee on board!
Tucker is a 3-months old Boykin Spaniel preparing to be a trailblazing outdoor companion and a well-mannered indoor lounge buddy! We are excited to work with him and his dedicated handlers, Mike and Debbie.

16/12/2021

Daily, short, play-session routines are great ways to practice what our dog has already learned and keep them active as they age mentally and physically too. Simon and I are ballplayers. What's your and your dogs' play routine?

09/11/2021

Check out this cute 1-year-old Aussie shepherd, Lucy, who came to us for manners training and confidence building. Lucy recently relocated to our area, so she's still getting used to her new environment. As a sensitive personality, she needs some training help to clear the bumps along the way and speed up the adjustment process. Lucy says hi!