Firm Foundations K9 Training

08/02/2024

This little pup is growing like a w**d, both in manners and in stature! Gunnar is here for Phase 3 of our puppy program and it’s so fun to share in his progress. He has matured from an 8 week old pup at the beginning of his training journey, to a now 5 month old boy! Gunnar graduates this weekend and we are proud of him and his parents for all of the hard work they have put in throughout the program. We know it will have a life-long impact and we are so proud of them!

23/12/2023

I love the floppy ear stage!! Shepherd puppy ears have so much character ❤️

Gunnar started his puppy program with us a few weeks ago and is growing (both in size and manners 😄). His parents have been putting in the reps in between sessions and it shows 💪🏻

We have one more in-home session next week to wrap up Phase one of our three phase puppy program. He will be joining us in a couple weeks for Phase two!

We are really excited to offer a three phase puppy program that grows with your puppy. So many owners ask me when they can start training their puppy. The answer is the day you bring them home!

It’s so much easier to build upon a solid foundation that is established early on. So many common behavior problems and stressful moments can be completely avoided when you are able to start off on the right foot (or paw 🐾) with your pup.

It’s never too early (nor is it ever too late) to start training and guiding your pup. Today is the day!

For those of you who have decided to bring home a puppy this Christmas (or for those of you who are thinking about it), we are here to answer any questions you may have. We would love to help provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to live the best life possible with your puppy!

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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:

CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.

We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!

Firmfoundationsk9.com

20/10/2023

We are so excited to be a part of this event! Come visit us at the Firm Foundations K9 Training booth this Sunday. We may even have a special guest with us… 🐾❤️🐾❤️

08/10/2023

Jumping. Pulling. Spastic. Tuned Out.

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Relaxed. Focused. Calm. In-tune.

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We love being a part of transformations like these!

This video includes footage from Millie’s drop-off session, as well as her first walk with us. During her drop-off and the first half of her walk, we simply let Millie be Millie… you can see pretty clearly her baseline of existence when she is left to her own devices 😄

In the middle of her walk, we switched things up and got to work!

- I swapped out her choke chain for a prong collar
- I conditioned the prong collar in order to communicate gently, clearly, and effectively with Millie
- I dialed in her focus with a few repetitions

And then we were off!

The walk back home was dramatically different from the first half, even amidst the same distractions.

What was different?

Communication. CONNECTION. Guidance. Leadership.

All in a way that Millie was able to understand.

We essentially began to unlock the “language barrier” and started to have conversations with Millie that finally made sense to her.

This is what “training” is all about.

It is a journey to FREEDOM and new LIFE.

Our passion here at FFK9 is rooted in teaching dogs and their owners how to communicate effectively with one another. This foundation is then used to enable and empower dog owners to become effective leaders and guides for their four-legged family members. This then takes a large weight off of the dog’s shoulders.

We love dogs and we love people. We don’t want either to have to suffer for the sake of the other. Instead, we want you to be able to live your best life, TOGETHER!

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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find:

CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.

We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!

Firmfoundationsk9.com

07/10/2023

WELCOME MILLIE!!

Millie is an almost 2 year old Goldendoodle who is here for our 2 week Board & Train program. She came to us with a host of pushy, headstrong, high-energy, teenage antics. At home, Millie has become rather uncontrollable for her family. Some of her issues include:

- Pulling intensely on the leash (She has even injured a family member’s knee by pulling her down on a walk).

- Jumping and pawing at family members, including young kids, and routinely causing skin tears and bruising on her “grandparents.”

- Ingesting items such as socks, tissues, and nerf-gun ball pieces (the latter of which resulted in a 3 day vet stay for a small bowel obstruction).

- Jumping over a 6 foot wall to escape the backyard.

- Stealing food from the kids hands, the counter tops, and the trash.

- Excessive attention seeking and separation anxiety.

We are excited to have Millie here with us and to help her and her family find CONNECTION, FREEDOM, and LIFE, TOGETHER!!

Stay tuned for more updates on her training journey!

19/08/2023

WELCOME RIVA!!! Riva started her board and train with us yesterday and will be here for the next few weeks. Her mom adopted her from PACC a couple weeks ago and quickly discovered that Riva has some anxiety issues and nervousness that transfer to multiple areas of her life. These include triggers to certain noises (such as a gas stove, toaster oven, dishwasher, etc.), crate anxiety (shaking, whining and digging in the crate), anxiety when left alone (barking, howling, pacing, digging at the door, etc.), and nervousness around people.

We are excited to welcome Riva and her mom into the FFK9 family! We can’t wait to see what lies beneath the surface with this girl, how much we can draw out of her, and how much confidence we can build throughout her training journey. We will do all we can to help her and her mom find LIFE together, beyond the borders of her current anxiety.

Stay tuned for updates on her progress!

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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dogs and their owners find:

CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.

We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!

Firmfoundationsk9.com

18/08/2023

The Walk.

So many dog owners struggle with it.

Pulling, lunging, barking, whining, jumping, nervousness, over excitement, aggression… the list goes on and on.

Whatever issues you face while walking your dog, just know you are not alone.

This is one of the number one areas dog owners struggle with their dogs. It is also one of the number one priorities for most dog owners. You want to enjoy walking your dog. You want to be able to take them places and experience life together, without it being stressful, without it seeming impossible.

I know, first hand, how defeating it can be to struggle with the walk. My GSD Beorn (who was the reason I was introduced to the balanced dog training world) was definitely one who knew how to raise my blood pressure and my anxiety levels on the walk.

I, like a lot of dog owners, was trying so hard to live the life I had envisioned for both me and Beorn. I wanted the best for him and for our life together. I simply had no idea how to achieve it.

Come to find out, I was doing all the wrong things, without knowing they were the wrong things. I unknowingly encouraged the very things I was seeking to help Beorn overcome.

I had the best intentions, with the worst strategies, because I simply didn’t know any better. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Thankfully, we didn’t stay there. I dug and searched and dug and searched, until one day I came across something new. I started following some balanced dog trainers on social media, and the rest was history. My passion was ignited and my dog training journey began!

So just know, wherever you find yourself on your dog journey, you are not alone.

And the best part of it all?

There is hope!

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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:

CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.

We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!

Firmfoundationsk9.com

17/08/2023

WELCOME TOBY!!! (aka Tobias Emmett Bowie)

Toby is 10mo old and comes to us from San Diego, CA, where he was rescued by our friends at Save the Dals with Save a Spot

He is here to establish a solid foundation in overall manners and obedience, despite his easily distractible “puppy brain” and some typical dog antics (jumping, pulling on the leash, etc.). Our desire is to set Toby up for the best life possible, as well as the highest chance of success in his future adoptive home!

Stay tuned for more info on his progress!

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At Firm Foundations K9 Training, we are passionate about helping dog owners find:

CONNECTION. FREEDOM. LIFE. TOGETHER.

We would love for you to be a part of our FFK9 Family!

Firmfoundationsk9.com

27/07/2023

The long awaited Embark DNA test results have finally arrived!! Is anyone else surprised by some of these?

18/07/2023

Koa is home and doing well! He’s still pretty groggy from the surgery, but everything went smoothly. Now it’s time for some rest and some extra pets! ❤️

18/07/2023

Big day for Koa Brindle!! We dropped him off at Arizona Spay and Neuter this morning for his neuter surgery! Big thanks to Katie Powers and Spay and Neuter Solutions for helping make this possible! We will let you all know how he’s doing after we pick him up this afternoon. Send prayers for a swift and speedy recovery for ❤️

11/07/2023

The beauty of the “place” command!

Having an almost 5 month old is so much fun! It also means protecting her and having boundaries set in place for the dogs, especially as she gets older and more mobile.

We have multiple large dogs, including high drive working breeds. Having the built in “on/off” switch for our dogs is crucial for everyone’s safety and well-being.

Relaxing on a cot may not seem like much. However, when it is part of a structured “place” time, it not only gives everyone in the household a chance to relax, it also gives the dog a job. It is mind work, builds impulse control, and teaches dogs how to be calm on command. It can also ease anxiety, nervousness, fear, etc. and help address issues such as pushy, dominating, aggressive behavior, as well.

This is how we are able to live with a 5 month old and multiple large dogs, in less than 1200 sq ft. Wrestling, playing/rough housing, running around, or any other higher energy activities are reserved for outside on our property. It’s like teaching your kids the difference between an “inside voice” and an “outside voice” or riding their scooters, bikes, etc. outside vs inside. It’s okay to have these rules and boundaries with your dogs, as well.

The “place” command, and learning how to be calm on command, are taught to all dogs in our board and train programs. We incorporate your dog(s) into our everyday life for training that becomes a lifestyle, which can then be more easily transferred home with you. All dogs become a part of our family while staying with us, and we care for them as one of our own.

Upon graduation from our program, your dog and your whole family will be considered part of the Firm Foundations K9 family, and we don’t take that lightly! We love each and every graduate and their family members. As such, we offer ongoing support as well as “family gatherings,” such as pack walks and group field trips to bring our community together.

Are you ready to take life with your dog to the next level? We are ready for you!

Message us here or call/text us at 520-230-2516 for more details! We can’t wait to meet you!

03/07/2023

Who could resist such a face??

27/06/2023

We sent Koa’s Embark DNA test off last week and it arrived at the lab yesterday!! This specific DNA kit includes breed type and genetic health screening. We should have results in the next couple weeks!

In the meantime, we wanted to hear all of your guesses! We’ve heard guesses of Plott Hound and Mountain Cur so far. We can definitely see those as viable options. What do you all think he could be?

25/06/2023

It was a tie between “Mr. Brindle” on Facebook and “Koa” on Instagram. So we decided Koa is his “first” name and Brindle is his “last” name, for a full name of “Mr. Koa Brindle!

Thank you all for your suggestions and participation in naming this wonderful boy. It was fun reading all of your suggestions and the meanings behind them.

I’d say our boy is special enough to deserve a full name, don’t you?

23/06/2023

Some of you were very close! Here are the “official” results from his vet visit on Wednesday!

22/06/2023

We were fairly close with our guesses, according to his vet visit. We thought it would be fun to see how close your guesses are, as well!

Comment with your guesses/estimates and check back in with us for the answer!

21/06/2023

To all of his supporters, Mr. Brindle would like to say thank you so much for your outpouring of generosity towards his Journey! The flood of support and love you have all shown has been beyond incredible and a huge blessing!

We were able to use $512 of your donations today to have a mobile vet come to the facility. We highly recommend Dr. Heller with Homeward Bound Veterinary Services! He was thorough and was able to help Mr. Brindle feel as comfortable with the process as possible.

With his services, we were able to have Mr. Brindle's leg and sores checked out, get him up to date on all of his vaccinations, and have a blood panel and f***l test performed. Dr. Heller started him on some antibiotics for the sores and also gave Mr. Brindle some de-wormer, as a precautionary measure.

His examination showed no immediate concerns, aside from treating the sores, and we are waiting on results from the lab tests.

Thank you all for your ongoing love and support for this boy! ❤️

20/06/2023

He has been known by a handful of names throughout the community, and on social media. These include (though I’m sure are not limited to), “Brindle Dog,” “Mr. Brindle,” “Mr. B.,” “Buster,” and “Buddy.”

We thought it was about time for him to have a more official name and we want YOU to be a part of it!

This boy has captured the hearts of many, brought inspiration through his sense of adventure, and knit together a community who has rallied to support him. He deserves a name that embodies his spirit!

For the next 48 hours, submit your name suggestions in the comments. You can suggest as many names as you’d like. However, if you have multiple suggestions, please place each one in its own “comment” so it’s easier to see each name.

The top 5 contenders will be put to a vote starting Friday morning. We can’t wait to hear what names you come up with!

18/06/2023

A big Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing Fathers out there, dog daddies included! 😄 We wouldn’t be who we are without you.

16/06/2023

Good morning! I just wanted to share a quick picture that was taken in the morning yesterday during a break in the shade. We had Mr. Brindle out, working on his leash skills, which were already showing some improvement from his first steps on Day 3, which were pretty few and far between.

We’ll be posting a video, hopefully a little later today, showing his continued progress last night.

Let me just say, I’m super proud of this boy! I can’t wait to share with you what we experienced with him last night!

13/06/2023

Many of you have been asking about where and how you can donate/contribute to Mr. Brindle’s care and rehab process. Here is a link to his Go Fund Me page, for those of you who would like to contribute to his journey:

Mr. Brindle has finally been rescued after wandering in the Twin Peaks/Continental Ra… Megan Croft needs your support for Mr. Brindle's Journey to a New Life

13/06/2023

Welcome “Brindle Dog”! For those of you who are unfamiliar with his story, here is a little bit about him:

Brindle Dog has been roaming in the Twin Peaks/Continental Ranch/Sunflower area for the past several months and has gained quite a following on local social media groups. There have been several neighbors and various teams in the area who have been documenting sightings of him, leaving food/water for him, and doing all they can to try to capture him so that he would not have to wander in the washes and on the streets alone. Despite their best efforts, he continued to dodge and evade all of their attempts.

Yesterday, we had our first glimmer of hope in awhile regarding Mr. Brindle. We received a phone call from a Sunflower resident who has slowly been gaining his trust over the past few months. She stated that when she started feeding him, he was “skin and bones” and she would put food out for him at the end of her driveway. She said she was now able to get him to come inside her house, but that he is still very wary of people.

This resident was kind enough to allow us to come inside her home. We were able to put a leash on him, load him up in a crate in the back of our vehicle, and take him home with us.

After months of anticipation, we are excited to finally have this boy here with us. Now we can start the training/evaluating process.

I can’t wait to see what lives beneath the surface and how much we can boost Mr. Brindle’s confidence. The hope is to eventually find a home for Mr. Brindle where he will be able to thrive and live his best life. Until then, we will document his journey and keep you all posted on his progress.

16/03/2023

Introducing our very own logo! We’re pretty excited about it and everything we’re going to be offering this year at FFK9. Stay tuned for more announcements!

In the meantime, what do you all think of the logo design??