Dog Training & Rescue
Pet ownership is increasing, and a large number of dogs that are adopted or rescued come with issues. Many of the dogs surrendered to shelters or picked up as strays had owners who didn’t anticipate the inconvenience, noise or expense that comes with dog ownership. Some people do not bother to train their dogs until behavior problems arise. Even then, I believe it’s never too late.
Training – The Best Gift of All
We give our dogs treats, toys and affection, but for a long, happy life together, training is the best gift of all. I believe dogs need motivated, structured, mental & physical exercise on a daily basis to stimulate their mind and body in order to be balanced. Once their energy is drained, especially in working breeds, then we can expect them to learn easier. We, as caregivers, need to realize it is a life-time commitment to care for and train our canine companion.
As a lifelong dog lover I have had a passion in training and rescuing dogs for over 30 years. It is wonderful to see a dog who was formerly unruly or kept outdoors, now living indoors as part of the family because he’s better behaved. Watching a dog who was previously frightened of people, accept petting and treats from strangers is truly heart-warming. Dogs who have been dog reactive all their life, now seek attention from and interact willingly is amazing to watch. A lot of dogs are misunderstood and just need structure, given boundaries and a job for them to feel important. I truly believe it’s never the dog and they do not train themselves!
Consider very carefully, your dog’s life as a whole. He’s meeting your needs and loving you unconditionally, but are you meeting his needs emotionally and physically, on a daily basis? Are you seeing issues of anxiety, aggression, resource guarding, or unruliness? Each dog learns at his/her own pace. Therefore, you cannot put a time limit on training. I can teach you how to better communicate with your dog, with basic obedience or behavior modification.
Training to Fit Your Needs
Creating better behaviors in the home is where it all begins. My approach to dog training is addressing the state of mind of your dog, rather than strictly focusing on creating rehearsed behaviors. I am much more concerned with creating a happy, healthy, balanced dog than creating a dog that simply knows a few obedience commands.
If your dog needs more one on one training and you’d like to have a good foundation to work on then consider enrolling your dog in my board & train program. There are a few options to choose from. Check out my Services page for details.
Wanting to adopt a new dog? I may have a lead on that perfect dog from a shelter, private rescue or private owner. It is very important that your energy level is matched up with your new best friend to prevent chaos. As a guardian to your canine friend, it is important to realize “the big picture” for a lifetime of pleasure for all involved.
Dog Socialization – Pack Walks
I host pack walks every Saturday morning from 10-11:30 a.m. at Dorris Ranch in Springfield. We meet at the start of the bike path and walk a total of 2 miles. All dogs remain on leash and no on leash greetings. If your dog is reactive or vocal, you especially need to come. We have many that walk with us who have dogs that were very dog or human reactive and now can walk calmly with the pack. I will assist as needed. We practice various training exercises along the walk and at our halfway point. Come join us and experience the power of the pack!
Explore my site to discover useful training tips, rescue pups, and the training services and benefits offered by Connecting with K9s.
Be a responsible caregiver for your pet.
Put an end to pet overpopulation, spay & neuter.
http://www.wagwag.org/
http://www.spayship.org
Please adopt from your local shelter or rescue organization.
http://northwestdogproject.org/
http://www.rescueme.org
“Three year old Nikki update. She came home at only 7 weeks and she was super wild & high strung – obvious now that was too early to leave the litter. Tried a puppy trainer in Coos Bay and after the second class Nikki was “bounced from the kindergarten class’ with a $ refund. I tried a 2 week in house training with a renowned German Shepherd trainer with over 50 years of military & police dog training and then continued with his 10 one hour group training sessions. Nikki was still uncontrollable & very high strung – couldn’t control her on walks and she was impossible in the car. Enter Connecting with K9s. I dropped off a wild animal with Darla. Nikki spent 3 weeks ( spring of 2018 ) for a board and train. It was great being able to watch her progress via the daily video updates that were posted online ( I was at a wedding in Florida and these training videos were a big hit). We also did a 7 week class that following summer. Today Nikki is the German Shepherd she was meant to be. Still sharp and energetic and not at all aggressive. Runs well with dogs she knows and walking on leash is much easier. Surprisingly, our bond has reached the point where she stays close to my side healing OFF leash. We will continue with her socializing and looking forward to whatever new projects Darla puts together at the new location.” 
“Connecting with K9s was such a Godsend! Before Darla worked with Joey, we couldn’t go on a walk without the fear he may try to nip at strangers, chase after cats or bark at other dogs. After one training session with her, he was able to control himself, walk on a loose leash and was looking to me for guidance and support. The change was phenomenal! Because of the training we received from Darla, Joey was able to be placed in a foster home while I went to training with the Army. Which would not have even been a possibility earlier due to his behavior. Thank you for everything!!”