Why choose Candid Canine Training?
Peas in a Pod
I learned to train by doing it myself, with hands-on, positive work.
At CK9 Training, your pet's well-being means as much to me as it does to you. I treat your animal with care and compassion that is unparalleled by any else. Unlike many major branches of dog training facilities such as PetSmart, I have nearly a decade of hands-on experience training and working with dogs of all sizes, breeds, backgrounds, and temperaments. I have had dogs my entire life, and have helped friends raise and train several litters before they were placed in homes. It is a hobby, my passion, and my livelihood. Working with dogs give as much to me as it does to them. Where others just read off pamphlets instructing the only way to train ("their way"), I have been getting my hands dirty and digging in to the opportunity to teach dogs and educate owners, with special care given to their individual needs. I never miss an opportunity to learn something new from my canine counterparts. There is no "one size fits all" method of dog training - each canine is unique in personality, quirks, and temperament. Taking this into account, I customize my methods to best fit my client. That being said, if you are looking for a trainer who is going to sugar coat everything that is said, I am not the trainer for you. I am one hundred percent honest and will correct you if you are making mistakes, if your dog is just too much for you to handle, and I will gladly point out areas that need improvements. While each case may not be life or death for the dog, I treat it as such - you, as a responsible and caring owner, owe it to your dog to take and give positive direction. Where some dogs need firmer direction, others require an encouraging, quiet approach. It has been my natural born talent to be able to read into an animal's body language, behavior, and thought patterns. Like people, each dog is unique in its' own way, and most training establishments don't take that into account. You are charged an abnormally high fee for something that may not work for your dog, or worse, traumatize it. A successful trainer modifies his or her regiment to best fit the dog - what works with one may not work with another. I work to evaluate the best approach to training your dog, and help you implement the skills I have given you.
At CK9 Training, your pet's well-being means as much to me as it does to you. I treat your animal with care and compassion that is unparalleled by any else. Unlike many major branches of dog training facilities such as PetSmart, I have nearly a decade of hands-on experience training and working with dogs of all sizes, breeds, backgrounds, and temperaments. I have had dogs my entire life, and have helped friends raise and train several litters before they were placed in homes. It is a hobby, my passion, and my livelihood. Working with dogs give as much to me as it does to them. Where others just read off pamphlets instructing the only way to train ("their way"), I have been getting my hands dirty and digging in to the opportunity to teach dogs and educate owners, with special care given to their individual needs. I never miss an opportunity to learn something new from my canine counterparts. There is no "one size fits all" method of dog training - each canine is unique in personality, quirks, and temperament. Taking this into account, I customize my methods to best fit my client. That being said, if you are looking for a trainer who is going to sugar coat everything that is said, I am not the trainer for you. I am one hundred percent honest and will correct you if you are making mistakes, if your dog is just too much for you to handle, and I will gladly point out areas that need improvements. While each case may not be life or death for the dog, I treat it as such - you, as a responsible and caring owner, owe it to your dog to take and give positive direction. Where some dogs need firmer direction, others require an encouraging, quiet approach. It has been my natural born talent to be able to read into an animal's body language, behavior, and thought patterns. Like people, each dog is unique in its' own way, and most training establishments don't take that into account. You are charged an abnormally high fee for something that may not work for your dog, or worse, traumatize it. A successful trainer modifies his or her regiment to best fit the dog - what works with one may not work with another. I work to evaluate the best approach to training your dog, and help you implement the skills I have given you.
A positive trainer gets positive results.
This grumpy little guy grew up to be our most talented trickster.
I prefer to work in a dog's comfort zone; your home. It is familiar, it is safe, and it is free from the distractions that might otherwise hinder its ability to learn. This way, you may also observe my techniques and how I handle the dog. I do NOT believe in hitting a dog, using an electronic collar, using a prong collar, or yelling. The only corrective devices I may implement in training are a GentleLeader collar, or, in rare cases, a slip leash. Through my many years of personal experience, the best results come from dogs who were trained consistently and with steady instruction, rewards, and kindness. I am one hundred percent for positive reinforcement as my training style. Praise, encouragement, and consistency will take your dog all the way to where you'd like them to be. I like to reinforce good behavior and correct responses with treats. Some argue that it teaches the dog to listen only when food is involved, but that is false. Your dog will be given treats throughout our sessions as a reward, and will be weaned off of them once s/he learns to recognize the verbal cues, and later, hand signals. It is conditioning at its finest, as with Pavlov and his bells. Their mind will be programmed to think that once you give a command, they will receive food, but instead, a verbal praise or a pat is given and is just as good. Punishing a dog via physical touch is almost never necessary, and rarely achieves the results desired. Instead, you end up with a frightened or shy dog, while others may grow aggressive. Many times, when dogs become aggressive towards members of the family, it is due to too much coddling by others. I am not saying not to love your dog, but you must realize that a dog is not a child and therefore has to be treated as such. You, as the owner, are the "alpha" - you assert "dominance" by setting guidelines that your dog must follow. Small incidentals may grow to a problem of enormous proportions if you do not establish and practice these guidelines via training. My version of reprimanding a dog is to ignore - to your four legged friend, any attention (besides hitting and yelling) is good attention."Dominating" your dog by alpha rolling it (that is, forcing it onto its back and standing over or sitting on them) is an extremely outdated and dangerous maneuver that some trainers are still using to this day.
No gimmicks, no snake oil.
My 150 lb. dog Buddy loves to cuddle.
I will never ask you to buy anything for me or from me. I have no magical DVD's, no miracle pills, and no hidden agenda. Anything I ask you to buy will be strictly for use with you and your dog during your training period. I come to you, unless I request that we have an outing that day. I ride the bus line, so I won't always be on the dot, but you can expect me to show up and do my job every time. I do not ask an enormous fee for my work - waking up every day knowing that I have families to help and wagging tails to see keeps me convinced that I am in the right field. Though I may seem a bit harsh, I'm very friendly, love children, and am quite the people person - but dogs are my life, and having seen so many of their lives extinguished when proper training would have saved them (this is not being said of ill dogs) motivates me to be straightforward, honest, and passionate. Having a well behaved and well trained dog is a lot of hard and continuous work. It will not happen overnight. Some dogs may learn faster than others, but Rome wasn't built in a day. I am there to instruct you on how best to go about it, and demonstrate the proper techniques. It is up to you to follow the guidelines I provide. If you have a family, expect them to be active participants in training. I will work to create a smooth dynamic between you and the other members of your family to ensure your dog isn't getting mixed signals, which may confuse them and make training more difficult. Again, consistency is key. After I have demonstrated the correct technique, each person will then have a go at trying it, and I will help correct them when necessary. One of the most amazing and beautiful things I get to witness time after time is how my line of work will bring a family closer together - believe it or not.There is one age old trick to making your dog more responsive during sessions and more well behaved in general, and that is exercise. When I come over, expect to bust out your walking shoes or have already had taken your dog for a long walk prior to our meeting. A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog is a well behaved dog.
At the end of our adventure, my goal is for you and your family to be happy and confident with both yourselves and your dog. The before and after is what I live for - your relationship with each other will be better for it.
Happy Tails! With Love, from CandidK9
At the end of our adventure, my goal is for you and your family to be happy and confident with both yourselves and your dog. The before and after is what I live for - your relationship with each other will be better for it.
Happy Tails! With Love, from CandidK9