Blog by K9 Pro and Steve Courtney Dog Training K9 Pro The K9 Professionals

This is Herzhund Charlee, I bred her and she is owned by a good friend, Team K9Pro member Candace who also runs my office at K9Pro. Charlee is 8 years old now and she has her BH (x2) and loves to work. She is a retired girl now but  comes out on special occasions to flaunt her skills. I have …

It’s no secret that we deal with a LOT of aggression here at K9Pro. We get referrals from every state, other trainers, vets, councils, and other dog owners whom we have worked with. This includes possession aggression, resource guarding, territorial behaviour, predation, fear aggression and dogs that simply do not listen to owners when it counts. Know that, these are …

This is the latest thing, sniffing, scenting, “Sniffaris” and other reasons to allow your dog to pull on leash and pretend you don’t exist. Let me tell you why this is a bad idea. First, your dog is coming to learn that they find rewarding things out in front and get to them by pulling you to them. Next is …

As I work with a lot of intense dogs, helping them regulate their emotions, control their impulses, teach complex behaviours and also work with the dogs owners to make a solid team, I have to tell you, it can be draining at times. Trainers and consultants can get burned out very easily as we push through one difficult case after …

We see a lot of people who bring their dogs to us for help, many of them are in crisis as the situation is just impossible to live in. These situations do not develop overnight, they are the result of smaller problems ignored, and now the problem is severe. What you are probably experiencing is not the actual problem, it …

The term Covid Dog is becoming a common term used to excuse a dogs behaviour around the world, but should it be? If your dog was born in the last two years, there is a very good chance he or she did not get a lot of exposure when they were young. They could be considered a “Covid Dog”. I …

If we mention a training collar such as a Prong Collar or an Electric collar, there are always people out there that feel these should not be used, with the main reason being “they cause fear and pain.” These comments come from one of two groups. Group One… You may be in this group and want what is best for …

Training dogs with food has got to be one of the most misunderstood concepts. There are those that state that any and every dog can be trained using only food. There are those that believe that any behaviour can be modified using food only. There are those that state that using food is just bribery. There are those that say …

This will be a very stressful time for you if you have been told behavioural euthanasia is your only option, and I want you to know that there are some situations in which this IS the only real/safe/viable option. But not as often as people are being told that it is. If your dog is suffering? Is he or she …

Do you like your dog, love your dog, but can’t live with his or her behaviours?This is really very common and very confusing for a lot of people. Here are my thoughts on this.When people get a dog, they usually start liking their dog, (of course) and grow to love them, often very quickly. But sometimes through development, mishap, mistake, …

Have you ever had a dog that when he or she passed away, it hurt like nothing you have ever felt before? Maybe you currently have a dog and thinking about losing him or her is unbearable? Yes well, I’m not going to give you the magic answers for that, when I lose a dog it cuts me deep. But …

So perhaps you are looking for a dog trainer or someone who can help you with your dog’s behaviour problems. Well there are more and more people jumping into this profession these days than ever, and that’s a good thing, overall. The problem with more options, are that you now must make a very important decision. Who do you trust …

If you read my articles, blogs or social pages, you’re probably a dog lover, enthusiast, handler, trainer, foster carer, vet – vet nurse or perhaps a combination of them. If asked I am sure you will say you love dogs and want the best for them. Nothing surprising there, yeah? Good, because then I guess we all pretty much have …

First of all, I want to make clear that I am talking about behaviour problems, not a dog reacting from referred pain, or a puppy that is mouthing you etc., but a dog that may display aggression to their owner if: – The owner tries to move the dog off furniture The owner starts touching or adjusting a piece of …

Enrichment has become a term that is being used prolifically in the dog world the last few years. It’s like the latest buzz word! New puppy owners are encouraged to find ways to ensure their puppies stay enriched, are never bored, and always have something on hand to keep them stimulated. Dog owners with dogs that are anxious, destructive, reactive …