Mackay K9 Training

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Australia
Mackay, QLD
Mackay K9 Training

One on one
Group classes
Puppy and older dog training
Aggression and reactivity
Separation anxiety

25/06/2026

🐾 Harnesses – When and Why We Use Them 🐾

One of the most common questions we get is:

"Should my dog be on a harness or a collar?"

The answer is... it depends on the job!

At Mackay K9, we use harnesses when we want our dogs to feel comfortable working away from us and moving freely. Some examples include:

🔍 Scent Work – We want the dog confidently hunting odour and making independent decisions without feeling restricted.

👣 Tracking – A harness allows the dog to put their body into the track and work at a distance while following scent.

🛡️ Protection Work – The harness provides comfort and freedom of movement while the dog is engaging in the work.

🐶 Confidence Building for Puppies – Young puppies are still learning about the world. A harness can help them explore their environment comfortably and build confidence without added pressure around the neck.

Like every piece of training equipment, harnesses are simply a tool. They aren't good or bad—they just need to be used for the right purpose.

The key is understanding what behaviour you're trying to encourage. If we want independence, exploration, and freedom of movement, a harness is often our go-to choice.

04/06/2026

💚🐾 COMP CREW BRAG POST 🐾💚

Another week, another brag post! 😍

Last weekend, a few of our comp crew stepped into the Rally and Obedience ring for the very first time!

Taking that first step outside your comfort zone and trying something new is a huge achievement in itself. Whether you walk away with a qualifying score or not, we are incredibly proud of every single team that got out there and gave it a go. Trialling with your dog isn't always easy, but continuing to build and strengthen your relationship through training is what it's all about. 💚

A massive congratulations to Heather and Jock on gaining their very first CCD pass and taking out 🥇 1st Place!

Jock is the happiest, most social Labrador you could ever meet. In the early days, he pushed poor Heather to her absolute limits, and there were definitely moments where the journey felt overwhelming. But Heather never gave up. She put in the work, stayed consistent, and trusted the process.

Now look at them.

They are the team people point to and say, "Wow, I want to be like that."

Their success is a testament to what can be achieved through dedication, patience, and a commitment to building a true partnership with your dog.

We couldn't be prouder of you both. 💚🐾

31/05/2026

🐾 ONE SPOT REMAINING! 🐾

Our next Puppy Preschool starts this Saturday and we have just one spot left! 🎉

If you have a puppy aged 8 to 16 weeks, and you’re looking for training that goes beyond the basics, this course is for you.

Over 5 weeks, you’ll learn how to build a confident, well-rounded puppy through positive experiences, engagement, socialisation, and practical training skills that set you both up for success.

✅ 1-hour classes
✅ Saturday mornings
✅ 5-week course
✅ Puppies aged 8–16 weeks

The early weeks are such an important time in your puppy’s development, and we’d love to help you get started on the right paw! 🐾

📩 Send us a message to secure the final spot before it’s gone!

MackayPuppies TrainTheDogNotTheBreed MackayBusinessWoman 🐶💚

30/05/2026

🎓🐾 WONDER PUPS GRADUATION 🐾🎓

A huge congratulations to our latest Wonder Pups graduates! 💚

Over the last 5 weeks, these pups and their humans have been working hard on building confidence, engagement, obedience foundations, and learning how to navigate the big wide world. 🌎🐶

We are so proud of the progress each and every team has made. From learning new skills to building stronger relationships with their owners, it has been fantastic watching these pups grow in confidence week after week.

Remember, puppy training doesn't stop at graduation! The foundations you have built during Wonder Pups will continue to set your puppy up for success as they grow.

Thank you for choosing Mackay K9 to be part of your training journey. We can't wait to see what these clever pups achieve next! 🐾💚

Drop a photo of your Wonder Pup graduate in the comments! 📸👇

22/05/2026

Today was a massive learning day for Romeo and he absolutely rose to the challenge.

We walked past waterfalls, climbed stairs, explored heights, and worked through some pretty big feelings. What started out as scary, with time, patience, and plenty of rewards slowly became manageable and watching him choose to try and keep going was such a huge win.

Romeo’s owner Donna did an amazing job supporting him every step of the way and we’re so proud of this team and how far they’re coming together.

20/05/2026

💚🐾 COMP CREW BRAG POST 🐾💚

Our scent work crew travelled down to attend the Rockhampton Dog Obedience Club scent work trial over the weekend — and they absolutely smashed it! 😍🔥

✨ Results ✨

🐾 Jock
✔️ Qualifying runs in:
• Advanced Interior 🥉 3rd Place
• Excellent Containers
• Excellent Exterior

🐾 Bella
🥈 2nd Place in Advanced Interior
🎓 Advanced Scent Work Title (Dogs QLD Pending)

🐾 Evie & Skyla
💥 6 qualifying runs between them!

🐾 Skyla
🥇 1st Place Novice Exterior
🥉 3rd Place Novice Interior

We are so proud of how all the dogs and handlers performed over the weekend 💚 The hard work behind the scenes is really paying off!

A massive thank you to the Rockhampton Dog Obedience Club for hosting such a fantastic trial and always welcoming our crew with open arms 🐾

And thank you to all the judges, stewards and volunteers who help make these events possible 💚

14/05/2026

An awesome weekend spent with Dan from Humphreys Health and Performance helping dogs (and a cat) of all shapes and sizes feel better!!

12/05/2026

Leanne and her gorgeous Labrador pup, Austin, working on their basic positions in our Saturday morning class.

We also have one spot available in our MK9 Puppy Preschool starting tomorrow night at 6.30pm.

Our 5‑week program (valued at $380) covers all the essentials: position work, stay, recall, the foundations of loose‑leash walking, proper socialisation and desensitisation, and plenty more to set your puppy up for success.

If you have a puppy under 16 weeks of age and would like to book this spot, send us a message!

05/05/2026

💚🐾 COMP CREW BRAG POST – TRACKING EDITION 🐾💚

Our tracking crew took off to Townsville over the weekend… and WOW, what a weekend it was! 🔥

✨ Results:
🏆 Sam & Halo – TD8 Tracking Dog Champion 🖤
🏆 Kirsty & Grigbby – TD6 Tracking Dog Excellent 💜
🏆 Ell & Kage – TD6 Tracking Dog Excellent ♥️
🏆 Ell & Rukkus – TD1 🐾

I am beyond proud of this crew! The dedication, early mornings, kilometres travelled and hours put into training are paying off in the best way 😍

Tracking is such a massive passion of ours – it gives the dogs an incredible mental and physical outlet, and there is honestly no better feeling than watching them work a track with purpose 💚

A huge thank you to Canine Obedience Club of Townsville for hosting such an amazing trial – the club is always so welcoming and supportive, and we absolutely love coming up! 🙌

Thank you to our judges Tanya, Janette & Debbie – we truly appreciate your time, feedback and all the knowledge you share 💚🐾

And of course, thank you to all the volunteers, track layers, stewards and cooks – tracking trials really do take an army and we are so grateful for every single one of you! 🙏

Special thank you to our trial sponsor Kylie the Grooming Lady 💜

Bring on the next one 😏🔥

💚🐾

01/05/2026

Tethering - it’s not about “sit” or “stay.”

Teaching our puppies how to relax while being tethered is a foundational life skill, and is one of the many little skills we build into our MK9 Puppy Preschool program.

Instead of being told to sit or stay, Peggy, Jed, Ted, and Spot are learning to think. They’re exploring which behaviours earn a “yes,” settling their bodies, regulating their emotions, and staying connected to their handler without constant cues. They’re discovering that calm choices lead to rewards.

Calm tethering can become the foundation for vet visits, grooming, café outings, waiting politely in the car, and simply being able to relax at home. It’s a small exercise with big long‑term benefits.

Small exercise = Big life skill.

Address

Mackay, QLD
4740

Website

https://mackayk9.com.au/

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