Cooperative K9 Training Academy

06/06/2026

The kids are camping with their dad,
I’m on animal duty of course, so Peril and I took the opportunity to head to town for an evening rollerblade. 😍

A rare occurrence these days.

She was so good and only tried to bite my sleeve one ittsy bitsy time.

If you have a working Mal you know… any excuse will do to satisfy a little mouth urge…

We ended the rollerblade with a little off-leash game of fetch with intention.

Did you see me in my 90’s childhood swim team jacket?? 😂

06/05/2026

This is going to be unpopular in some circles… but this is the real statistics I have experienced, and I’m not going to hide it in the closet.

EVERY bite(or multi-bite) case I have been consulted on in the last year has involved a dog who has had a shock collar put on them.

In some cases a perimeter collar. In other cases a manual remote.

Does every dog who wears an e-collar end up biting? No

Does an e-collar itself inherently have this fall out? Unlikely.

But IF you intend to use one, PLEASE see a proven professional about best practices BEFORE you ever put one on, because from what I’m seeing, there is cause for caution.

06/05/2026

Drift is 9 this year and is still rocking the disc field.

We have not competed due to the complexity of travel and competition with 3 young kids and a husband who works away, but maybe it’s never too late to get in there. We will see what this summer brings us .

She certainly isn’t slowing down.

Drift is a Mini Australian Shepherd.

If you want a high energy partner for intense activity, like a bossy opinionated dog who will be your biggest fan, I. A small package, then she’s your gal! 😂

06/05/2026

Interesting.

I play tug with all of my dogs (and client dogs), and I can say that cognitive decline has never been the reason I have had to say goodbye.

A new peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science followed 858 senior dogs and found that dogs who regularly played, trained, hiked, swam, or participated in other activities with their owners showed fewer signs of age-related cognitive decline. The benefits appeared to go beyond exercise alone, with activities that challenged the brain and strengthened the dog-owner bond linked to healthier brain aging. Dogs that participated at least weekly tended to stay mentally sharper, while lifelong sports dogs had the lowest cognitive decline scores.
That’s important because doggy dementia is one of the most common quality-of-life issues affecting senior dogs. The takeaway? Regular play, training, enrichment, and shared adventures may help keep your dog’s mind younger for longer.

Supporting healthy aging also means protecting the joints that keep dogs active. That’s why Dr. Karen Becker formulated Mobility Matrix™ with science-backed ingredients like UC-II® undenatured type II collagen and eggshell membrane to support mobility and comfort.

If you’d like to explore a science-backed mobility solution for your dog or cat, comment MATRIX and we’ll DM you the link. 🐾✨

06/05/2026

Morning play with some of my own dogs.

The Protector
The Guardian
The Couch Potato
The Huntin’ Dawg
🤗

I like to experience all of the wonders the different breeds have to offer, continually stepping out of my comfort zone and experiencing new personalities, genetics, and drives.

Dogs will never stop teaching, if we listen.

06/05/2026

Chuck and Grit had a blast in the studio yesterday playing some agility out of the rain.

(Both intact males from different homes, by the way)

Chuck was so spent that he couldn’t get his eyes all the way open when he arrived home. 😂

I can’t say the same for Grit, but my own dogs never seem to tire. 😂

06/03/2026

Looking for a new Companion?

Check out Phoebe or the other deserving dogs at Cause for Critters.

06/03/2026

Also today!

⭐️Finding neutral⭐️ Class for the dogs who struggle with excitement/ anxiousness over other dogs and people.

If you dog has ever been assessed with us, you are welcome to come out!

Message to confirm your spot!

7:30pm - 8:30pm
$25

06/03/2026

Studio time up for grabs today! 9:00 - 5:30pm.

$20/ half hour. Cash.

Warm. Dry, loads of fun!

06/02/2026

Ticks are exploding across the U.S. this year, and they’re much more than a creepy nuisance. These parasites are incredibly efficient at attaching, feeding, and transmitting disease, without you ever noticing. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the risk of exposure to Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and several other serious infections. But just because your dog has had exposure doesn’t mean they’re infected; discerning the difference is crucial, and smart medicine.
In my latest article, I cover where ticks like to hide, how to perform a thorough full-body tick check, the safest way to remove a tick, and why monitoring your pet afterward is just as important as removing the parasite itself. I also explain the differences between 4DX, Accuplex, and QC6 testing, and why early detection makes all the difference, regardless of what parasite control program you are using.
When you combine proactive screening with consistent parasite checks and a parasite protocol that make sense for your lifestyle and location, you can dramatically reduce the chances that a tick bite turns into a much bigger problem. Link to my article is in the comments. 🐾🕷️