AK9

AK9 Ala and Bernie, Dog Trainers in London, Ontario Hi! My name is Ala, and I am a head instructor at AK9. So, let me start over. It all began with a dog.

I could begin this bio by saying something cheesy, such as “I have always loved dogs and wanted to work with them!” or “I have been training dogs since I was 16 years old.” I could – and technically it would all be truth. But these words do not even begin to depict the depth of the journey I have been taking, and, more importantly, they do not give enough credit to very specific human and non-huma

n individuals who have been there with me. A stubborn, independent, arrogant, but outrageously loyal chow-chow named Tushkan. For those who are familiar with the breed, no more words are needed. For those who are not, I will elaborate by saying that the likelihood of a chow-chow owner getting into dog sports and, consequently, professional dog training, is relatively low. The simple reason is that this is not a dog who wants to work for you. This is not a dog who makes your life easy by willingly performing anything you ask them to do unless they want it at this specific moment in time. This is a breed that is hard to motivate by regular dogs’ prized rewards, such as food and toys. In fact, a chow-chow will do everything to discourage you from ever attempting to make them work. But I was also stubborn and highly motivated to learn how to work with a dog like that. Perhaps, the fact that I was also an arrogant 16-year-old teenager played a part. Ultimately, I like to think that this was meant to happen. He was my first and only dog, and I had to make it work. I had three dog trainers reject enrolling me and my dog in their classes because of the breed. They claimed that a chow-chow should not be put into a group class situation. They are difficult to train, and they like to bite strangers. The depicted picture of a monster dog was not that encouraging either, but then I found a person who worked with police and army dogs, and somehow, they agreed to work with me. After six months of attending group classes, me and my dog received our first obedience title. And I got seriously hooked up by this whole dog training thing. The local club offered dog training courses, and I took it. This resulted in me receiving a certificate, but in all truthfulness, those certificates mean very little without practical knowledge. I mean, I could recite how different operants work and explain (theoretically) what reinforcements are and why they work or do not work, but, if put in a real-life situation where all those terms had to be applied, I would have felt extremely uncertain. Hence, I started interning for my instructor. I helped them with their large group classes; I oversaw attendance and financial details; I worked with equipment suppliers; I cleaned up dog p**p and picked up garbage after pet owners. Gradually, I was allowed to start working with actual dogs and actual people, and by the end of two years of my internship, I was able to start teaching my first group. This is where my chow-chow experience came in extremely handy: very few dogs could compete with this extreme lack of motivation combined with incredible stubbornness. Of course, there were other issues that I yet had to learn how to deal with, but the foundation for all of my knowledge was creativity; if you are creative, you can approach and successfully “conquer” many of the issues that dog owners have. At this point, I have been training dogs for over fifteen years. Yet, creativity is still my main motto. No two dogs are similar. Yes, there are methods and things that work for many dogs, but not for everyone. Yes, there are basic commands that I teach all of the dogs, and yes, all of them are capable to learn – and perform – them. However, the ways in which I approach my teaching always depend on specific dog and specific human. Even in a group class scenario. What does it mean for you if you choose to work with me? It means that I will happily discuss your particular situation and I will offer as many methods/tools/solutions as are possible and applicable. Some behavioural problems are extremely persistent and need a lot of patience, and some are not possible to completely “solve” at all. I have a lot of experience and practical knowledge, and there are very few breeds I did not work with. However, I am not a wizard and do not possess a magic wand. What I can promise, though, is that I will be honest about my assessment, as well as about describing the amount of work you might need to put towards your dog’s training success. I am also always going to be there for you, even beyond our training encounter, should you need any advice or guidance. If my philosophy resonates with you, reach out and inquire about my group or individual classes, as well as free assessments!

If you really, really want to see some amazing training and would like to immerse yourself in a dog trial environment, y...
05/27/2026

If you really, really want to see some amazing training and would like to immerse yourself in a dog trial environment, you are invited to attend the GSSCC IGP Ontario Regional Championships.

When: Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th (see attached schedule for more details)
Where: West Williams Community Centre (32217 Kerwood Rd, Parkhill)

In addition to the competition itself, the event is attended by many vendors selling all kinds of dog goods normally only available online. Oh, and the raffle prizes are amazing, too.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions and I hope to see you there!

Explaining weird behaviour in terms of mystical and unrealistic events.People absolutely love imagining that a dog does ...
05/26/2026

Explaining weird behaviour in terms of mystical and unrealistic events.

People absolutely love imagining that a dog does something odd because it drew complex conclusions after some barely related event occurred.

I think part of this comes from our desire to see intelligence in our dogs, which, in itself, is not a bad thing. However, assigning a dog’s reaction to mystical or convoluted causes is not the same as recognizing intelligence; in fact, it is often the opposite.

I once had a client with a dog who was afraid of men — all men. The dog had an unknown past, and while it is possible it had bad experiences with males, that does not necessarily explain why it behaves the way it does now. Specifically, the dog would cower and hide every time it saw the male owner — even when the owner was holding a bowl of food.

The client suggested that this fear might have developed because the dog was on a diet. The dog was overweight, and the male owner was responsible for feeding it. Therefore, they presumed, the dog somehow associated reduced portion sizes with the owner’s gender.

Another client’s dog suddenly turned into a resource guarder around their child. A previously sweet, docile young dog snapped at the kid after stealing something from the counter. The explanation the owner came up with? Three months earlier, the dog had been eating a raw fish head and cut its gum on something sharp. The child had given the fish head to the dog, so the dog had supposedly learned that kids are evil.

Yet another client had just adopted a dog with an obsessive licking habit — “giving kisses” to everyone and everything. The new owner believed this was the dog’s way of expressing gratitude.

In most of these cases, things are much less sophisticated than people make them out to be.

Many sensitive dogs are afraid of men even when men have never abused them. Men often have deeper voices and a stronger physical presence, which insecure dogs can find intimidating. Hence the fear. If the fear response — hiding, cowering, running away — has been repeatedly reinforced and allowed to continue, that is what the dog will keep doing regardless of how much food it is offered. In fact, the dog may refuse food altogether because it feels too uncomfortable.

Resource guarding (which I’ve written about elsewhere) is also something many dogs display specifically around children. Kids are often poor at reading canine body language and, unlike adults, they do not project the same level of power or presence. Dogs frequently perceive this as weakness. As a result, a dog that is respectful and compliant around adults can simultaneously become a resource guarder around children. No traumatic fish-head incident required.

Finally, obsessive “kissing” is often a sign of insecurity. The dog is uncertain about the people approaching it, feels nervous, and attempts to communicate harmless intentions. Interestingly, this behaviour often reflects discomfort around unfamiliar people, and the other side of that same coin can be human-directed aggression. A rescue dog may or may not eventually settle and gain enough confidence to escalate to aggression, but excessive licking is often a strong indicator of underlying discomfort. It has nothing to do with gratitude.

What does all of this mean? Mostly, that things are usually much simpler than we like to believe. Dogs, in general, do not complicate things — we do that for them. Possibly because admitting what the behaviour is actually about feels uncomfortable. Or because the real solution may seem difficult or inconvenient.

Whatever the reason, there is no need to invent mystical explanations. Dogs are usually very honest about why they behave the way they do. Strip away the emotions and just observe.

05/22/2026

The June 1st class is almost full! Reserve your spot before it is gone!

In the meanwhile, enjoy some of our current students, who are beautifully progressing and quickly learning how to communicate with their dogs 😀

Those who see as many dogs as we do know very well that, despite what social media and Hollywood movies tell people, dog...
05/21/2026

Those who see as many dogs as we do know very well that, despite what social media and Hollywood movies tell people, dogs come with a whole range of personalities — and not every one of those personalities is pleasant or easy to live with.

In fact, the entire point of purebred dogs is selecting for traits and temperaments suited either for specific work or for life as a stable companion animal.

Unfortunately, first-time owners, often influenced by unrealistic ideas of what dogs are “supposed” to be like, sometimes end up with a dog that either has far too much energy or an unstable temperament. And “unstable temperament” itself covers a very broad spectrum: spookiness, anxious urination, over-arousal, redirecting, environmental sensitivity, and more.

One particularly difficult category is the combination of unfortunate genetics and inexperienced handling: a dog that is naturally fearful and insecure, but that has also been coddled and allowed to avoid all discomfort because the owners felt bad for it. The problem gets worse when any attempt to set boundaries or apply even mild pressure results in the dog acting all abused and in pain.

We have seen several dogs like this in group training. They are not easy dogs, and they are not for the faint-hearted.

Any kind of pressure — social pressure, spatial pressure, physical handling, environmental pressure — can send them into a meltdown. Their coping mechanisms are usually one of three things: bolting, biting, or collapsing into a dramatic alligator roll.

The hard part is not identifying the reaction. The hard part is resisting the emotional urge to immediately back off the second the dog starts screaming, flailing, or panicking. Because the moment all pressure disappears, the dog learns that the behaviour worked.

In fact, a dog who resorts to this screaming, bolting, biting, and rolling as a response to pressure is not in pain. They have simply learned that these strategies are effective because they have already been reinforced, often repeatedly.

Someone tried to put a collar on the dog — the dog snapped — the collar went away. Lesson learned.

Someone tried to walk past a distraction — the dog pancaked on the ground — the walk stopped. Again, lesson learned.

Dogs like this need to learn two things:
a) these strategies do not change the outcome, and
b) pressure is a normal part of life.

And no, this is not about intimidation or “dominating” dogs. It is about showing the dog the realities of this world.

Start simple.

Handle your dog. Touch the feet, ears, tail, belly, mouth. Brush the dog. Move the body around gently. Teach the dog that being handled and experiencing restraint is normal.

If the dog gets uncomfortable, stay calm and fair. Don’t immediately stop the session the second the dog protests or melts down. Finish what you started, let the dog work through it, and adjust accordingly next time if needed. Reward at the end.

That principle applies to almost everything in dog training: finish what you started, stay fair, stay observant, and adjust thoughtfully instead of emotionally.

Good training is usually very simple — and those simple things prevent an enormous number of problems later on.

Dear Friends and Supporters,Please help us grow!We’re asking for a small favour that takes only 30 seconds, but can make...
05/15/2026

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Please help us grow!

We’re asking for a small favour that takes only 30 seconds, but can make a huge difference for AK9 Canada.

We are growing, but currently have no Google reviews.

As many of you know, Google reviews are the lifeblood of a local business. They not only help new dog owners find trusted training guidance, but also increase the chances of our school being recommended by Google to new clients.

To leave a review, scan the QR code in the image or use the link in the first comment below.

Thank you for supporting AK9 Canada! 🇨🇦

You know what the biggest problem is with “reactive” dogs?It’s the fact that their “reaction,” along with its very sourc...
05/14/2026

You know what the biggest problem is with “reactive” dogs?

It’s the fact that their “reaction,” along with its very source, is often misunderstood as fear or outright aggression.

While there are certainly dogs who bark and lunge out of fear in a defensive attempt to drive a perceived threat away, the majority of dogs we regularly see are simply displaying behaviours that are normal to the species: a mix of possession and prey drive.

Regardless of how many times people tell themselves that dogs are “furbabies” and gentle souls who only need compassion and kindness, reality remains reality. Dogs are opportunistic predatory mammals that learned to live alongside humans because of that very opportunism and adaptability.

That means that even if a dog exhibits a completely docile demeanour in 90% of life situations, there will always be those remaining 10% where predatory instincts kick in. And when they do, people often seem almost offended by it, immediately applying labels associated with fear, trauma, or pathology rather than recognizing normal canine behaviour.

From there, the pattern usually goes one of three ways:
a) “My dog is lunging at other dogs because it wants to play — as soon as it gets close, it becomes friendly.”
b) “My dog is lunging because it is afraid — I need to find a behaviourist who will rewire this mindset.”
c) “My dog is aggressive and hates other dogs.”

The truth is that there are many reasons why a dog puts on an animated display when it sees another dog. Most often, though, it comes down to a combination of reinforced frustration (the dog barked once and was then allowed to reach another dog), prey drive (“moving object, chase it”), and possession, which is especially prominent on leash.

What’s most interesting — and something owners almost never suspect — is that many dogs actually enjoy these “reactions.” The barking, lunging, and pulling create excitement and stimulation. The behaviour is self-reinforcing.

So how do you deal with reactivity?

The same way we deal with anything: do not treat it as a symptom of some kind of mystical past trauma, mental illness, or paralyzing fear, because it most often is not. In most cases, a barking and a lunging dog is simply a dog who has not been told to knock it off and shown that this behaviour is pushy, bratty, and unacceptable.

𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀.

05/13/2026

Walk-and-train, AK9 and Confident K9Z 💪

05/13/2026

🥁🥁 You have asked and we have listened!

and are teaming up and offering a FREE structured group walk-and-train.

When: June 6th, 10am
Where: Gibbons Park, London, ON
Why: Because sleeping in on Saturdays is overrated 😆😜

We will cover some very cool obedience and socialization drills, and, most importantly, will have a great time!

Requirements for participation:
- A dog handler must be 16+ or accompanied by adult
- A handler must be able to control their dog on leash. “Control” means good timing with addressing anything that is unwanted and in rewarding anything that is good. Litmus test if unsure: if your dog starts barking at other dogs, you tell it to knock it off (with or without a correction), and the dog listens - then you are good. If still unsure, reach out.
- Helpful commands to have: sit, heel, recall, down. Lure or verbal is fine.
- One dog per handler
- Absolutely no on-leash greetings. Please do not feel bad about asking people to give you space if your dog needs it.
- A collar must be fitted properly so that the dog cannot slip.
- This is not the kind of walk where you can zoom out, let your dog do whatever, and look at your phone. This is the walk where you team up with your dog, and you learn something new about each other.
- To sign up, please reach out to me or Stacey

Looking forward to seeing many of you there! 💪

*Upcoming Group Obedience class!*Spots left: Class is FULL. Next class starts July 13th.When: June 1 - July 6 (six weeks...
05/12/2026

*Upcoming Group Obedience class!*

Spots left: Class is FULL. Next class starts July 13th.

When: June 1 - July 6 (six weeks), 6-7pm

Where: Iona Station

Cost: $250

Appropriate for:
- Dogs and fully vaccinated puppies
- Anxious and fearful dogs
- Reactive dogs
- Dogs with selective hearing

We teach YOU how to train your dog. Skills covered:
- Recall
- Heeling
- Positions and stays
- Play

To register: PM, email at [email protected], or follow the website link (in the comments)

What's the one item your dog is most "possessive" over? Toys, socks, food bowls, or the couch? 🧸👟🦴🛋️ Leave a comment bel...
05/10/2026

What's the one item your dog is most "possessive" over? Toys, socks, food bowls, or the couch? 🧸👟🦴🛋️

Leave a comment below 👇

Training Tip: Resource Guarding

I've added the link to the full FREE PDF guide in the comments below! 👇

After my previous post on resource guarding (which sparked some debate because the dog in the photo was wearing a prong 🙄), I decided to make the information more accessible by turning it into an infographic.

Please note: this is a general approach and not a complete guide. Every dog is different, and there are many variables involved. If you have specific questions, feel free to reach out or ask in the comments!

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London, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+12262355789

Website

https://ak9canada.com/blog/

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