WAK-9 Training

05/30/2026

Caption this!

05/26/2026

Training behavior can be methodical, monotonous, and downright tiresome at times. It takes patience, persistence, and consistency. The boring reps matter. The daily structure matters. The follow through matters.

If you want to see progress in your dog’s perceived “bad” behaviors, you have to stop allowing the behavior to happen over and over again. Every repetition strengthens the pattern. Every successful rehearsal of the unwanted behavior makes it more familiar, more rewarding, and harder to break.

That loop is often the biggest obstacle owners are facing.

Training isn’t usually about one magical session that fixes everything. It’s about consistently preventing the wrong choices, reinforcing the right ones, and creating new habits through repetition and clarity.

The dogs that make the biggest transformations usually have owners willing to stay consistent long after the excitement wears off.

05/25/2026

Our Internet is very slow today. If we are slow to respond, we apologize. We will get to your request as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
WAK-9

05/25/2026

Meet Georgie! 🐾

Georgie is the newest member of our Board & Train program, and we are excited to have him with us for the next 4 weeks!

His goals while he’s here are to build better social skills, develop more confidence, and strengthen the relationship and communication with his owner. During the final week of his program, we’ll also be working alongside his pack mate to help establish a healthier and more structured social relationship together.

So far, Georgie has already shown us he’s a fun-loving boy with a big personality. He definitely doesn’t waste any time finding the people he wants to connect with! 😂

We’re looking forward to watching him grow, learn, and gain more clarity and confidence throughout this process. This should be a fun one to follow! 🐕🔥

Welcome to WAK-9, Georgie!

05/25/2026

Today we remember and honor the men and women who gave everything for our freedom. 🇺🇸

From all of us at WAK-9 Training, thank you to those who served, sacrificed, and never made it home. Your courage and dedication will never be forgotten.

Take a moment today to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. ❤️🤍💙

05/25/2026

I really have to give a nod to all the DIY van converters out there. This is NOT a small task.

Something I thought would take, at MOST… 5 hours? Yeah… no. We started at 5pm and I was still working on this thing until 4am.

And this is just for the ceiling!

But honestly? It was worth it. I was on a mission, and both my boys learned a lot about construction… and probably a lot about me and the level of detail I expect when building something right.

A few things that mattered to me during this build:

• Rivnuts for furring strips attached directly to the chassis.
• Loctite on every bolt connection.
• Flexible polyurethane construction adhesive on ALL wood-to-wood and wood-to-metal contact points to reduce vibration and rattling.
• 12 gauge wire for electrical runs.
• Every electrical connection soldered and heat shrink wrapped.
• Every exposed screw lined up clean with the ones next to it.

People think aesthetics are just about looks. I disagree.

Aesthetics show the detail and care put into the work you DON’T see.

Now on to walls and cabinetry!

05/24/2026

What can you expect from a 3 Week Board & Train Program at WAK-9 Training?

The biggest thing? Time, consistency, and appropriate handling from someone experienced with dogs in real-world environments.

Every dog and every owner comes to us with different goals. We tailor our training plans to your needs. However, if your dog comes in with little to no structure or manners, we’re going to start with the basics and build a strong foundation first.

What are “the basics”?

Building a communication system around the basic commands and markers.

Behavior Markers
• Yes
• Good
• Free
• No

Commands

• Sit
• Down (lay)
• Stay
• Heel
• Wait/Stay (or implied stay depending on owner preference)

“Wait/stay (or implied stay)”is one of the most important concepts we teach. Waiting means respecting thresholds. That may be a doorway, crate, gate, room entrance, vehicle door, or any boundary designated by you or us as the trainer. Threshold work builds impulse control, patience, and safety.

Week One:
The first week is usually introductions, relationship building, structure, and evaluating your dog’s current understanding. If your dog already has a strong foundation, we move ahead quickly. If not, we slow down and build clarity first.

Week Two:
This is where we start tailoring training more specifically to YOU and your lifestyle.

What are your goals?
• Tight focused heel?
• Reduce dog aggression or reactivity?
• Reduce human aggression?
• Better crate behavior?
• No barking?
• Public neutrality?
• Agility?
• Scent work?
• Better engagement and listening?

We begin identifying WHY the behaviors are happening and how to address them appropriately.

Shortly after your dog arrives, we create a detailed 3 week training plan specifically for your dog. You’ll be able to review it and discuss updates or adjustments with us as training progresses.

Week Three:
This is where we heavily focus on REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

Your dog will not simply sit in a kennel for 3 weeks.

They will go downtown.
They will walk near coffee shops.
They will experience parks, traffic, people, dogs, noises, excitement, distractions, and pressure.

On Prineville Mondays and Bend Fridays, many dogs accompany us into real-world environments like Pine Nursery, parks, walking paths, and busy public settings.

Dogs need to learn how to function in real life — not just inside a training building.

One of the biggest parts of our program is TEACH BACK.

Teach back.
Teach back.
Teach back.

We expect owners to participate in follow-up handling sessions during or after the program. Some people learn by reading notes. Others need hands-on coaching. We provide both.

These sessions allow us to:
• Show you exactly what your dog has learned
• Help critique handling mechanics
• Improve communication clarity
• Prevent old habits from returning
• Help you maintain long-term success

One of the biggest reasons Board & Trains fail is NOT the dog.

It’s lack of follow-through after the dog goes home.

A Board & Train is NOT a magical reset button.

Three weeks creates a foundation. It creates understanding, structure, communication, and repetition. But just like people, dogs require continued practice and maintenance.

That means YOU, the owner, must continue the work.

Sometimes owners are not involved immediately during training, especially in severe behavior cases. This is not because we don’t want you involved. It’s because some dogs revert back into previously rehearsed behaviors the moment they see familiar patterns return. In those cases, we build stronger consistency first before transitioning handling back to the owner.

At WAK-9 Training, our goal is to provide dogs AND owners with the tools needed for long-term success with as few future touch-ups as possible.

But success requires commitment from BOTH sides.

A Board & Train can absolutely be one of the best investments you make in your dog…

As long as you’re ready for the work that comes afterward.

05/24/2026

I am absolutely going to support this.

My take:

If you can’t define and differentiate the terms:

Emotional Support Animal
Service Animal
Therapy Animal

You should not be able to have them defined as such. (read what I said)… DEFINED as such.

This is already being pushed as an attack on Service dogs, and it is not. It is about ESA’s. Which by the ADA definition, doesn’t require the dog to be trained… as in any training.

And thanks to “online certification” and “doctors” that write prescriptions for these animals without seeing the patient… has constantly been creating more issues and making it harder for people with QUALIFIED Service Animals to navigate these processes.

I said what I said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/22/us/politics/hud-assistance-animals-disabled.html?unlocked_article_code=1.klA.ItxF.VQX2pCCDukBr&smid=url-share&fbclid=Iwb21leAR_BWdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7HesjLgDWF8itLvC1aEDRTEVFY1TGzeAbHWQkbwgnr-kDpMWqEGeQWcFlCeA_aem_IXn7FJ0eIwpAudZMKnvbAw

Housing officials were told to exclude emotional support animals and tighten the definition of a service animal when granting accommodations for disabled tenants.

05/23/2026

Let’s play a little game of “what if.”

What if you sent your fence-jumping dog to a Board & Train… and the trainer gave you back a dog with really nice obedience?

Does that automatically fix the fence jumping?

In my experience… no.

Impulse control, engagement, and obedience absolutely help. But obedience alone does not always solve the actual issue: the boundary itself.

Take a look at a lot of working dogs. Some have impeccable obedience, titles, advanced training, and excellent handler focus. That still doesn’t mean their environmental decision making or expected manners are fully addressed in every scenario.

This is why choosing the right trainer matters.

Make sure the trainer is actually working on the issue you hired them for. You may get back a dog that can heel beautifully, sit perfectly, and respond to commands… but was the fence jumping ever directly addressed?

At WAK-9, if a client hires me for fence jumping, then I’m working fence jumping. Not just generic obedience.

That also means creating a direct translation from what the dog learns here to what happens at home. Because the goal isn’t just a dog that performs in training — it’s a dog that succeeds in the owner’s real life.

05/23/2026

Why do so many new dog trainers quit the field so early on?

Honestly… a lot of it has very little to do with the dogs.

One of the biggest things we see in today’s dog training industry is that many new trainers are not taught everything that comes ALONGSIDE dog training.

Dogs are only one piece of the puzzle.

Customer service.
Communication.
Teaching skills.
Business operations.
Problem solving.
Time management.
Emotional management.
Liability.
Finances.
Facility upkeep.
Employee management.
Client retention.

THAT is the real industry.

So much today revolves around social media, online content, quick clips, and technology that many people have genuinely lost the ability to communicate face-to-face with another human being. And that is a MASSIVE issue in dog training.

Because at the end of the day:
You are not only training dogs.
You are teaching PEOPLE.

One of the hardest things we’ve dealt with over the years while mentoring shadow trainers and new trainers is teaching them HOW to pass information along to clients.

Not every client learns the same way.

Some need:
• Verbal instruction
• Written plans
• Hands-on demonstration
• Repetition
• Simplified explanations
• Philosophy breakdowns
• Visual examples

You have to ask yourself:
Is this client understanding what I’m teaching?
Am I teaching at THEIR learning level?
Do they even understand dog philosophy yet?
Do they NEED to understand the deep philosophy yet?
Or do they simply need practical steps to succeed today?

These are huge things many new trainers never think about.

A lot of trainers enter the field through:
• Online courses
• Paid schools
• Shadow programs
• Apprenticeships
• Seminars

And many of those programs teach dogs…
but not how to teach PEOPLE.

That’s where many trainers struggle.

One of the biggest realities of becoming a successful trainer is learning that sometimes you MUST go the extra mile for clients.

What happens if the client doesn’t understand the lesson?
Do you:
• Give them another session free?
• Stay late after work?
• Answer texts on your evening off?
• Reduce the fee to help them continue?
• Meet them again to help them succeed?

We’ve done all of the above many times.

Because the reality is:
Most of the time the dog is NOT the problem.

It’s helping the HUMAN follow through consistently.

And here’s the hard truth:
A lot of that time is unpaid when you’re first starting out.

That’s difficult for new trainers.
Especially if they have:
• Families
• Bills
• Kids
• Jobs
• Financial pressure

We completely understand that.

But the reality for MOST small businesses is this:
In the beginning, you often give away time, effort, and services to prove your worth and build trust within your community.

That isn’t always incentivized in modern society anymore.

Another thing many trainers don’t realize is the COST of running a dog training business.

People think:
“I know dogs. I’ll make money.”

But do you know the operational side?

Things like:
• Liability insurance
• Employee coverage
• Facility insurance
• Transport licensing
• Cleaning supplies
• Utilities
• Kennel upkeep
• Equipment replacement
• Training tools
• Vehicles
• Software systems
• Taxes
• Building maintenance

It adds up FAST.

Then add in:
• Daycare operations
• Boarding care
• Nail trims
• Bathing services
• Grooming partnerships
• Dog sport equipment
• Staff management

Suddenly you realize:
Dog training is ALSO a business.

And businesses must make revenue to survive.

This is why we see many trainers fail early on.

Not because they’re bad with dogs.
Honestly, many newer trainers are GREAT with dogs.

The issue is usually:
• Customer service
• Communication
• Follow through
• Business understanding
• Community presence
• Work ethic outside training sessions

If you’re a new trainer:
Learn from professionals.
Ask questions.
Understand the REAL cost of the industry before jumping in.

Ask yourself:
• Do I want a home-based business?
• Do I want a facility?
• Do I want to travel train?
• Do I want employees?
• What fits my personality and lifestyle?

Because all of those decisions shape your future.

Dog training is not just playing with dogs all day.

It’s long hours.
Problem solving.
Client management.
Business management.
Stress.
Communication.
Growth.
Adaptability.

But if you’re willing to learn ALL aspects of the industry, it can also be one of the most rewarding careers imaginable.

If you’re a newer trainer looking for hands-on mentorship, our Shadow Training Applications are open again.

🌐 wak9training.com
📞 Call/Text: 928-699-6905