Northern Bound K9

03/16/2022

Photos from K9 Command's post

03/16/2022

Things are starting to click for this looney toon 🐾😈

03/05/2022

Found this video from a year or two ago.

Watch it. Laugh at me. Then watch it again.

Leave a comment telling me if you see anything worth paying attention to, what it is, and why 😛🐾

03/01/2022

02/23/2022

PSA: Bitesports and PPD

Personal Protection Dog:
A dog trained to attack a person on command, sight, or inferred provocation. They are used to defend people, territory or property.

A PPD requires training. A dog used as a visual/audio deterrent (watchdog) is not considered a PPD i.e. a dog that alerts when someone is on the property usually by barking or you walking down the street and people leave you alone.

PPD are not recognized as service dogs and you cannot make personal protection a task a service dog employs.

Bitesports:
These are sports dogs and their handlers engage in that often have military/police or breed test history.

IGP (formerly known as Schutzhund and IPO) a three phase bitesports involving tracking, obedience and protection routines. Originally the breed suitability test for German shepherds. Other breeds do it too now most commonly Malinois. Titles include - BH (entry level obedience test all must pass prior to moving up), IGP1, IGP2, IGP3. Marked by increasingly more difficult routines. There are also tracking and obedience only titles you can earn.

PSA: Protection Sport Association. An American originated sport. Protection and obedience. No tracking. It is primarily a sport where Malinois and other herders excel. A bitesuit sport vs IGP which is sleeves. Titles include PDC (entry level obedience and protection) PSA1 PSA2 PSA3. The level one is a scripted routine with heavy distractions on field for obedience and a surprise scenario drawn at random from a list of 5 possibilities. The level 2 and 3 are off leash, no collar, unscripted with exponentially increasing difficulty including suited decoys on field agitating the competing dog.

Mondio: An FCI sport that originated in the late 80s. Mondio is again obedience and bitework, some nose work to find articles with scent (little wood exercise) but no tracking. Every competition is based on a theme (Star Wars, 90s etc). There is also an all breed Obedience and Jumps track and jumps can be lowered for the size of the dog. A suit sport. The dog works off leash with no collar. Levels are Brevet (entry level with obedience and protection) MR1 MR2 MR3; with each advancing level requiring additional and more difficult tasks.

French Ring: A protection sport originated in France. It combines bitework and obedience. It is a bitesuit sport as well. Both French Ring and Mondio allow cross over to compete in both sports. Titles include a Brevet (entry level
Obedience and protection) FR1 FR2 FR3.

There are more bitesports but these are among the most common/popular.

Bitesports of any kind require immense commitment. They also require the right kind of dog, and the correct amount of drive to work. Good nerves. Correct drives to be worked in (prey, civil, defense).

The most common breeds are Malinois and German Shepherds, with Dutch Shepherds coming in 3rd. Go to a breeder that has a history of doing the sport you're interested in and producing dogs that can do it, no matter what breed you choose.

Other protection breeds can work in the sports and do well (Beauceron, Rottweiler, Doberman etc) but the general rule when competing with an off breed is, you do it for the love of the breed, not the love of the sport. They often are harder to work and mature differently in drive and if a decoy/helper doesn't know how to work them correctly it can ruin a dog. Breed bias is very common in trainers, helpers/decoys, and judges in every sport.

While an 'off breed' can work it is typically a unicorn example of the breed and success is driven by a "perfect storm" of factors: the right individual dog, an experienced trainer that knows the qualities to look for, the ability to train those qualities, and access to a decoy who can work the dog correctly and a support network of a club that wants them to succeed.

These are very much Team Sports. You cannot do them alone. Look for clubs with affiliation - PSA club for PSA, USCA or GSDCA for IGP (German shepherds), DVG (for Mals and other protection breeds) USMRA for Mondio, NARA for French Ring.

These are time intensive sports both for training and travel. 2-3 hours traveling to and from club is not unheard of. With dedicated training you are looking at a minimum of close to two years before you are trial ready for entry level on average.

Price wise they can get expensive too. $100 for private lessons. Clubs can range from $250 a quarter to $250 a month on up.

While there are a few successful +R trainers (Shade Whitesel in IGP, Chad Byerly in Mondio) the majority of training in bitesports is balanced - prongs and e-collars are used. A club will want you to train similar to their style to give you the best chance of success.

Go to club before you think about getting a dog or even breed. Go more than once
Watch how they train. What they train. Not all helpers/decoys are the same. Some can only work Malinois. Others can do 'off breeds.' Some very valuable training decoys are very talented with working any breed and can adjust their style to suit the dog in front of them. Some clubs work closely with a certain breeder and you will be expected to get a dog from that breeder to be in their club.

Safety is key. Dogs caught wrong by a helper can be injured permanently. Knowing how to advocate for your dog is so important.

If this sounds like a lot of work (and it is) consider a watchdog instead (visual/audio deterrent).

Always: love the dog first, the sport second.

Copied from Jessica Deardorff, edited to correct and provide additional information by Savannah Langdon

01/21/2022

Dog with behavior problems?

If your dog hasn’t earned the luxuries in life, don’t give it to him.

If your dog is pushing you around and you make no changes, then why the heck do you think they’ll change?!

All meals? From your hand. Couch time? Nope. Place instead. Sleep in bed? NAH. Crate it is.

Train, don’t complain 💪🏼🐾

01/20/2022

It’s been a bit since I’ve introduced myself, and I have quite a few more of you apart of the family than when I started two years ago, so I figured it was time!

I’m Jenn, and I’m the owner and head trainer here at Northern Bound K9.
I have six dogs of my own (plus a cat) and a new human puppy, Scarlett.

I’ve been working with dogs and animals in some capacity for 10 years now, and actually started out in the veterinary field. I made the switch over to training and dog behavior in 2016 when I attended Starmark Academy in Texas.

Im originally from the Hudson valley, but our current home base is in Connecticut.
My clients have come from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts’s and more, and I’m beyond grateful for every single one of you.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask 🐾🖤

12/03/2021

Leash Walking 101

12/03/2021

Leash Walking 101

11/03/2021

Photos from Boston for the Dogs's post

09/30/2021

“Alexa, rake the leaves” 🍂🍁🍃

09/30/2021

The gang is back for some structured boarding!

Zeva, U*i, and Rigg’s stay will be filled with fun while all of their previous training is reinforced.

I love these kiddos ❤️

09/16/2021

Best buds only; dont get any ideas fellas 🐾

Best buds only; dont get any ideas fellas 🐾

09/16/2021

08/25/2021

Research.the.breed!

If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE my herding breeds. I love them for all of the things that make them good, but I acknowledge the potential for the bad (and totally see why they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.)

I feel pretty confident when I say that Hattie, Dory, and Tango are all exemplary example of their respective breeds. If you’ve met them, you’d probably agree.
I’ve had strangers and clients alike tell me “oh my gosh I want an Aussie/border collie/malinois” after meeting one of my three.

And to that I typically say, “no you don’t. You want Hattie/dory/tango.”

They’re all balanced, social, drivey and fun, but they were also a ton of work.
That balance and off switch didn’t come easily, that drive has the potential to turn into fixation and obsession, and keeping them happy and social had it’s obstacles at times.

All of this to say: if you meet a particular dog of a specific breed, PLEASE research the breed as whole. Figure out if that dog possesses the characteristics common to the breed, or if you’ve met an outlier.

It’s equally important that you’re a good fit for the dog, and that the dog is a good fit for you 🐾

07/20/2021

Photos from Team Dog with Yasmin, LLC's post

07/07/2021

When your dog comes home from a board and train, the training is just beginning with you. Just by sending the dog to the trainer to teach them does not mean you get to kick your feet up and do nothing and still have a perfect dog. It's actually the complete opposite, this is time for you to do a lot of work. Board and trains are by no means an easy fix. Yes, the advantage is that they learn new behaviors from a professional instead of both owner and dog trying to navigate at the same time with lots of confusion. But now the dog comes home to their house where they used to do whatever they wanted and had bad behaviors. The dog is thinking "great, I'm home. Rules are gone!" Now it is the owners job to show the dog that all that training the dog knows how to do, is here to stay and that you're going to make them do it too. This is why it's very important that owners listen to us at the go home, follow every single rule, and be very strict with boundaries when the dog first comes home. If you immediately let things slide thinking little things aren't important, then the dog will go right backwards. Especially if you didn't make them follow every rule in the first place. We don't tell you to do these things for the fun of it. Leverage is very important in their transition home. So little moments like letting the dog run out the door without waiting and looking, or letting them dive into their food bowl without the release- all matter in giving you leverage over them. The dog has to go "oh yeah I must listen to them before I do something". But if you let the little moments slide because they seem to not be a big deal, they add up.
When dogs arrive here, we immediately set all these rules and boundaries that become very clear to the dog because they are reinforced every single day. So if the dog goes home and sometimes you let things slide, the dog will always try to push the boundaries because sometimes you let them! This goes for everyone handling the dog. If there's a member of the family or even a dog sitter not enforcing their boundaries, they will be lacking and will think there's a way around the rules because some people let them get away with it. That is very confusing to the dog. For us, we do have multiple people handling the dogs but every one of us enforces the same rules. So there is no confusion to them based on who is handling them.
Don't forget, their picture of you was totally different when they left. When they arrived with us, they had no picture. We are a blank slate. So yes the dog has learned tons of stuff with us, but now they are going back to you and their previous picture they had. Owners have to change that picture and convince the dog that they are to be listened to and respected just as much as the trainer. You do not get there by letting them get away with not listening! Maybe down the line, you can let things slide more. But that is absolutely not in the first several weeks home. Dogs actually like predictability and boundaries. When they are left to make their own choices, they'll fail. So tell them what to do!

06/14/2021

😂😂😂

Photo credit 📸

06/05/2021

Photos from Chicagoland Dog Rescue's post

05/06/2021

Are you sending your dog mixed signals?
Are you expecting maximum results while putting in minimal effort?

Give this a read!

I want my dog to be social but not THAT social. I want my dog to be protective but ONLY when I need him to be. I want my dog to be my service dog and help me when I need it but also know I’m the BOSS. I want my dog to go potty outside but ONLY in that area. I want my dog to like other dogs but NOT get too excited when he sees them. I want my dog to like people coming in the house BUT know he’s not allowed to jump. I want my dog to let me take things away from him and he is NOT allowed to ever say no to me. I want my dog to be good with my children but not too friendly BUT ALSO don’t growl or get upset if they are too much. I want my dog to listen to me but I DONT want to have to use treats and I dont have a lot of time during the day. I want my dog to be able to be outside alone BUT I dont want to install a fence. I want my dog to be FINE at the vet but I don’t have time to bring him more than once a year.

I want I want I want I want. I need to break this. That behavior unacceptable. I can’t have that. He can’t ever do that.

This is why dogs are failing and this is why dog trainers are struggling. Expectations are skyrocketing, probably due to social media and the fact that we can see these 30 second “before and after” videos or everyone posts their perfect dogs, we never see the bad stuff. But as the expectations skyrocket, the dogs can’t keep up, and neither can we as trainers.

We need to change our language to what we would LIKE, HOPE FOR or PREFER INSTEAD, and also modify our completely unrealistic, controlling, and at times unnatural expectations of dogs today. People think because their dog doesn’t check all the boxes that they’re broken, or that the training isn’t working, or worse that they as humans aren’t doing a good job.

Everyone needs to take a breath. We need to break down what behaviors are not going to work and how we can manage them while we can work on modifying them, and what we have to just let be and laugh about later. We have to realize dog trainers aren't magicians, and as much as we can try, we can’t fix everything, immediately, and by tomorrow. Work, patience, consistency and understanding and looking at dogs as a LIFESTYLE is what is necessary for long term success. THAT’S how there is true change.

05/03/2021

I love puppies, yes I do.
I love puppies, how ‘bout you?

Baby Jack is here to learn the ropes of good boyhood!
Can’t wait to watch this sweet pup grow 🐾

05/03/2021

05/02/2021

Say hello to this Grizzly bear!

Grizzly likes to put on a pretty scary show when people come over: tons of barking, jumping, and erratic behavior.
His bark is definitely big and scary, but beneath that facade is an anxious mush that has got so much going on in his mind.

While here, Grizzly is not only going to learn to slow down and chill out, but learn productive ways to put his energy to use 🐾

05/01/2021

Welcome Harvey!

This distinguished chap is the sweetest guy (if he’s decided you’re part of his inner circle.)

Some of his favorite activities include barking at delivery drivers, protecting his new baby sister, and claiming all things food as his own.

We’re going to show Harvey that he doesn’t have to (or get to) control all of the things, and that life is much more fun living less high strung ❤️🐾

04/19/2021

I hear many owners and trainers talking about behaviors that are presented as being beyond the dog’s control. But over and over I see dogs making clear decisions about who they should and shouldn’t engage in “uncontrollable” behaviors with.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s seen this. So that begs two questions:
1/ Why do we continue to place decision-based behaviors in the uncontrollable catalogue?
2/ Why would a dog make different choices around different people?

I’ve written about this many, many times, and used many, many different examples. The uncertain substitute teacher versus the tough and seasoned pro, the grandmother with the “look” versus the softie doormat grandpa, the random stranger attempting to pull you over for speeding versus the cop...and many others.

While of course there are exceptions—there’s always exceptions—we give dogs far too little credit when it comes to discerning what behavior they’d LIKE to engage in versus what behavior they think would be better left NOT engaged in, and what’s behind these choices.

We don’t get to make dogs these magnificent, sensitive, deeply aware creatures, and simultaneously make them overly-simplistic, socially and consequence unaware, reaction machines who have no control over their decisions.

Perhaps it’s time we have some honest discussions about why dogs choose to push some and choose not to push others. Unless we’re still not ready to be honest. :)

04/06/2021

Can your puppy remain unphased by loud noises?

04/04/2021

Hoppy Easter 🐣

04/04/2021

Hoppy Easter from sweet baby Juneau ❤️🐣

03/24/2021

Want the ultimate adventure pup?
A dog that checks in on the trail, but can also walk nicely by your side on a busy sidewalk?

Get in touch and find out how today! 🐾

03/24/2021

Introducing the newest Disney princess: Placing beauty.

Get it? Instead of Sleeping Beauty?
BA DA TS 🐾

03/22/2021

Formally introducing RBG, Rosie Bea Gherkin, of the pickle variety.

This sweet little pup is sister of one of my favorite dogs ever, and I’ve already fallen in love with her ❤️

03/16/2021

Big ham making better choices each day (although he still isn’t thrilled about those choices 😂)

03/15/2021

I’m currently fostering this handsome guy, and I really really like him thus far. We’re working on his crate training and separation anxiety, and he’s doing great!

03/01/2021

Welcome miss Brooke!

Brooke belongs to two very dear friends of mine, and I’m incredibly excited to really get to know her over the next few weeks.

If you know me, you know I love herding breeds, and I love figuring out what makes them tick.

Here’s to getting sweet Brooke in a better spot mentally, so she can rock the dock with her parents and siblings again this year 🐾