Paddy's Puppies

04/23/2025

Fantastic day working protection dogs in this beautiful spring weather. Always love catching a super fast leg dog. Irma is getting older but still getting after it. It’s not about how quickly you do something but how well you can execute it.
Thanks karikoch6463 for letting me work Irma. Photo credits to the fantastic
📸 koda.between.chapters📸

09/01/2024

Keep your dogs healthy! This is a great visual as a reference.

Many of you know we are huge proponents of keeping your pets lean and fit. Unfortunately (particularly in the States), many people don't know what a lean dog is supposed to look like. Owners of healthy, lean dogs are always being told their dogs are "too skinny" when in fact they are not. We are just used to seeing overweight dogs and think that's normal.

Here's one of our favorite visual comparisons from malnourished (too thin) to obese. The middle two pics are healthy lean dogs. From the side, you should see a nice tuck behind their ribs and a noticeable hourglass waist when looking down on their back. And for some short coat dogs, yes seeing one or two ribs is OK!

Keeping your dogs at the low end of their healthy weight range will not only help their joints and prevent disease, studies have shown that dogs which are kept at a lean weight, live two years longer than overweight dogs!

📷 Thanks Midwest Canines for this great visual. ♥️

08/18/2024

On the last day of my honeymoon, my wife and I got the news that a new litter of Beaucerons were coming into this world! 🐕 🌎 7 gorgeous lil bear cubs: 3 harlequin males, 3 harlequin females, and 1 black and tan female.

To say Zoë is over the moon at us getting a harlequin male is an understatement. I don’t think she was able to sit still the whole flight home from Rome. That’s like 10 hours y’all 😂

Xerxes x Zada have produced another beautiful looking litter and I am so happy to see the ENS work that Ellen Douglas is already starting with them. I have been so impressed with the communication from Casey Nowtash at Royale Beaucerons and the care for this breed she has is wonderful.

From one adventure to another this year has been so amazing for my wife and myself. I thank everyone of you that have been a supporting part of it and will continue watching this family of ours grow.

My goal when starting this page was to document my growth as a trainer of both pet and working dogs, while dropping educational nuggets along the way. The joy and excitement that I get when teaching people how to clearly and consistently communicate with their dogs and seeing that light bulb moment 💡 happen is so fulfilling. That is only the human half of this equation, I say the harder half.

Dogs are such a reminder to live in the moment and be present. Focus on the now and drain every bit of happiness you can from life. Seeing the growth from such a wide variety of dogs is crazy to me. Not just variety of breeds but a variety of temperaments. The anxious ones who just want to run and hide becoming confident enough to start enjoying the world around them. The fearful ones who want to bark or attack everything around them realizing that I’m there to protect and guide them. The confident ones that are all gas learning that maybe a brake pedal isn’t the worst thing 😂

Working with dogs has brought a passion out of me that throughout my early adult life I never knew existed. Thank you Mountain State K9 Academy for building me into the trainer and the person I am today.

08/10/2024

07/25/2024

Come out and join me for our Beginner Agility class!

End of Summer Blues getting you down? 🍂 Fall into our Beginner Agility Class! Full of excitement and encouragement, this class is designed to positively introduce all Agility obstacles to your dog while having a fantastic time! Call 970-353-0778 or go online at mountainstatek9academy.com to sign up now.

Dates: Every Thursday from 09/05 - 10/10
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Cost: $400
Slots Available: 15

04/26/2024

04/21/2024

Nice walk on this crispy cool morning! Gotta put in some work for the rest of the month to catch up. Almost halfway to my goal. Ahsoka hates posing for pictures. She would much rather be sniffing around!

04/09/2024

Fundraiser walk for the month has gone GREAT! Best part of my job is getting to walk with different dogs whenever I want. Sophie was super tired after the mile, but she is loving the warmer weather.

04/05/2024

Someone found a big stick today on the walk! 5 out of 30 miles down.

04/04/2024

Today’s walk was separate but we both got our mile in. Ahsoka was on the treadmill and I went golfing 🏌️‍♀️ with some friends. Beautiful Spring day so we took advantage.

04/02/2024

Long days at work doesn’t mean you can slack on your commitments. Find the time and push through. Ahsoka had a blast being off leash and running around. Hope she still has energy for Agility.

03/28/2024

Always looking for ways to help the people who do so much for us. A mile a day is easy 💪💪

Help us make a difference

03/23/2024

🐾Timing, Motivation, and Consistency: The Pillars of Balanced Dog Training!🐾

Whether you’re incorporating positive reinforcement or corrections, the principles of timing, motivation, and consistency remain crucial in balanced dog training. 🎯

🕒 Timing: Mastering the timing of rewards and corrections ensures clear communication with your pup. Whether it’s a well-timed treat or a gentle redirection, timing is key to reinforcing desired behaviors.

💡 Motivation: Understanding what motivates your furry friend is essential for effective training. Whether it’s treats, toys, or praise, finding the right incentives helps keep training sessions engaging and productive.

⏰ Consistency: Consistency is the cornerstone of balanced dog training. Establishing clear boundaries and expectations helps your pup understand what’s expected of them and builds trust in your leadership.

Remember, by combining patience, empathy, and balanced techniques, we can help our canine companions thrive both mentally and emotionally.