Rising Starr K9

Rising Starr K9 Rising Starr K9 Dog Training: Real Training. Real Results. Veteran-owned | Balanced, personalized dog training for all breeds.

We value respectful and positive interactions on this page. To maintain a safe community, any content that is inappropriate or directed negatively toward this page, business, owners, or family will be removed. Repeated violations may be reported to the appropriate authorities. Thank you for helping us keep this space respectful and supportive.

— Rick Pedersen
Represented by Wagner, Falconer, and Judd, Ltd.

Your dog isn’t stubborn. Your dog needs clarity.“Stubborn” is one of the most common labels I hear — and it’s almost nev...
02/01/2026

Your dog isn’t stubborn. Your dog needs clarity.

“Stubborn” is one of the most common labels I hear — and it’s almost never accurate.

Dogs don’t ignore commands out of attitude or defiance. They respond to what’s clear, consistent, and predictable. When expectations change, feedback is late, or rules are fuzzy, dogs guess. That guessing gets labeled as stubbornness.

Clarity means the dog understands:
• what’s expected
• when it applies
• what earns reinforcement
• what happens when expectations aren’t met

When those pieces are clear, behavior stabilizes.

Structure matters — not as control or rigidity, but as a way to remove ambiguity. Predictable outcomes create understanding. Understanding creates calm, reliable behavior.

Most dogs want to do the right thing.
They just need the message delivered clearly, calmly, and consistently.

Clarity changes everything.
Latest blog link in comments:

— Rick
RSK9
Veteran-Owned
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

This week touched on a lot of different pieces of training, but they all come back to the same thing:Standards matter.Wh...
01/31/2026

This week touched on a lot of different pieces of training, but they all come back to the same thing:

Standards matter.

Whether it’s puppies, adult dogs, Intermediate work, CGC prep, weather, or scheduling — results don’t come from shortcuts or convenience. They come from structure, consistency, and honesty about where a dog is actually at.

That’s how RSK9 operates.

I don’t rush dogs into environments they’re not ready for.
I don’t run classes unless they’re set up to work.
I don’t pretend progress happens without follow-through at home.

That approach isn’t for everyone — and that’s fine.

But for the people who are willing to show up, do the work, and stay consistent, the results speak for themselves.

Enjoy the weekend. We’ll get back to work next week.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

Cold weather is part of life here.I train year-round, and sessions don’t automatically stop just because it’s uncomforta...
01/30/2026

Cold weather is part of life here.

I train year-round, and sessions don’t automatically stop just because it’s uncomfortable outside. Dogs still need structure. Owners still need guidance. Life doesn’t pause for perfect conditions.

That said, safety matters.

If extreme weather makes travel unsafe, we handle it like adults — early communication, clear decisions, and consistency. Not last-minute scrambling, not excuses after the fact.

Good training isn’t about perfect days.
It’s about showing up, adjusting when needed, and keeping momentum without creating chaos.

That’s how real-world reliability gets built.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

Real talk about training for a second.Training doesn’t fail because people don’t care.It fails because it gets treated l...
01/30/2026

Real talk about training for a second.

Training doesn’t fail because people don’t care.
It fails because it gets treated like something you “fit in” when life allows.

One session here.
A skipped week there.
No follow-through at home.

Dogs don’t learn that way.

Consistency matters more than intensity. Weekly sessions matter. Doing the work between sessions matters. Momentum matters.

That’s why I’m selective about how dogs move through training here. It’s not about being strict — it’s about being honest about what actually produces results.

If you’re ready to be consistent, the progress comes fast.
If not, things stall — every time.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

One of the most common things I hear from people with adult dogs is:“We should’ve started sooner.”Maybe.But starting lat...
01/29/2026

One of the most common things I hear from people with adult dogs is:

“We should’ve started sooner.”

Maybe.
But starting late isn’t the same as starting wrong.

Most adult dogs don’t struggle because of age. They struggle because expectations were never clear, boundaries were inconsistent, or structure came and went depending on the day.

The fix isn’t rushing into a class or throwing more stimulation at the dog.
It’s slowing things down, cleaning up communication, and building habits that actually hold up.

I work with a lot of dogs that didn’t start “on time.”
What matters is starting correctly.

If you’ve got an adult dog and you’ve been putting this off because you think you missed your window, you haven’t. You just need a better plan.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

A new Intermediate class starts this week.This isn’t a beginner class and it’s not a place to “see how it goes.”Intermed...
01/28/2026

A new Intermediate class starts this week.

This isn’t a beginner class and it’s not a place to “see how it goes.”
Intermediate is where foundations are tested — around distractions, other dogs, movement, and real-world pressure.

Dogs don’t start here.
They earn their way here.

That’s why one-on-one work comes first. It’s where structure is built, communication gets clean, and bad habits are addressed before they show up in a group setting.

When dogs move into Intermediate ready, the class works the way it’s supposed to. When they don’t, it becomes chaos — and I won’t run it that way.

If you’ve already been doing the work and you’re ready for the next step, this is where things tighten up and start to matter.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

Thanks to all supportotrs but escpecially our top supportors:Teale AspesletrtRick ConwaynkKc Sheehan aVictoria Boomgarde...
01/27/2026

Thanks to all supportotrs but escpecially our top supportors:

Teale AspesletrtRick ConwaynkKc Sheehan aVictoria BoomgardenklWilliam 'Red' PickettleLaura Bokarway, Kc Sheehan, Victoria Boomgarden, William 'Red' Pickett, Laura Bokar

One thing I see every year around this time:People wait too long to start training — especially with puppies.Not because...
01/27/2026

One thing I see every year around this time:

People wait too long to start training — especially with puppies.

Not because they don’t care, but because life is busy, the weather’s bad, or they think they need to wait for a class to open.

Right now, both of my usual puppy classes are paused until there are enough puppies to make the environment productive. That’s intentional. I don’t run classes unless they’re set up for success.

What often gets missed is this:
waiting for a class does not mean waiting to train.

One-on-one training is always available and is often the best place to start — especially with a brand new puppy. We can begin working immediately in a clean, controlled environment, with no other dogs, even while a puppy is finishing vaccines or getting a little older.

Early structure isn’t about obedience. It’s about habits, boundaries, and setting expectations before problems take root.

If you’ve got a young puppy and you’re waiting for the “right time,” reach out now. The work can start right away, and group classes come later when the dog is ready.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

People see RSK9 today and assume it showed up fully formed.It didn’t.Before there were programs, classes, or systems, th...
01/25/2026

People see RSK9 today and assume it showed up fully formed.
It didn’t.

Before there were programs, classes, or systems, there were years of mistakes, hard lessons, and dogs that taught me exactly what not to do.

I didn’t learn this work by getting everything right.
I learned it by being honest about what failed, what caused fallout, and what dogs paid the price for when standards weren’t clear.

This week’s blog is personal. It explains where RSK9 actually came from — the dogs, the decisions, the lessons, and why I won’t lower the bar just to make people feel better in the moment.

If you’ve ever wondered why I’m strict about structure, readiness, and accountability — this is where that philosophy started.

👉 Blog link is in the first comment.

— Rick
RSK9
Real Training. Real Results. No B.S.

Every good training journey starts the same way:Someone decides to stop waiting.Not because things are terrible — but be...
01/24/2026

Every good training journey starts the same way:

Someone decides to stop waiting.

Not because things are terrible — but because they want them better before problems pile up.

If puppy training is on your radar for this winter, the next step is simple: get clear, ask questions, and commit to doing it right.

The dogs who improve next month are being set up this week.

The goal of training isn’t perfection.It’s relief.Relief when your puppy listens.Relief when outings don’t feel stressfu...
01/23/2026

The goal of training isn’t perfection.

It’s relief.

Relief when your puppy listens.
Relief when outings don’t feel stressful.
Relief knowing you’re not guessing anymore.

The owners who get there aren’t special — they just commit before frustration sets in.

That’s the difference structure makes.

One thing I won’t do is drag people along.Training decisions — especially for puppies — need clarity on both sides. Owne...
01/23/2026

One thing I won’t do is drag people along.

Training decisions — especially for puppies — need clarity on both sides. Owners need to be ready, and I need to know the group can support real progress.

I’ll be making a call today on whether the upcoming puppy classes proceed as scheduled.

If you’ve been meaning to reach out and just haven’t yet, now is the right time. After today, the window may close.

Address

1643 Caroline Street
La Crosse, WI
54603

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 4pm
Tuesday 7am - 4pm
Wednesday 7am - 4pm
Thursday 7am - 4pm
Friday 7am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rising Starr K9 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Rising Starr K9:

Shortcuts

Share

Category