Elite K9 Training Ranch

Elite K9 Training Ranch Awarded Best of Yavapai 2024 and providing you and your dog the most unique and successful dog training experience in the area.

Too funny not to share, or at least I thought it was funny. During the eval and check in on Thursday, when I asked for h...
06/21/2026

Too funny not to share, or at least I thought it was funny.

During the eval and check in on Thursday, when I asked for her humans to show me her place command, this is what Birdie showed me.

While I appreciate her unique style, this is not completely acceptable.

šŸ¾ Wags is back for a staycation!I always enjoy having this handsome boy around. My relationship with Wags goes back abou...
06/20/2026

šŸ¾ Wags is back for a staycation!
I always enjoy having this handsome boy around.

My relationship with Wags goes back about five years to when I first had the opportunity to work with him.

Over the years, weā€™ve built a great relationship, and itā€™s always fun when he comes back to visit. One of the best parts of this job is getting to watch dogs grow up, mature, and become familiar faces that feel more like old friends than clients.

Wags settled right back in and is already making himself at home. Looking forward to spending some time with this good-looking guy before he heads back home.

Welcome back, buddy! šŸ¾ā¤ļø

06/20/2026

Birdie arrived a couple of days ago for her Board & Train, and for now, weā€™re taking things slow.

Because Birdie is an insecure and defensive dog, building trust comes before everything else. Itā€™s easy to get caught up in obedience, leash work, and behavior modification, but none of that matters if the dog doesnā€™t feel safe enough to learn.
Right now, my focus is on helping Birdie understand that Iā€™m fair, predictable, and someone she can trust. Every interaction, every kennel session, and every training opportunity is a chance to build confidence and strengthen our relationship.

One thing thatā€™s important to understand is that just because a dog is insecure, untrusting, or defensive doesnā€™t mean they need to be coddled. Dogs like Birdie need clear information, fair boundaries, consistency, and direction.

Confidence grows when a dog understands what is expected of them and learns they can successfully navigate pressure without falling back on old habits.
Progress with dogs like Birdie isnā€™t measured by how fast we move. Itā€™s measured by the little victoriesā€”softer body language, better choices, less defensiveness, and moments where trust starts to replace uncertainty.

She doesnā€™t know it yet, but weā€™re going to be friends.

Stay tuned as Birdie learns that the world isnā€™t quite as scary as she thinks it is.

Not all dogs like all dogs, and that's okay.The dog world is very different from ours. Dogs communicate through body lan...
06/20/2026

Not all dogs like all dogs, and that's okay.

The dog world is very different from ours. Dogs communicate through body language, energy, space, and social interactions that many people don't even notice. Just because two dogs are friendly doesn't mean they'll automatically become best friends.

Some dogs naturally connect with certain dogs more than others. Some enjoy playful, outgoing personalities, while others prefer calmer, more respectful companions. Sound familiar?

Humans are much the same way.
We don't like every person we meet, and we often gravitate toward people whose energy matches our own. Dogs are no different.

The goal isn't to force every dog to love every other dog. The goal is to teach them how to coexist respectfully, communicate appropriately, and make good choices around one another.

Friendship is a bonus. Respect is the requirement.

06/19/2026

Birdie arrived yesterday for her Board & Train, but this isnā€™t our first time meeting. I first worked with Birdie several years ago during a couple of private lessons.

Birdie is an insecure and defensive dog who has developed a pretty solid pattern of leash reactivity over time. She also resource guards her humans.

Right now, something as simple as getting her in and out of the kennel can be challenging. In fact, itā€™s a little too much to film at the moment because I need both hands free and all of my attention on helping her work through it successfully.

The good news? Birdie doesnā€™t know it yet, but weā€™re going to be friends.

Over the coming weeks, weā€™ll focus on helping Birdie become more trusting, less defensive, more confident, and calmer when faced with pressure. Sheā€™ll learn that the world isnā€™t quite as scary as she thinks it is and that making better choices can become a habit.

Oh, and did I mention she likes to attack the vacuum?

Weā€™ll definitely be working on that too. The vacuum is just one of many situations where Birdie struggles with impulse control, and helping her learn how to slow down, think, and respond differently will be a big part of her journey.

Stay tuned as Birdie learns that confidence, trust, and good decisions are skills that can be taught.

Itā€™s the best feeling when you finally get their focus.For dogs like Lu, the world is full of distractions, excitement, ...
06/19/2026

Itā€™s the best feeling when you finally get their focus.

For dogs like Lu, the world is full of distractions, excitement, and things that seem far more interesting than their handler.

But the moment they choose to tune everything else out and check in with you, thatā€™s where the real training begins.

Today, Lu worked on slowing down, focusing up, and learning to follow instead of leading. Those little moments of eye contact and engagement might seem simple, but theyā€™re the foundation for everything that comes next.

Focus first. Everything else gets easier from there.

06/18/2026

Sometimes doing nothing is everything.

Teaching a dog how to be calm on command is one of the most valuable skills they can learn. In a world full of excitement, distractions, and constant motion, learning to simply relax, settle, and do nothing is a skill in itself.

A dog that can turn off is often happier, more focused, and easier to live with. Calm is a behavior worth teaching. Board & Train Lu.

I had the pleasure of meeting adorable 8-month-old Sadie and her dad for an evaluation today. Sadie was adopted from a s...
06/18/2026

I had the pleasure of meeting adorable 8-month-old Sadie and her dad for an evaluation today. Sadie was adopted from a shelter when she was just 8 weeks old, and these two are already off to a fantastic start.

Dad has put in a lot of great work with her so far and is simply looking to help Sadie become the best version of herself.

His goals are a leash manners, reliable recall, better listening skills, an off switch when itā€™s time to relax, and polite manners when guests come over.

Most of all, he wants Miss Sadie to grow into a well-mannered, confident companion and the very best pittie she can be. Iā€™d say these two are headed in the right direction.

I look forward to helping with their training journey.

06/16/2026

Recall work with Maverick is coming along nicely.

One thing I always tell people is that a recall can look different depending on your goals. Are you simply happy that your dog is listening and coming when called? Or are you looking for a competition-style recall with a perfect frontal sit every single time?

Right now, Iā€™m more concerned with understanding and reliability than perfection.

In Maverickā€™s case, he has developed a little habit of returning almost to a frontal position and then flopping over. šŸ¤·šŸ½ā€ā™€ļø While itā€™s pretty classic Maverick behavior, itā€™s not something I want to reinforce long term, so weā€™re working on breaking that pattern and building a cleaner return.

At this stage, Iā€™m happy to see him making the choice to listen, disengage from what heā€™s doing, and come my direction when called.

Thatā€™s a huge step for a strong-willed young dog.

Folks, a solid recall can literally save your dogā€™s life. It can prevent them from running into traffic, chasing wildlife, approaching the wrong dog, or making poor choices if they ever get loose.

The reality is there is no magic wand. A reliable recall is built through communication, consistency, repetition, and a relationship where your dog understands that coming when called is not optional.

If you want that level of trust, understanding, and reliability with your dog, youā€™ll need to put in the work too. Training doesnā€™t stop when your dog comes homeā€”it continues through the relationship you build together.

Train with purpose, live with balance.

06/14/2026

Maverick is starting to walk the walk.

What youā€™re seeing here isnā€™t just a dog walking nicely on leash. Itā€™s the result of communication, consistency, leadership, and a growing understanding of expectations.

Maverick is a strong-willed dog. Heā€™s intelligent, determined, and not always quick to agree with every decision made for him.

Dogs like Maverick require clear communication and fair, consistent expectations. When those things are missing, they often feel the need to make their own decisions.

Over the last few weeks, weā€™ve been building a language together. Heā€™s learning what I want, understanding how to follow direction, and discovering that life becomes much easier when he stays connected to his handler.

The next step is transferring that relationship and communication to his humans.

Training isnā€™t complete when a dog learns it with me. Success happens when the owners learn how to communicate the same way, maintain the same expectations, and continue leading their dog with confidence and clarity.

Maverick is making great progress, but the real magic happens when what weā€™ve built together carries over to home.

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Paulden, AZ

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