REAL K9 Training LLC

07/16/2025

Please help us congratulate Melanie on completing Atlas' Trainer Academy and becoming an Atlas Certified Trainer! Melanie has spent over a decade helping both ends of the leash reach their full potential. She helps people with puppy selection, early socialization, obedience, public access, and task training.

Melanie also volunteers with us as a Team Facilitator and we are so grateful for her support and dedication. We are thrilled to now call her an Atlas Certified Trainer!

You can learn more about Melanie and the services she provides here: https://atlasdog.org/melanie-wonneberger/

Interested in becoming an Atlas Certified Trainer too? Don't miss out on our June/July PROMO for a special discount on the program!

07/15/2025

07/14/2025

🎉🐾 Big feelings, big brain, and a heart ready to learn… meet our newest student! 🎉🐾

Say hello to Lilly—this gorgeous German Shepherd/Aussie Cattle Dog mix is the latest VIP (Very Important Pup) joining the R.E.A.L. K9 crew! 💛🐶

Meet Lilly—a young German Shepherd/Aussie Cattle Dog mix with a brilliant brain 🧠 and some Big Feelings 💥 about other dogs. The little ones? Easier to handle. But the bigger dogs? Let’s just say Lilly has Opinions. 😅

Her dedicated parents have already put in some great work (huge kudos to them! ⭐)—but now they’re ready for a bit more hands-on support to help Lilly feel safer and more confident. And that’s where I come in! 🎓🐾

🌟 What I love about Lilly? Watching her think. You can practically see her brain whirring 🛞 as she figures out shaping games and starts understanding how to work with her humans instead of worrying about the world.

She’s already gotten a great start with both physical 🏃‍♀️ and mental enrichment 🎯 thanks to her awesome mom—we’ll just be fine-tuning a few things to help Lilly feel her best.

Excited to support this sweet, clever girl and her family as they keep building trust, skills, and confidence together! 💛🐕

07/13/2025

✅ Solution Sunday!

Answer: C — Let Curiosity Lead, Not Pressure. 🧀🐾

If your dog suddenly reacts to something like a trash can—freezing, staring, refusing to move—it could be for one of two very valid reasons:

1️⃣ That thing wasn’t there yesterday! (Or at least they didn’t notice it before.) Dogs are masters of routine, and new or suddenly suspicious objects can throw them off. Maybe the trash can moved, smells different, or is catching the light just right. It’s totally normal for them to go “Uhh… nope.”

2️⃣ They might be in a fear period. Puppies and even adolescent dogs can go through developmental stages where they suddenly become more sensitive or fearful of things that never bothered them before. It’s not “bad behavior”—it’s biology.

✨ The key is: don’t push, don’t pull, and don’t lure them into something they’re unsure about.
Instead:
• Let them look, sniff, and explore at their own pace
• Reward any small sign of bravery (even just a glance toward the spooky thing!)
• Keep your vibe calm, upbeat, and pressure-free

🎯 Confidence doesn’t come from “getting over it”—it comes from safe experiences and the freedom to make choices.

💬 Has your dog ever had a “what is THAT?!” moment with a completely random object? Share your story!

Trash cans, garden gnomes, balloons in the wind—we’ve seen it all.

That’s where I come in!
👋 I’m Melanie with R.E.A.L. K9 Training, and I help dogs learn that the world isn’t so scary after all. We build confidence, boost curiosity, and turn everyday weirdness into everyday

07/12/2025

07/11/2025

🐾✨ Certified. Experienced. Here to Support Both Ends of the Leash. ✨🐾
 
Exciting news! I’m now officially a Certified Service Dog Trainer through Atlas Assistance Dogs! 🙌
 
This certification means a lot to me—not because it’s a new beginning, but because it reflects the years I’ve already spent in this field. With over a decade of experience working directly with service dogs through nonprofit organizations.  It’s a way to back up my hands-on experience with credentials, and to show that I bring both the knowledge and the real-world skills to support teams at every stage of the journey.
 
🦮 As a service dog handler myself, I understand how life-changing the right dog—and the right support—can be.
🎓 As a certified, positive reinforcement trainer, I offer ethical, force-free training that builds confidence and connection for both dog and human.
 
Whether you’re just starting to explore if a service dog is right for you, looking for help selecting a potential prospect, or already working with a dog and needing structure, I’m here to help. I support teams from early foundation work through public access and task training—and together, we’ll find the training path that fits your goals.
 
I also support Atlas’ Client Certification Program by volunteering as a Team Facilitator. In this capacity I work with Atlas clients to support them in their final 9 months of service dog training helping them learn to self-advocate, teach their dog disability tasks, and helping the person and dog be successful in the environments they frequent. Atlas program requirements are here: www.atlasdog.org/client-handler-dog-team-certification/.

Remember, if you aren’t ready for their program, need help finding the right dog, or have goals other than certification, I can work with you as a private trainer to get you to where you want to be.
 
But whether you go through my company or through the Atlas Program, the important thing is:
👉 You’ll be getting experienced, ethical guidance from someone who truly understands both ends of the leash.
 
📍 Based in your local community
💻 Virtual options available nationwide/client

Let’s build confident, capable teams—together.

07/11/2025

🐾🎉 Stop the scroll… we’ve got a brand-new bouncy student at R.E.A.L. K9 Training! 🎉🐾

Say hello to Ash—the newest (and possibly zippiest) member of the R.E.A.L. K9 Training family! 🐶🔥

🌀 At just four months old, Ash is a joyful blur of paws, wiggles, and boundless springer energy. He hasn’t technically heard of impulse control yet—but don’t worry, we’re about to change that!

🛏️ We’re working with his awesome family to bring a little more balance into his busy puppy life—adding structure, sleep, and enrichment to help him grow into a thoughtful, well-rounded young dog.

🎯 In between zoomies, we’re laying down the foundation for polite manners and focus games that build his ability to think before he leaps (or at least pause for half a second 😄).

🐾 Ash is a total blast to work with and we’re thrilled to be part of his training journey. He’s got big potential—and an even bigger personality—and we can’t wait to see all the progress he and his people make together.

💬 Drop a warm (and slightly wiggly) welcome for Ash below! ⬇️

07/10/2025

🌟 Think About It Thursday

“But he knows how to sit…” — Every dog owner, everywhere.

Sure—your dog can sit in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean they’ll sit when the pizza delivery person shows up with pepperoni-scented magic. 🍕🧙‍♂️

Dogs don’t generalize like humans. To them, a sit in the kitchen ≠ a sit at the park or during chaos.

✨ Pro tip: Practice everywhere—driveway, patio, bathroom, upside-down if needed. Control the environment in new places first to set your dog up for success.

❓What does “control the environment” mean?
Try the park when it’s quiet and gradually work up to busier times. Start with the distracting pizza far away, then slowly decrease the distance as your dog succeeds.

💪 Repetition + new locations = reliability.

💬 Where does your dog totally forget their training? Spill the tea—I bet we’ve all been there.

07/09/2025

🎉 Recall Edition: Because “Come Here” Shouldn’t Mean “Let’s Play Tag”

Raise your hand if your dog thinks “Come!” means “Catch me if you can!” 🙋‍♀️🙄

Here’s the thing: if you’re always the one chasing, you’re training your dog to stay away (oops).

✨ Flip the game:
✅ Say your recall cue once
✅ Turn and run the other way like you’ve got a rotisserie chicken in your pocket 🍗
✅ Throw a party when they follow—treats, praise, dance moves—whatever works

🎯 When “Come” means fun every time, your dog will actually want to do it.

💬 What’s your recall word? “Come”? “Here”? “COOKIEEEE!”? Drop it below!

07/06/2025

✅ Solution Sunday!
Answer: B – Always trade up! 🥓
Teaching “Drop It” with positive associations means less guarding, more cooperation, and safer outcomes.

🎯 Practice at home with toys and high-value treats before it matters!

💬 Want my step-by-step drop-it training guide? Message me and I’ll send it your way!

07/05/2025

🐾 What Would You Do Weekend Challenge!
Your dog picks up a mystery object on a walk (uh-oh!) and won’t drop it. 😱

What’s your response?

A) Pry their mouth open
B) Trade with a treat
C) Yell “DROP IT!”
D) Let them have it—it’s already in there…

💬 What’s your instinct? Comment below—I’ll share how to handle it kindly and safely tomorrow.