Family First K9

10/23/2026

Going to be a great training night for anyone involved in working dogs personal protection, WDA, PSA, or police K-9!

Big shout-out to my buddy Matt. I’ve used him as a decoy for my classes at the Police K-9 Conference in Las Vegas and the K-9 Cop Conference in Nashville, and we’ve brought him in for training with our local agency.

Matt knows how to read the dog in front of him, balance drive states, and tailor the work to that individual dog. From sport to police work and personal protection, he brings knowledge, versatility, and purpose to every session.

If you have a chance to train with him, take advantage of it!

09/21/2026

She’s right he is not the gingerbread man!
Another clip from our demonstration at Kids Fest in Calhoun, Kentucky, hosted by Calhoun Chiropractic Center.

Rome is a stable, social, environmentally sound German Shepherd who can work in large crowds, tight spaces, and on major stages—including the Police K-9 Conference, K-9 Cop Conference, and Kentucky Jailers Association Conference. He transitions confidently from one task to the next, wherever the job takes him.

Matt is wearing a fitted semi-competition suit not an oversized, bulky training suit and Rome performs the task without hesitation.

This is why proper selection, genetics, equipment, and training matter. Family First K9 has been part of the working-dog community for more than 25 years.

07/16/2026

After my last live, several people asked if I would be willing to work a Corgi and document the process. This 2-year-old Corgi is currently in her third scent work session.

As many of you know, I prefer to build value to odor from the very beginning rather than relying on heavy pairing. My preference is a self-learning system that allows the dog to discover that odor is what leads to reinforcement.

In this session, I’m utilizing the Treat & Train for indirect reward. The tone marks the correct behavior, and the reward is delivered away from me, helping the dog focus on the source of odor rather than the handler.

I’ve set out four odor pods—one unfortunately is off camera. Of the four pods, one contains the target odor, one contains a food distraction, and two are blanks.

Watch as she investigates the food distraction, quickly realizes it doesn’t pay, and continues working the problem until she discovers that target odor is the answer.

As I continue documenting the progress of this Corgi and other non-traditional scent work breeds, I’ll also be exploring how the Treat & Train can be incorporated into training protocols for handlers with limited mobility. The ability to mark and reward independently creates opportunities for effective training while reducing the physical demands placed on the handler.

Short sessions. Clear communication. Let the dog solve the puzzle.

06/20/2026

Missed our Free Dog Treat Event at Blooms Etc.?

Don’t worry—we captured the entire experience for you!

Join us as we take you behind the scenes at one of our favorite local businesses, Blooms Etc., where we made homemade dog treats and handed them out to dogs visiting the drive-thru. In this video, you’ll get a tour of this charming coffee shop and gift shop, meet some wonderful people, and learn the simple recipe we used so you can make these treats at home for your own four-legged companion.

Whether you’re a dog lover, coffee enthusiast, or simply enjoy supporting local businesses, this is a video you’ll enjoy.

If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by Blooms Etc. for delicious drinks, homemade sweets, unique gifts, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that’s truly one of a kind.

Check out the video below and let us know what you think!

The link to Blooms Etc.’s page can be found in the video description.

We had an amazing time partnering with Blooms Etc. to make homemade...

06/15/2026

Today we’re using the K9 BSD3 to work with an aggressive alert dog.

An aggressive alert is a dog that scratches or bites at source when it finds odor. In the sport dog world, this can lead to faults , or even an excusal from competition. In the working dog world, it can result in property damage, liability concerns, or a dog ingesting something potentially dangerous.

One of our favorite ways to address this behavior is with the K9 BSD3. Because it’s a remote reward system, we can instantly mark and reinforce the exact behavior we want at source. The durable construction of the BSD3 also allows us to safely take advantage of frustration during the learning process.

As the dog works through an extinction burst, we can allow it to offer different behaviors and immediately reward the desired response. This creates exceptional clarity for the dog and often produces rapid learning without reducing motivation.

The result? Less stress than many correction-based approaches, more clarity, maintained drive, and a cleaner, safer indication at source.

Train smarter. Reward precisely. Create clarity.

06/09/2026

For those attending the AKC Tracking Workshop this weekend, the hotel offering the best pet-friendly rate is the Days Inn in Madisonville, Kentucky, located at 1900 Lantaff Boulevard. The hotel features an indoor pool, is pet-friendly, has a restaurant on-site, and is conveniently located near several other local dining options.

The tracking portion of the workshop will be held at Myer Creek Park, located at 1 Myer Creek Lane in Calhoun, Kentucky, approximately a 25-minute drive from the hotel. If you use Apple Maps or Google Maps, you should have no trouble finding either location.

We will be getting started bright and early each morning. Our goal is to introduce approved tracking harnesses and leashes, review AKC tracking rules, teach participants how to lay tracks properly, and then spend plenty of time working dogs in the field. We have two busy days planned, packed with learning, hands-on experience, and plenty of fun to help you get started in the exciting world of tracking.

We are fortunate to have an outstanding instructor, Tony Ginter, leading the workshop. I look forward to seeing everyone there and getting started.

Please plan to arrive around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Safe travels, and we’ll see you this weekend!

05/10/2026

New gear is now available for your scent work training needs!

Slip leads offer quick control and easy handling, while the Open Top Food Reward is perfect for fast, efficient reward delivery during training sessions.

Message us or visit our website for availability, or to place an order!