K-9 Connection

I’m three-​quarters of the way through «Puppy Manners» class with my very affable, yet not always obedient Shih Tzu, and am VERY IMPRESSED with the K-​9 Connection trainers. Let’s just say Lexi won’t be valedictorian of her graduating class this month as she’s outshined by a very astute apricot poodle and a host of «working dogs» who’ve mastered basic commands with fitness and finesse.
K9 Connection is a professional, experienced, woman-​owned business (bonus points for that!) with a variety of classes to meet your dog training needs.
The trainers are very personable, get to know the dogs and their owners very well, and offer lots of personal guidance along the way. And, while I don’t expect my dog will advance to agility training (she’s a Shih Tzu after all!), the K9 Connection team has expertise in this and more. But let’s face it, training is *really* for the owners as much as the dogs, so there’s that!
K9 Connection was recommended to me by a friend, and I will return the favor here and by word-​of-​mouth to anyone in search of dog training services. Two «paws» up for a quality program!

We rescued a Chihuahua-​Jack Russell who seemed so submissive until about three weeks in, when his ‘real’ personality came out. (Lucky for him, he’s cute.) In a moment of desperation I signed the wow-​wow up for obedience boot camp with K-​9 Connection. After one class with Kelly I realized we had gone all wrong training our first dog.
This place has a major emphasis on positive reinforcement. Novel idea training your dog to love his name regardless of how it’s said. Our former dog was trained in Boston with an emphasis on tone. Positive tone = good dog, negative tone = bad dog. Yelling for our dogs to come produces completely different results.
Each week is progressively structured, building on the previous. Classes are around $ 25/​hour and follow the same general formula:
*discuss issues
*practice previous learnings
*show new
*practice new
*play with your pooch
*show new
*practice new
*obstacle course fun time
The facility is a large open space with two different pens so classes can run simultaneously. The front of the house is excellent at responding to emails and following up with placement and scheduling. We are ready for the next round.