iTK9 Education

Are you feeling lost trying to train your dog with all the conflicting advice out there? From endless treat-based approaches to outdated, overly harsh methods, it’s hard to know what will truly work. At iTrainK9, we take the guesswork out of dog training with our proven, balanced training techniques. This guide will give you actionable tips for tackling common challenges like leash pulling, aggression, reactivity, and more. Whether you're a first-time dog owner or dealing with complex behaviour issues, we’ll help you create a confident, well-behaved companion.

A well-trained dog doesn’t just happen; it’s the result of consistent practice and using the right techniques. At iTrainK9, we emphasize balanced training methods to create a harmonious relationship between you and your furry companion. Daily training not only strengthens your bond but also ensures your dog becomes a well-mannered member of your family. Let’s dive into five essential training exercises you should incorporate into your routine every day.

Board and train programs are an incredible solution for transforming your dog’s behaviour, but misconceptions often hold people back. Are you worried your dog might not recognize you after training? Or perhaps you’ve heard that these programs use harsh methods? In this blog, we debunk the top 10 myths about board and train programs and explain why they’re the most effective option for busy families and professionals. From addressing your dog’s specific needs to ensuring long-lasting results, iTrainK9's balanced training approach offers peace of mind and guaranteed positive change.

Threshold training is a key method to establish boundaries, enhance impulse control, and strengthen your bond with your dog. By teaching them to pause at doorways or crates, you ensure safety, reduce anxiety, and promote focus. Discover how our proven balanced training approach, including Board & Train programs, can help transform your dog's behavior. Learn more and start your dog’s journey to success today!

Wondering how long it takes to train a puppy? The answer might surprise you! From house training to advanced commands, we break down the key timelines and share expert tips to make the process faster and stress-free. With iTrainK9’s proven Puppy Blueprint program, your puppy can master obedience and behaviour in record time. Ready to transform your pup into the perfect companion? Start here!

Prepare your dog for a new baby with training tips to ensure a smooth transition, reduce anxiety, and create a safe, balanced environment for your growing family.

Excessive barking can be a major challenge, whether at home, on walks, or in social settings. At iTrainK9, our balanced training approach addresses barking by focusing on structure, discipline, and proven tools to help your dog achieve a calm and responsive state. Here’s a guide to help you train your dog not to bark, built on methods that promote clear communication and long-term results.

Discover how to choose the best dog training collar to enhance your dog's behavior. Learn about e-collar benefits, tips, and iTrainK9's proven training methods.

Does your dog always seem to have your back? Overprotective behaviours in dogs can be a comforting sign of loyalty, but they can also become challenging if not managed correctly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the signs your dog is overprotective of you, why these behaviours develop, and practical tips to keep them balanced and secure. From spotting the difference between watchful loyalty and stress-inducing overprotection, to building a stronger, calmer bond, this article offers insights every dedicated dog owner should know. Ready to help your dog thrive in a balanced, happy state? Read on to learn how or book a consultation with iTrainK9 today!

Discover why your dog is overprotective and learn tips to help them feel secure. Explore behavior causes, management techniques, and professional training options

Learn how prong and e-collars, when used correctly, provide safe, effective training for on-leash and off-leash control, improving behavior and dog-owner communication.

Struggling with your dog's anxiety or reactivity? Discover 5 reasons why a board and train program is the best solution for lasting behavioral change and peace of mind.

Struggling to fit dog training into your busy life? iTrainK9's board and train program is the solution. We address leash pulling, reactivity, and anxiety while you focus on your routine. With over 3,000 dogs trained, our personalized approach ensures lasting results, giving you peace of mind and a well-behaved companion without the time commitment.

Like humans, dogs are deeply affected by their environment. From the sounds they hear to the pace of life around them, where your dog lives plays a significant role in its behaviour, stress levels, and overall well-being. 

Dealing with an anxious dog is no small task. Whether your pet is trembling at the sound of thunder or struggling with separation anxiety, finding effective ways to ease their stress is crucial. 

A board and train program is an excellent start for getting your dog on the right track with their training and behaviour. However, it’s just the beginning. Many pet owners fail to realize that the work continues when your dog comes home. 

There’s a lot of information about dog training on the internet, and sadly, some of this information can be either ineffective or misunderstood. Recently, it has come to our attention that the process of using “fear” when training one’s dog is something that many pet owners misunderstand.

Training a puppy or a new dog to use a crate in your home and ensuring they do not fear it can offer many benefits. These advantages extend to you and your dog, fostering a harmonious living environment and contributing to your dog's overall well-being. 

Leash reactivity in dogs can be a significant annoyance for pet owners. Not only does it cause stressful walks, but it can also lead to unforeseen accidents that put your dog or others at risk. You may have experienced before that dogs that lunge, bark, or growl at other dogs or people while on a leash can create dangerous situations, making what should be a pleasant experience a nerve-wracking ordeal. 

Dealing with a dog that exhibits behavioural issues can be incredibly frustrating. You might have a dog that listens perfectly to commands during training sessions but still shows signs of aggression, anxiety, or other troubling behaviours at home. It’s important to understand that obedience and behavioural issues are not the same, and addressing one does not necessarily solve the other.

Many families want to own a dog, but pet ownership involves much more than affection and companionship. Bringing a dog into your home carries significant responsibilities and long-term commitments.

Training an older dog can be a uniquely rewarding experience. While the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" may be at the top of some people's minds, the truth is it's never too late to instill new skills and reinforce positive behaviours in an older canine companion. 

When teaching your dog obedience commands, it's crucial to ensure they respond accurately to your cues. While it might seem harmless if your dog decides to perform a different command, such as going down instead of sitting when commanded, addressing this behaviour from the onset is essential for effective training and preventing future complications.

Creating a strong connection with your pet not only provides the happy, core memories and companionship that many dog owners crave, but it also helps make other aspects of owning a pet easier, such as training.

Training a dog is not just about teaching it tricks or obedience commands; it's about fostering a healthy relationship between you and your pet and between your dog and other pets, preventing any issues or accidents from occurring. 

Whether you’re a new dog owner or have cared for a few pets, it’s always important to find a training program so you can work with and train your dog. This not only allows for proper behaviour from your dog but also lowers the chance of accidents or mishaps.

The joy of watching our dogs freely roam, exploring the world around them, is unparalleled, especially since off-leash freedom is a luxury for our pets and a necessity for their physical and mental well-being. 

Finding an adequate source to gather dog training advice from can be complicated. You know it is important to train and work with your pet; however, you may not know where to go for the best advice.

Explore the importance of setting boundaries for your dog regarding bed sharing in our latest blog. Learn about the potential behavioral issues and sleep disturbances it can cause, and discover effective training strategies to establish healthy limits for a happier home and pet relationship. Ideal for pet owners seeking balance between affection and discipline.

Walking your dog should be a positive experience that fosters a deeper connection and shared joy. However, the reality for many dog owners is a walk that often involves the challenge of leash reactivity. 

After a few days of owning their pet, a new dog owner will focus on training their dog. While this step is crucial in ensuring that you raise and train your dog to follow commands and respond with acceptable behaviour, one small component is crucial before you begin training. That step is engagement.

Are you finding it difficult to train your dog, even with a consistent approach? We’ve worked with many pet owners who find that despite their constant efforts, they still aren’t achieving the desired results from working with their pets. 

If you’ve gone through the process of training your dog before, you probably understand that this task takes a lot of work, time, and patience so that your dog can fully understand which behaviours are acceptable and which are not. 

The decision to welcome a dog into your home and family is exciting and demanding. It requires a commitment to understand and embrace the distinct traits inherent in each dog breed. 

As many dog owners know, owning a dog is a big responsibility. And it’s one that extends beyond companionship, as it is the obligation of every pet owner to ensure the physical and mental well-being of their dogs. 

Owning a dog can be an incredibly fulfilling experience, but when you find yourself with a dominant dog, it can come with unique challenges. Dominant behaviour in dogs can present itself in various ways, often causing obstacles to obedience and harmonious living, either within your home or in certain environments, such as when taking your pet for a walk. 

Socializing your dog is a vital aspect of responsible pet ownership. With proper socialization, you can help prevent your pet from developing anxiety or fear of other dogs and develop strong socialization skills and good behaviour. When working with your pet to socialize with them, it is important that they are exposed to the situation in a positive manner so that they can develop the necessary social skills that they will need to navigate various situations confidently. This, however, does not mean allowing your pet to meet any dog in any environment. The safety and security of your pet should always remain paramount when considering socialization opportunities. 

Training plays a huge role in shaping a well-behaved and obedient dog. One common behaviour that owners may encounter is food or toy guarding. While it can be concerning to witness your pet exhibit this behaviour, especially if you’re a household that has small kids or that has a lot of friends and family visiting, it's important to understand that guarding is a natural instinct.

Dog training is not just about teaching commands and behaviours; it's also about creating a positive and focused atmosphere for your pet, especially when they are in an intense or training environment. As a responsible dog owner, it’s important that you, the owner, understand the importance of training your dog and how equally crucial it is to monitor and control your energy during training sessions. 

As a dog owner, you’ve probably noticed that your dog or puppy has certain impulses, such as pulling at the leash to chase an animal like a squirrel or sniffing and coming around when food is on the table. Though these are normal impulses, your pet will not learn to refrain from acting on them unless taught to do so.

Crate training is a valuable and humane method to provide your dog with a safe and secure space of its own. What many dog owners fail to understand is that dog crates are not punishments; rather, they are positive tools that mimic a den-like environment, offering comfort and a sense of security to your pet. 

Establishing a strong connection with your dog goes beyond words. As responsible pet owners, it is crucial to understand and interpret our dogs' body language. 

As a pet owner, it’s essential to work with your dog to ensure that they lead a happy, healthy and full life. However, this can be challenging to complete when your dog struggles with certain fears and anxieties, such as the fear of other people.

Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, as a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your pet is properly trained. This ensures the safety of not only your dog but also your family, friends and other dogs and people you encounter daily.

If you have a dog that shows aggression towards other dogs, it can be a challenging and distressing problem. From barking to biting and pulling on the leash, dog aggression is a serious problem that must be promptly addressed to prevent other dogs, people, or even yourself and your family from getting hurt.

Bringing a new puppy into your life is an exciting and joyful experience. But as a responsible dog owner, it is crucial to understand the significance of early training for your new pet. While training a dog as young as eight weeks may seem too soon, it's pivotal in establishing good behaviour, setting boundaries, and preventing any unforeseen accidents from occurring while they are young.

Dogs are naturally impulsive creatures, often acting on their instincts without considering the consequences. While this may be "cute" or engaging to watch when your dog is a new puppy, without training your dog to control their impulses and follow your commands, this habit can become incredibly dangerous, especially as they get older.

Dogs are typically very social animals, so many pet owners are taken aback when their dog shows fear or severe aggression toward other dogs. Since many new pet owners have not had the chance to properly socialize their dogs, which we've seen an increase in thanks to COVID, the number of dogs fearful or aggressive to other pets is increasing.

Most dogs are active and playful by nature, which can sometimes result in your pet suffering a twisted paw, a cut, or a hurt leg here or there. When an injury occurs, many dog owners wonder how active their pets can be and if they can still work with and train them.

Since dogs are social creatures, it's not uncommon to hear them occasionally bark, as it is their main form of communication. Whether they are hurt, tired, excited, or happy, you can typically find your pet barking as a way to communicate and express their feelings to you. While this is a normal reaction and day-to-day occurrence, excessive barking is not, especially after you command them to stop. 

As a dog owner, you want your pet to be happy, healthy and at ease in their environment when you are and are not physically around them. This is why many dog owners feel at a loss when their pet experiences separation anxiety. Not only is it troubling for the family and the pet, but it can also be a nuisance when trying to leave your dog for a set amount of time.

Training a new puppy or an older dog can seem like a daunting task to both new and experienced dog owners. It doesn't matter whether you have the goal to socialize your pet with other dogs or have little kids in your home; you'll want to ensure you train your dog effectively to behave in any situation.

Transitioning one's home to accommodate a dog and a baby can be overwhelming. Not only are new parents concerned about their baby's safety around their pet, but they also want to maintain a happy and healthy bond and environment for their dog. However, without the proper training and preparations, it's easy to feel like it's impossible to achieve both.

Welcoming a new puppy into your home can be exciting, but it can also lead to many questions as you learn to navigate your puppy's behaviour and habits. One of the most common concerns with new dog owners is about their puppy biting, wondering if they are playing or being aggressive.

An aggressive dog can not only pose a challenge, making it difficult for you to be around other dogs or friends and family, but it’s also dangerous. If you have or know an aggressive pet, you probably have seen them react quickly or unexpectedly, sometimes biting or trying to harm someone or something that’s in the way. This serious problem needs to be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.

Essential to the well-being of your dog, training is an integral part of being a dog owner, just as much as providing them with love and care. Like us, dogs need education and structure to thrive, leading to happy and healthy family companions. Can you relate? Whether you have adopted a role as a dog owner, considering training or re-training, it's important to know the style and method of training you choose has a considerable impact on the result. 

There are different methods of dog training; board & train, private, group, virtual, or do-it-yourself, some of which you likely have already tried. You may have found the training didn’t stick, noticed behaviour changes and bad habits have returned, or maybe you’re new to dog training and are shopping around for the best training style for you and your dog.

Ask any of our clients, and they will all agree; our Board & Train programs are the most effective way to train your dog and change their behaviour. This method of dog training allows our professional trainers complete access to your dog to work on unlearning and re-learning new habits, teaching and improving obedience, and providing your dog with the proper socialization. This helps to ensure positive change in your dog's behaviour and improves the relationship and communication between you and your dog.

Is being an alpha different from being a leader? Instinctively, dogs follow a social hierarchy where there is an “alpha” and their role is to keep the entire pack in line. Naturally, dog owners feel the need to follow suit, becoming the alpha in their households. 

2 weeks can be enough time to train your dog. However, it depends on your goals. Will your dog be able to do agility competitions from just 2 weeks of training, probably not. Will they be able to learn the basics and build a strong foundation? Yes, most dogs will be able to get the basics down. However, there are many factors that come into play. Perhaps your dog is older and has spent years being unknowingly conditioned towards unwanted behaviour. If this is the case, they may need longer.

Training your dog simple commands is a great starting point in your training and will serve as the foundation for all your interactions moving forward. Being able to take control of your dog in any situation and feel confident that they will obey is the key to a happy and rewarding relationship. To understand how long it will take your dog to learn and master basic commands you need to decide on a methodology and identify what you will be teaching them.

Knowing what you should ask a potential dog trainer can help you find the best training option for your pet. However, you should understand that there are many ways to train your dog. This article is only meant as a starting point for your research. You need to educate yourself further and decide on what you are most comfortable with.

Finding good service providers can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The same analogy lends itself to finding a good dog trainer. A great first step would be to educate yourself on how to train a dog and the different approaches there are. Without some basic knowledge of how to train a dog, you won’t be well equipped to make a good choice. Your first instinct may be to find the cheapest dog training option, however we strongly advise against that being your driving decision factor. You’ll also want to identify any issues your dog may have so you are ready to discuss them with your potential trainer. 

Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and so is their training. Although a course may be a specific period, you need to understand that good behaviour comes from consistency and repetition. Training never ends. Nonetheless, building a proper foundation and correcting behavioural issues, assisted by a professional, requires time. If you fail to provide enough time for your dog’s training, unwanted behaviours could develop, and you will be worse off than when you started.

Sometimes, to the dismay of humans, dogs use their barks to communicate in reaction to a trigger. This can get very frustrating when your dog is an “over communicator” and is triggered often. There are several reasons your dog may be an excessive barker and identifying why they bark so much is the first step in helping them learn to remain calm when a trigger is in their vicinity.

The type of dog you have, and their temperament can play a role in the type of training you decide to pursue. Beyond that, you need to assess what you want to get out of the training. Perhaps you want to meet other dog owners and make friends for you and your canine companion. Or maybe you need to address a particular issue you have been having. Below, we go over some of the pros and cons of group training and private training and try to narrow down what your best option is.

Just like us humans, dogs can get anxiety. Some forms of their anxiety might be triggered by events and can be considered causational – meaning their symptoms will only manifest during or after an incident has occurred and will likely go away until that event happens again. Other forms of anxiety are more deeply rooted and can even be semi-permanent attributes of your dog.

Dogs can typically learn and understand 160 – 200 words. When training your dog, you should first concentrate on essential commands such as sit, down, stay, come, etc. However, there is so much more that you need to understand to be able to provide the best support to your dog as they learn to become happy and obedient family companions. As such, we have compiled a list of common phrases and words you should understand to help you become the best owner you can be.

We have something to tell you: If you have interacted with a dog before, you have trained one. What do we mean by this? Well, have you ever pet a dog to calm them down when they are excited? Have you given a friend’s dog food off your plate when they beg? Have you let your dog out of the crate when they whine? Have you gotten off the couch when your dog growled at you?

Many owners are uncomfortable with the very idea of disciplining their pet. This may be in part due to the growing prevalence of the all-positive community, which often advocates for a punishment-free approach. However, the truth is that proper correction — when applied appropriately and with proper timing — can work wonders in preventing poor behaviour. This is because as a species, dogs think in black-and-white and do not do well living in the grey area. They need direction, consistent structure, and healthy boundaries.

If you are considering getting a puppy, we urge you to really ask yourself, “Should I Get a Dog?” before you make the commitment. It’s not easy to make sure that a puppy grows into a friendly and obedient adult dog. It is a serious responsibility, and you need to be dedicated to their wellbeing and training.

You just got a new puppy, and you are wondering what you should be teaching them. We’ve got you covered. You should see this as just a simple guide and dive deeper into our site to get a better idea for each of the different elements. In a best-case scenario, you will enlist your new puppy for obedience training to help him/her become the best companion they can be.

Save your future self some trouble and start potty training as soon as possible. Below we outline some steps you can take to make the transition to a house-trained dog a little bit easier. Make no mistake though, it’s not easy. You may have tired nights/days, accidents all over the house and probably get very frustrated. Take it easy, you got a puppy, and you must put in the work. Read on and good luck!

Perhaps you just brought home a rescue dog or inherited a family member’s dog. Maybe, you’ve neglected training and are only now taking the time to properly engage. Regardless of the reasons, the question is, can you train an older dog and how to go about doing so. The good news is, training is a life long journey between you and your pet – so the answer is yes, you can train them no matter how old they are.

Meeting a new puppy can be very exciting and a bit overwhelming. Not only for us but for the puppy as well. Keep in mind, a dog is considered a puppy for several months into its life – ranging from 9 to 15 months. If a meeting is handled incorrectly, you could harm your relationship with the puppy and potentially cause behaviour issues that will stay with the dog for its life. Therefore, it is important to understand the animal you are approaching, learn the signs of stress and know when to approach and when to leave the puppy alone.

Most likely, you are going to be around other people and pets throughout the life of your dog. A protective and possessive dog can be a hindrance on enjoying your life to its fullest and make bringing your dog places difficult. If your dog acts out in an aggressive manner or makes your visits with friends and family uncomfortable, you’re going to want to assess and identify the issues at hand.

When you are training your dog, you need to keep them motivated and, most importantly, interested in what you are trying to teach them. This is where high value rewards come into play when implementing positive reinforcement. A dog performs a positive behaviour and is rewarded with a treat for doing so.

Once you have mastered the basic commands with your dog (sit, stay, come, place, heel etc), you may want to have some more fun with your training and introduce tricks. This is a great idea as it can strengthen the bond between you and your pet while stimulating them mentally and teaching them self control. Some of these will even incorporate physical and mental exertion which can help with potential behavioural issues by draining excessive energy. Beyond that, it is always nice to show off what a great dog you have to friends and family with a party trick.

Walking on leash is a basic skill every dog should harness (pun intended). You should start training your dog to walk on leash as early as possible. The earlier the better because it gives less opportunity to build poor habits. That said, not every dog that needs to be trained is a puppy so below you will find some general guidance on proper leash training.

At iTK9 we use a Balanced Dog Training approach and are very transparent in how we achieve such great results with our clients. Below we attempt to set the record straight on why all positive training doesn’t work best for most dogs and why a balanced approach works better.

It’s tempting to find the least expensive option when you are searching for a product or service. In our experience, dog owners share the same sentiment when searching for a trainer. On average, our clients have seen 3 trainers before they come to us. So, it needs to be asked – how do you assess if a dog training program is affordable?

Dog Behaviorists are professionals who have the skills and knowledge to identify and help dogs with their mental and emotional problems. These underlying issues can often cause undesirable actions and result in a dog “behaving badly”. Bad behaviour can often be attributed to not understanding your dog’s routed problems and putting them in scenarios where they shouldn’t be. That said, proper training (after understanding the route issues) can help you gain control of situations or avoid them completely.

Does your dog tend to herd you, your kids, or even other pets? This can be extremely frustrating at times due to the constant nips at your ankles and the tripping hazard your dog presents. Fortunately, there are options available to you. As with all training advice offered on our site, you need to be aware that only a trained professional can assess the route causes of your dog’s behaviour and provide you with the necessary care and instructions to change its behaviour. We encourage you to contact us to speak to a professional about your dog’s herding problems.

Getting a dog is a major commitment for the dogs entire life! Some of the areas I will be discussing are finances, space, training and commitment. It is important to understand what it takes before being impulsive and getting puppy because “its cute”.

There is not much better than having a healthy and well-balanced relationship with your dog. For those of you who have one, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you that do not, you can still have one! As with anything worthwhile having a healthy and well-balanced relationship requires a lot of work.

Understanding why your dog offers specific behaviour can help you, as an owner, find a solution to common dog behavioural issues. One of the mistakes owners make is to allow poor behaviour go on for too long. It is always best to address the behaviour the first time its displayed. If your dog is allowed to rehearse the behaviour than it is continuously learning that that specific behaviour is allowed.

Socialization is not what many think it is. Socialization is when your dog can co-exist in any environment without the need to interact with another person or animal. It is when your dog is neutral. A dog park or daycare setting where dogs are constantly playing with no rules, boundaries, obedience, or structure is FAR from proper socialization. In fact, many of these types of dog’s struggle with some type of behavioural issue. A topic that can be talked about in the future.

Educating yourself is important and encouraged but it is easy to make mistakes if you have not been trained by a professional. Sending your dog to a professional trainer not only drastically lessons the chances of training mistakes it can make you and your dogs life much less stressful.

Your children are part of the family and need to know how to interact with your dog, reinforce good behaviour and correct bad behaviour. Getting the kids involved with providing the necessary structure not only teaches your dog valuable skills and discipline but it also teaches them as well.

A lot of dogs are very reluctant to get into the bathtub. To ensure your dog meets its grooming needs it is especially important to teach your dog to tolerate having a bath.

Although many owners and trainers prefer to use treats there are many other ways to train your dog without the use of treats. Sometimes a dog is just not food motivated! Therefore, its important not to be one dimensional in your training. Having a solid understanding of many different motivational techniques is the best approach.

Classical conditioning is when a dog associates an involuntary response to a stimulus. For example if I said the word “yes” and followed with a treat, after many repetitions eventually as soon as I say “yes” the dog would start to salivate. The stimulus is the word “yes” and the involuntary response is the salivating.

Before we start teaching behaviours like “sit”, “down” or “come” we start by building a communication system through the use of verbal markers. We like to use the word “yes” to mark a behaviour and then follow with a treat. When charging the mark we say “yes” and then deliver a treat. We continue this process until yes becomes very meaningful to the dog. (hundreds of repetitions).

The approach we take with every dog is with an open mind. No dog is ever the same, meaning the approach to each individual dog must be different.

If you are struggling with any behavior modification such as reactivity, anxiety, insecurity, any form of aggression, etc. you are in for a journey, even after professional training.

If you are heading out of town you’ll need to find a safe place to board your dog. Finding one can be a stressful process. You need to vet any kennel thoroughly, even one that’s been recommended. After all, making sure your dog is well attended to when you have to leave him or her behind for a time is one of the most important responsibilities that comes with having one. While most boarding kennels provide good to excellent care there are some that should be avoided at all costs. Below we’ll provide some tips on how to tell the difference between the two.

There are so many benefits to training your dog right now such as establishing a proper communication system and building a balanced relationship. Without communication, what do you really have? Being able to understand what your dog is telling you and for your dog to be able to understand what you’re asking of him is crucial!!!

Too much unearned affection or affection given at the wrong time gives control to your dog and rewards behaviour we don’t want.

You must challenge your dog not only physically but mentally as well. Only exercising your dog physically will create more problems.

Socializing is actually having your dog calm and relaxed around other dogs without the need to interact or display any type of negative behaviour.