ABOUT KLUG K9 TRAINING
Training built on experience, communication and dog in front of you.
I’ve spent most of my life working with dogs, and one thing has become clearer with every dog I’ve trained: there is no single approach that works for every dog or every family. Good training starts with understanding the dog and family standing in front of you, communicating clearly and building strong foundations that make sense in real life.
MY STORY
Dogs have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
I started training dogs when I was very young, working with my own dogs and just about any dog I could convince someone to let me work with. Over the years, that interest grew into experience across a pretty wide range of the dog world-from shelter and rescue work to veterinary care, grooming, companion-dog training, dog sports, working dogs and now Search & Rescue training my own search K9.
That variety has shaped the way I train today. I don’t believe good dog training comes from following one rigid formula or trying to make every dog fit the same mold. I pay attention to the individual dog, the handler, the desired goal, then build from there. Strong foundations, clear communication and thoughtful progression are at the center of everything I do.
I also believe a good trainer should never stop learning. I regularly attend training seminars and continue my education through online courses covering a wide range of dog training and related topics. I continue to train and challenge my own dogs as well, and my work with Search & Rescue has given me another opportunity to grow as both a handler and trainer. Working alongside my dog Deja as a SAR K9 team continues to reinforce many of the things I value most in training-clear communication, problem solving, adaptability and building dogs that can work confidently in the real world.
MY APPROACH
Clear communication. Strong foundations. Thoughtful training.
My training approach is balanced, practical and built around clear communication. I use all four quadrants of operant conditioning and believe both reinforcement and consequences have an important place in training. I teach dogs how to be successful, motivate and reward the behaviors I want, and use fair, appropriate pressure and corrections when needed. How those pieces come together depends on the individual dog, the handler and the situation in front of me.
The goal isn’t to simply get a dog to perform a list of commands. I want dogs to understand how to communicate clearly, and training to hold up outside of a controlled training environment. The skills we build should make everyday life with your dog better-not just look good during a training session.
Build the Foundation
Strong foundational skills give dogs and handlers something reliable to build on as training becomes more challenging.
Communicate Clearly
Dogs learn best when they can clearly understand what earns reinforcement, what doesn’t and what is expected of them.
Train for Real Life
Training should work beyond the training field. Skills are progressively challenged with greater duration, distractions, distance and real-world situations.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Klug K9 has always been a team effort.
My husband, Josh, has been part of Klug K9 from the beginning. While working his own full-time job, he spent many of those early years helping me with dogs, assisting with classes and lending a hand when he was available. Over the years, he’s stepped back from much of the training side and is only occasionally involved now, but his support has been an important part of Klug K9.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let’s put that training philosophy to work.
Explore the different ways you can work with Klug K9 and find the option that fits your goals best.