RangerPROJECT's New Home

Ranger has a place to call a permanent home. He is now in charge of kisses, licks, and tennis ball management. Although we had high hopes for Ranger, our expectations is not always the best for the dog. After an evaluation for a career of service to a local community, we realize Ranger might be better off giving kisses than trying to apprehend bad guys. Rather than start any type of advanced training, it was best decided to go the safe route and find him a good home.  Ranger now has a wonderful family dedicated to a life of Exercise, Obedience, and Affection. He has a huge yard to run around in until he passes out.

Ranger and his new family

 Ranger will definitely be missed by not only myself but also Bandit. Ranger was relentless in his play with bandit and really showed bandit how to play once again. Bandit's ability to play was something that had been missing for quite some time, and Ranger taught him to trust a dog again. We will miss his eagerness to please and playful bows to other dogs. I will not miss you chewing of my boots and bassinet. 

Bandit and Ranger hanging out.  

A special thank you to Joe Nick for respect and trust you have in me and my abilities to train and care for your dogs! 

Ranger now has two brothers and a sister to play with on a daily basis. Ranger is getting spoiled by his family and getting his own house built just for him! This dog house will be insulated and equipped with air vents and carpet. Below are pictures sent in by Ranger's family showing the love he has. 

Ranger Brother

Ranger Sister

Ranger Sister giving kisses

Ranger Brother belly rubs

Ranger relaxing! 

Helping dad built the new house! 

Checking the measurements and specs to ensure they are following township code.  

They approve of the new structure!  

On behalf of Joe Nick, Myself, and the Mid-Atlantic K9 team; we wish Ranger the best and most fulfilling life. Remember Exercise, Obedience, and then Affection. 

-Sam Valenza,  Jr. 

KenjiPROJECT

Our newest client is a 10 week old miniature schnauzer. Kenji's owner has done the smartest thing hiring a dog trainer early on in the dogs life. Kenji is a very smart puppy and that has picked up on marker training very quickly!!! 

KenjiPROJECT hanging out on the front porch.  

KenjiPROJECT already mastering the "DOWN"  

KenjiPROJECT working on the stand command. Or we use the term "Pop-Tall" 

Please stay tuned to see more picture of KenjiPROJECT out socializing and doing environmental training sessions all throughout Philadelphia!

DashPROJECT K9 Nosework

Dash, a year old German Shepherd, has been working on his clove oil Scentwork for just over a month. Take a look at this 4 minute video of dash in a open field doing Scentwork. Watch his head turns which are indications he is picking up the the scent. 

K9 Nosework is the easiest and most fun exercise your dog can do. Your dogs nose is their strongest asset they have. Utilize it and have them work it. 10 minutes of Nosework is equivalent of running for almost 45 minutes. I encourage all dog owners to enroll in a Scentwork class with your dog. Builds companionship, bond, and earns trust with your dog.  

Call us at 267-685-MAK9 to start your class today!! 

RangerPROJECT's Environmental Training

When we took Ranger into our program, it was known that he had a fear of water. Not much scares him, but water and hoses were not his thing. A little over a week into our program and his is overcome the hose. This was accomplished by first taking his bowl outside, and placing it near the hose. Not ever turning the hose though, we used a water bottle and squirted the water into the bowl. This squirting mimics the intensity of water coming from a hose and into a bowl. And giving him a supply of water that way.

Next Step, while squirting the water in the bowl, and ranger loving it, we turned the hose on low and began filling the bowl up. Every time he stuck around and smelled the house and licked the water; we would mark and then reward his behavior.  And very quickly he associated the hose as a positive experience, thus making it more likely to occur again in the future. 

As for swimming, creeks, and shallow waters we used my personal dog Bandit, Ranger's favorite toy kong on a rope, and lots of praise.  So I found sometimes a dog learns best by watching another dog do something. So we went for a hike and Ranger watched the intensity of bandit swimming in the creeks and rivers of pennypack park. He gets to see how much fun Bandit is having and wanted to have what he has. The next step was playing tug with his kong along the riverbanks and gradually getting closer and closer to the water. Eventually when his drive and focus is so high that all he cared about is the kong, then we get him to run full speed at us and before he realizes it ranger and I are in the creek. It might last a second or two and he realizes where he is, and run back to shore. However lots of praise and high pitch enthusiastic emotion will let the dog know the immediately preceding the praise was awesome. 

Now just over a week or so into our environmental training and socialization Ranger has learned it is fun to play in water!! Be sure to water the YouTube video in HD

Ranger retrieving a stick from the Pennypack Creek.  

#RangerPROJECT

Ranger is a 14 month old German Shepherd. He is our newest project and possibly the next candidate for Police K9 Patrol School. He is still a pup, and yet has an incredible amount of ball drive. His temperament is one to rebound very quickly and overcome fears on the second try. Ranger will work for a ball,  a towel, a tug, and has learned to take his treats during marker training very easy from your hand. His obedience is coming along very nicely. We work mostly on environmental and socialization to ensure he is not afraid of any surfaces. 

Ranger hanging out with his #eliteK9 ball

Each day Ranger and I work to achieve a different skill or trick. Whether it be simple sit to rolling over. 

All obedience starts in a distraction free environment.  

The head tilt will get them every time. It is impossible to not "aww"  when the dog gives the tilt of the head. 

Stay with us as we continue to work and train with our newest project. A special thank you goes out to Joe Nick for the opportunity to evaluate, test, and train this pup in preparation of a wonderful career ahead of him.  

Trick Training Seminar

What a fabulous time we had at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.   Look for future classes at CapableCanine.com. Dr. Cindy Otto is a great instructor. She has a solution for every problem or situation in which a dog may be hesitant to do comply with your verbal commands. She does a great job getting your dog to create the muscle memory before adding a command. Her knowledge, experience, and down to earth personality make her the ideal instructor for almost anyone. Novice to Experienced instructors can learn from her. This was my first time working with Dr. Otto and I strongly suggest any and all dog trainers to at least attend one of her seminars.  She addresses dogs training from an angle most owners never think about. 

Bandit learning to do the Chipmunk. This strengthens the core of a dog.  

Bandit learning the sit to stand. The blocks are used to keep his front paws in place and work the back legs to push up.  

Working on Bandits stability and strengthening his front legs.  

What looks stupid to us can be a good test and challenge for our dogs. I learned something as simple as a box makes a dog use his back back legs. Most dogs don't realize or have their back leg awareness. They can't just walk into the box, they have to consciously lift their back legs one at a time into the box.  

FATHER'S DAY SALE

All dad's that sign up between now and June 15th will receive 50% off training sessions. Hurry Call and get signed up. 215.740.5819 is the only number you need to know when its about DOGS.