Why Nice K9?

I named it Nice K9 because I am always telling my dogs "nice" I use it as often as I do "good" . When your looking for a dog trainer I think its important that the trainers dogs are trained how you would like your dogs trained.

When asked what "kind" of dog trainer I am? I am an unlimited trainer it means I don't have limits to my training, I train the dog in front of me how it needs to be trained. As a trainer and dog owner dog neutrality is the #1 most important thing. My focus is helping owners understand how to show their dog how to be neutral around people, dogs and new environments.

I have always loved dogs but training dogs was not on my radar until I met the trainer who inspired me to train my dog to be my working partner and from there I was obsessed with all things dog. When I began training my dog Wilson in 2015, my trainer, Tim, taught me how to teach my dog. He taught us obedience, tracking, and detection. We really took to tracking and we spent thousands of logged hours tracking/ trailing to eventually pass the National certification for Search and Rescue with NSDA (National Search Dog Alliance). We had to pass that test every 2 years to remain active. We have had some great mentors along that journey and being a member of Search and Rescue was a huge accomplishment. We went on many missions and we both loved the work. He is the dog that taught me what it means to be partners with your dog.

In 2017 I started fostering dogs and that taught me a lot about reactivity, dog behavior and what's important and what's not. I tell ya, if you want to learn about dog behavior that's a way to jump in. Some dogs were sweet and easy but most had reactivity issues. We had one in particular that was fear reactive to people and dogs, Diva, a beautiful German Shepherd dog, she was adopted and returned 2 weeks later. She came back more fearful and scared. She is my dog Kam. We couldn't put her through that again, we decided to adopt her. We gave her a new name and started her new life, it is a journey. She used to loose her mind when she saw a dog or a person, patience and consistency and introducing tools and using them is how we improved that. I wouldn't expect her to ever be jolly and greet people, yet she is calm and knows she can trust me that I wont put her in an uncomfortable situation. She loves going for walks, she loves camping, she knows I will advocate for her when I need to. She isn't the dog that is comfortable going to stores, or busy places and I accept that. I have my 2 boys that love to go out and see the world, they are happy to be neutral/demo dogs. When I think about her, I think about how important proper socializing is for young dogs and if that's missed we do our best to teach them.

I have been to several seminars, workshops and classes:

Dogs emotion and Cognition- Duke University,

Monks of New Skeet workshop "The art of training your dog"

Terry Ryans' Clicker training Chickens camp

The Art of Nepopo ®

Dog Cognition Workshop -FordK9

Toy Play with Shade Whitsel

Tactical Veterinary Skills - Veterinary Tactical Group

Dog Cognition Instructor- FordK9

Detection, Tracking, Reactivity, Obedience, Competitive obedience, Engagement, Tactical Veterinary Skills, E Collar training, Protection, Herm Sprenger Prong Collars.

I have traveled to Alaska to assist in teaching a SAR trailing workshop, I have been to California, Oregon, and New York to attend workshops.

I feel very lucky to have met and trained under some of the best trainers who are well known names in their sports, people who have been competing in dog sports and dedicating their lives to dogs. I am always learning, I continue to go to a trainer myself, to learn the sport of Schutzhund.

Below are my dogs, each one of them has contributed to who I am as a trainer today.

Wilson is my Best Buddy that I call Mr. Perfect (till he is not). He is the dog that created the obsession with all things dog. He loves to learn, he wants to work, he will try anything, On top of being my working partner for search and rescue he is also a therapy dog. We have dabbled in Rally and competitive Obedience. We also earned a BH certificate in Schutzhund, CGC and AKC SAR title, and AKC Novice Rally title.

Mollie is our 17 year old Puggle. We happily adopted her from a friend who needed to rehome her when she was 7. She is now deaf and we are learning a new way to communicate. She is an easy going girl who enjoys being part of the crew.

The baby, Handsome Bruce he is a working line Czech German Shepherd. When I decided to bring him home I knew he would be my most rewarding challenge. When they tell you working line dogs are not normal dogs, they are not kidding. He is so smart, so immature, so fun and so hard. I am very proud of how I socialized him as a puppy, he is neutral, he is confident and he is polite. Currently he has a CGC and a BH.

Kam, she is the one that I can write a book about. We adopted her after fostering her in 2016. She was shutdown, sick and scared. I learned what to do and what not to do with a reactive dog, she taught me the most. She is the girl that I adore with all my heart and I think she feels the same.. She is now blind and teaching me more. I am so thankful for her in our life, the love she gives us is enduring.