Our Services

What We Offer

Board & Train Programs

DK9’s method behind our customizable Board & Train Programs, allow your pup to learn and grow in a similar environment to what they have at home. We provide a home away from home style training program with your pup. All of these programs work out of our residential home located in Shelton, CT. Our method has shown extreme success in progress and a much easier transition of respect and routine back to your home.

Basic Puppy

This program is for pups ages 8-16 weeks (2-4 months). While training with us your pup will learn the following skills:

sit, down, bed, public/dog socialization, house-breaking, crate training, stay, leash skills, and manners (not jumping)

For this program we use a 2.25mm size Herm Sprenger pinch collar as well as the early stages of clicker training.

Intermediate

This program is for pups ages 4 months and up. While training with us your pup will learn the following skills:

sit, down, bed, public/dog socialization, crate training, stay, advanced leash skills, manners (not jumping), and attention commands

For this program we use a 2.25mm size Herm Sprenger pinch collar as well as clicker training.

Behavior Modification

This program is for pups ages 6 months and up. Addressing specific issues like excessive barking, lunging, aggression, and more. While training with us your pup will learn the following commands as well as behavior modification skills:

sit, down, bed, public/dog socialization, crate training, stay, advanced leash skills, and manners (not jumping), and attention commands

For this program we use a 2.25mm size Herm Sprenger pinch collar as well as clicker training and a dominant collar.

Stay & Train Programs

During a DK9 Stay & Train program, your pup will have a daycare experience like no other. While experiencing all things that our Board & Train programs offer, they will be able to retain all the skills they learned during their daycare style Stay & Train program but go home with you at night. This style training program is a drop off in the AM and pick up in the PM system ensuring your pup is stimulated and active during the day while learning new skills. While you are at work, so is your pup! Pick them up after a long workday and enjoy your night together!

Advanced/Off-Leash

This program is for pups ages 6 months and up. While training with us your pup will learn the following skills:

sit, down, bed, public/dog socialization, crate training, stay, advanced leash skills, and manners (not jumping), attention commands, and complete off-leash skills

For this program we use a 2.25mm size Herm Sprenger pinch collar as well as clicker training and an E-Collar Technologies ET300 or ME300 stimulation collar.

Our Tools & Equipment

Herm Sprenger Pinch Collar

For all of our programs we use a 2.25mm size pinch collar from Herm Sprenger for on leash training. This is a natural form of correction your pup receives that is closely related to the “scruffing” the mother dog would give her pups if they were playing too rough or nursing too hard. We prefer this type of correction because it is an instinctual one that is widely understood by puppies and still keeps your relationship with your pup one of mutual respect.

We use the same size for all breeds of dog that we train.

E-Collar Technologies ET300

For our Advanced/Off-Leash program we use either an ET-300 or ME-300 (depending on your pup’s size) from E-Collar Technologies. We find that this collar can act as an “invisible leash” while working your dog off-leash. It acts as an emergency “invisible leash” so you are always able to get your pup back to you. The methods in which we introduce this collar to our training dogs involves a period of time of just wearing it then slowly working into it while on a long line to reinforce the concept at hand.

We specifically only use this brand for our off-leash training due to the stimulation rather than an electric voltage shock. Some off-leash branded collars provide an actual electric voltage shock while E-Collar technologies shock provides just that, the “shock factor,” of ignoring a command the first time around. This can be more related to stimulation therapy and a sharp pins and needles feeling.