Kool K9 Dog Training

16/10/2026

This is my wonderful agility club. Come down and join us!

15/10/2026

It is so important to allow a dog to sniff. Wherever possible I like to use a longer lead and allow the dog to choose where it wants to go and when it wants to sniff. And what is very interesting is that the dog is just as tired as if you had been walking a longer distance and not allowing them to sniff.

14/10/2026

Look at this fantastic emergency stop!

14/10/2026

It is good to allow your dog to watch and ‘take in’ what they are seeing. Then the dog is rewarded when it looks away from a distraction

14/10/2026

It was the last night of the current Level 2 class and we visited Hamilton Lake to see how they did. Next Level 2 class start Wednesday 28th October see bio. # Level 2 # dog training

13/10/2026

When we play tug with a dog we want then to realise that playing with us is fun. This builds the relationship that you have with your dog as you are part of that ‘fun’ picture. However you don’t need to hang onto the toy the whole time. Play then drop the toy then encourage your dog back to you so that’s game can resume.

13/10/2026

Stanley is a 5 month old puppy and he gets a bit enthusiastic in the recall and jumps up when he approaches. I suggested to ‘Em that she reward him ‘low’ from her hand so he doesn’t get the chance to jump.

06/10/2026

Join the Kool K9 Level 1 class starting Tuesday 13th October and you to can have a dog that really calmly past another dog!

05/10/2026

Would you like a dog that can be off lead so you can enjoy the freedom of walks. And also walk without pulling when they are on lead? Then let Kool K9 help you. Level 1 class starting Tuesday 13th October . It will be held at Hamilton Hounds, Frankton , Hamilton at 7.15 pm. Cost is $179 for 5 weeks. Go to https://koolk9.co.nz/classes/ to enrol

30/09/2026

I do agree with this. Imagine if you were eating and a person kept taking food off you or removed your plate even for a short time. I think you would be justified in being annoyed! I do suggest at times that some of the dogs meal is used for training but perhaps only a handful per meal.

Can we please just let dogs eat?

We take the bowl away so they learn we won't take it away.
Huh?

We don't build trust by repeatedly interfering, all just to prove they'll tolerate us doing it.
Yet around a dog's food, that's exactly what we've been told to do.

Put your hand in the bowl.
Take the bowl away.
Give it back.
Touch the food.
Pat the dog.
Move things around.

All supposedly so they learn to trust us.

But what if they're learning the opposite?

What if they're learning that a person approaching their food means something is about to happen?

That a hand near the bowl matters?
That maybe they need to keep an eye on us while they're eating?

We wanted our presence around food to mean nothing.
Then we made sure it meant something.

And while we're at it.

Can we please not ask a dog to earn every single bite of food through training?
They deserve to have full meals too.

No strings attached.

Imagine having expectations attached to every morsel.

Do this.
Wait for that.
Look at me.
Work for the next bit too.

Not every mouthful needs to achieve something.

Sometimes we can just put the food down.

And leave them alone.