Quinebaug Kennels: QK Dogs

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Quinebaug Kennels: QK Dogs QK - Premier, 50+ Acres Dog Facility in Canterbury, CT Quinebaug Kennels is located in Canterbury, CT among the hills of Northeastern Connecticut.

With spacious kennels and vast exercise fields, this 100-acre farm provides an ideal setting for raising, training and boarding canines. Throughout the day, dogs are exercised and trained in QK's open fields, woodlands, and hedgerows. We realize the importance of canine socialization and pack structure; therefore we encourage group exercise and playtime in our large fenced in play yards.

Your dog's Thanksgiving menu is ready.While you gather with family and friends, your dog spends the holiday with ours: d...
10/22/2026

Your dog's Thanksgiving menu is ready.

While you gather with family and friends, your dog spends the holiday with ours: daily exercise, engaging activities, and familiar routines on 50 acres.

The Classic, from $95 a night
Turkey + The Trimmings, from $125 a night
All the Fixins, from $165 a night

Bookings close November 19 and space is limited.

Reserve your spot: https://hubs.ly/Q04C57M10

I AM OBSESSED WITH DOGS’ TOENAILS.I have been for a very long time, and there is a reason.One of the first things I noti...
10/22/2026

I AM OBSESSED WITH DOGS’ TOENAILS.

I have been for a very long time, and there is a reason.

One of the first things I notice when a dog walks through the doors at QK is the condition of their feet and nails.

Too many owners are afraid to trim their dog’s nails. Others believe having them done once or twice a year is enough.

It isn’t.

If you can hear your dog’s nails clicking across a hard floor, it is time to pay attention.

When nails become excessively long, they can change the way the toes and feet contact the ground. Instead of a tight, well-knuckled foot supporting the dog properly, we often see elongated toes, splayed feet, altered weight distribution, and changes in the way the dog stands and moves.

And it doesn’t stop at the toenail.

The foot is the foundation for everything above it. Changes in how a dog loads the foot can affect posture and movement through the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and the rest of the body.

Look closely at this before and after.

When this dog arrived at QK, her nails were extremely long. Her toes were splayed and her posture showed how differently she was carrying herself over those feet.

After one careful Dremel session, look at the difference.

Her nails are shorter. Her toes can sit in a more natural position. She can stand more appropriately over her feet instead of compensating for excessive nail length.

I often tell people to think of the canine foot as part of the dog’s suspension system. It needs to function properly if we expect the rest of the dog to move properly.

Dogs can be remarkably stoic. They cannot tell us that their nails are too long or that standing and moving has become uncomfortable.

That responsibility belongs to us.

Nail care is not cosmetic.

It is husbandry.
It is maintenance.
It is wellness.

Proper nail care is a monthly maintenance, with some dogs requiring twice a month.

And at QK Dogs, we take it very seriously.

Take a look at your dog’s feet today. If those nails are clicking across the floor, don’t ignore them.

If you never release the pressure, how does your dog know when they got it right?One of the most common leash mistakes I...
10/20/2026

If you never release the pressure, how does your dog know when they got it right?

One of the most common leash mistakes I see is constant tension. The dog pulls, the person pulls back, and the leash stays tight. Now neither one is communicating clearly.

Pressure should have a purpose. When your dog makes the correct choice, soften your hand and release the pressure. That release is information. It tells the dog, “Yes, that was the answer.”

This is where timing matters. You are not trying to overpower your dog or hold them in position. You are teaching them how to respond to a cue and find comfort through the correct response.

Good training should become lighter as communication improves.

Want to learn how we build clearer communication between dogs and their owners? Learn more about QK Dogs training programs through the link in our bio.

10/15/2026

CANEI: CONSTANT AND NEVER-ENDING IMPROVEMENT.

It is a term we use often at QK Dogs, and it applies to far more than dog training.

Coming off a very busy summer, we are entering a little bit of a lull. That gives us an opportunity to evaluate our kennel, address maintenance needs, and continue improving the facility our dogs live and train in every day.

Next on the list: our kennel floors.

We have a specialized flooring team coming in to repair, reseal, and upgrade our epoxy floors so we can get them looking and performing like new again.

This isn't simply about appearance.

Properly sealed floors are an important part of our cleaning and sanitation practices. Cracks, worn areas, and damaged surfaces need to be addressed so our team can clean effectively and maintain the healthy environment we expect for every dog in our care.

With fewer dogs in the kennel, we have the room to strategically move dogs into other areas while the work is completed safely and properly.

At QK, we don't wait for things to fall apart before we take care of them.

We evaluate. We maintain. We repair. We improve.

That is CANEI.

Constant and never-ending improvement.

Follow QK Dogs for more behind-the-scenes looks at the standards, systems, and work that go into caring for the dogs entrusted to us.

10/13/2026

CHEWING ISN’T JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP A DOG BUSY.

It is a biological need.

I wish more owners understood the value of appropriate, purposeful chewing. That is why we created our Gnaw and Order enrichment service at QK Dogs.

For more than a year and a half, we have incorporated Gnaw and Order into the care of our dogs, with more than 4,000 recorded chewing sessions completed safely and appropriately.

These are not random chews handed to a dog.

Our chews are curated and hand-selected with safety and purpose in mind. A focused chewing session provides an appropriate outlet for a natural canine behavior while supporting dental care, focused attention, calmness and composure, and healthy use of the jaw muscles.

I especially love adding Gnaw and Order to the day of a dog in one of our training programs.

A well-planned training day should address the whole dog. Training, exercise, appropriate socialization, rest, and purposeful enrichment all have a place.

Chewing is a biological need. At QK, we give that need structure, purpose, and an appropriate outlet.

That is the QK difference.

Add Gnaw and Order enrichment to your dog’s next stay at QK.

Some graduations stay with you. Yesterday was one of them.Traci came to our Boot Camp in July with Simon, a one-year-old...
10/08/2026

Some graduations stay with you. Yesterday was one of them.

Traci came to our Boot Camp in July with Simon, a one-year-old, 60-pound Standard Poodle she had rescued from a shelter in Florida.

Simon was a lot of dog. He barked, lacked composure and struggled significantly with confinement. He was insecure and had very little education to help him understand what was expected of him.

Traci knew they needed more than a few training tips. She enrolled Simon in our six-week training program.

Yesterday, they graduated.

In six weeks, Simon learned patience, composure, appropriate socialization and how to accept confinement. He built an entire foundation of communication and obedience both on leash and off leash.

But graduation isn't simply about showing an owner what the dog learned.

It is about teaching the owner.

Our trainer Sydney did a wonderful job developing Simon throughout the program, with Chelsea assisting our training team. At graduation, my job was to teach Traci how to communicate with Simon, understand the system and carry those expectations home to Virginia.

That transfer matters. We can educate the dog, but the owner has to continue providing the clarity, structure and leadership that made the progress possible.

Simon arrived needing an education. He left with one.

Now Traci and Simon get to build on it together, and I cannot wait to see where this team goes next.

Want to learn what our six-week training program could do for you and your dog? Visit the link in our bio.

One of the greatest skills you can teach a dog is how to do absolutely nothing.Many owners feel that if they are home, t...
10/06/2026

One of the greatest skills you can teach a dog is how to do absolutely nothing.

Many owners feel that if they are home, their dog should be with them, following them from room to room and involved in everything they do. I understand the intention, but your dog also needs to learn how to settle without constant access, attention or activity.

Use the crate. Use Place. Build structured downtime into the day.

Your dog should be able to rest while you cook dinner, work, answer the door or simply move around the house. That ability to be still and composed is training, too.

Freedom should be earned as your dog develops the manners and reliability to handle it. Structure isn't taking something away from your dog. It is teaching your dog how to live successfully within your home.

Want help building better manners, composure and structure at home? Learn more about QK Dogs training programs through the link in our bio.

Fall gets busy. Between school schedules, work and the holidays ahead, your dog's routine is often the first thing to sl...
10/01/2026

Fall gets busy. Between school schedules, work and the holidays ahead, your dog's routine is often the first thing to slip.

Our Fall into Wellness retreats give your dog a full daily rhythm on our 50-acre campus in Connecticut's Quiet Corner:

Daily fitness and conditioning, including ATV roading, woodland walks and the aqua treadmill Relaxation and recovery, with PEMF sessions and Gnaw & Order™ enrichment Manners and mental engagement every day

Choose one, two, or three weeks, anytime from October 1 to November 21. Enrollment closes October 15.

Reserve Your Spot: https://hubs.ly/Q04yW1WT0

After more than 30 years of training dogs, I can tell you that talent only gets you so far.I have worked with incredibly...
09/29/2026

After more than 30 years of training dogs, I can tell you that talent only gets you so far.

I have worked with incredibly intelligent dogs, highly driven working dogs, naturally talented hunting dogs, and dogs that seem to learn almost effortlessly.

But the dogs that become the most reliable have something else working in their favor.

Consistency from the person holding the leash.

Dogs learn through repetition and clear expectations. If a behavior is expected today but optional tomorrow, we create uncertainty. If the rules change depending on our mood, our schedule, or how much energy we have that day, the dog is left trying to navigate a moving target.

Consistency does not mean being harsh. It means being clear.

The same expectations. The same follow-through. The same leadership.

That creates a more stable framework for the dog to live within, and over time, that consistency becomes reliability.

So when you look at a beautifully trained dog, do not simply admire how smart the dog is.

Look at the consistency behind it.

Save this one as a reminder that good training continues long after the lesson ends.

Some client success stories are measured in weeks. Others are measured in generations of dogs.I came across this photo o...
09/24/2026

Some client success stories are measured in weeks. Others are measured in generations of dogs.

I came across this photo of longtime QK client Bruce working with his chocolate Labrador Toffee at one of our Quiet Kue Boot Camps last year, and that huge smile immediately made me stop.

Bruce has trusted QK Dogs with his dogs for over 15 years. Through boarding, training, new dogs, old friends, and all the years in between, he has continued to come back and entrust the dogs he loves to our care.

There is something especially meaningful about relationships like this.

The difficult truth about loving dogs is that their lives are never long enough. Over the years, we often meet a client because of one dog. Then someday, after that dog is gone and a new dog enters their life, they return to us. We have the privilege of helping them begin again.

Dog after dog. Chapter after chapter.

That is when someone stops feeling simply like a customer and becomes part of the QK family.

Bruce is absolutely one of those people. He has supported us, participated in our programs, continued to board his dogs with us, surprised me with thoughtful gestures, and simply been one of those wonderful people who has cheered QK Dogs on through the years.

I often talk about creating raving fans. Bruce is one of them, and I am tremendously grateful.

Thank you, Bruce, for the many years of trust, friendship, and for allowing QK Dogs to be part of the lives of the dogs you have loved. I still have fond memories of Vinny and Haegar when we first met. ❤️

Because trained dogs live better lives. And some of the very best relationships in this business last far beyond the life of any one dog.

— Jennifer Broome

Address

265 N Society Road
Canterbury, CT
06331

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm
Sunday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+18605462116

Website

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