Atlantic Coast K-9 Training Service

05/19/2026

Meet "Glenda". This little 6 month old girl just finished up with her On Leash Training with me and did fantastic. Now she's off to learn some Duck Hunting skills before returning later in the year to do her Advanced Off Leash Training with me and learn to be a Search and Rescue dog. Her and her owner certainly have the bar set high and I have no doubt that they will reach their goals....and then some. Follow her progress here or even better, give us a call and enroll your dog in some World Class training and experience the difference for yourself.

05/05/2026

This was written for Dobermans but it could really apply to any breed. Something to think about. Hug your Dog Today!!

05/04/2026

It's been crazy busy here at Atlantic Coast K-9. This is our latest Board and Train graduate named "Biz". I am so proud of this dog. He bonded with me incredibly well and has such a tremendous desire to please. From the very first day that he arrived right through the last he completely lived up to his name. He was all Bizness!! HaHa. Just a GREAT dog. Congrats Biz! You graduated with Honors.

05/04/2026

And one more Gorgeous Golden Retriever graduate from our Obedience Training. This is "Owen". Owen was definitely one of my many favorites that I have trained this year. Each class I would watch him get out of the car and the second that he saw me his eyes would just Light Up and he would be filled with excitement to train. As most Goldens are, he was definitely a pleaser. His issue when he came in was a complete lack of Focus but we worked hard to build a solid training foundation of Obedience combined with a lot of play, turning each training session into an event. As he enjoyed the play, his Drive to work improved along with the Bond between he and I. And finally, with the Bond established, the Focus became very strong and with it, so did his precision on the Training exercises. Really Nice dog!!!!

05/04/2026

Meet my latest Advanced Obedience Graduate. This is "Cooper". Absolutely Fabulous dog and another that I am going to miss terribly. Absolutely terrific owners as well! Sometimes I don't say it enough but it's incredibly important to build a strong bond and relationship with your dog and it's one of the cornerstones of my training. Cooper was such a pleaser and the bond grew stronger and stronger with each class and with it, he soared to higher and higher levels of Obedience. Super proud of this Beautiful dog!

05/04/2026

Meet our newest Advanced Obedience graduate. This is "River". She overcame a bit of Separation Anxiety as well as Motion Sickness from her long car ride to class each week to graduate. There was a lot of confidence building that took place during training to get her to this point and I am so proud of her and her mom for all of their hard work.

05/01/2026

ATLANTIC COAST K-9 TRAINING SERVICE
Experience World Class Dog Training with Us 🏆

Imagine the confidence that comes from knowing your dog can follow every command, on or off the leash. Atlantic Coast K-9 Training Service offers everything from obedience programs to advanced personal protection training, all backed by guaranteed results.

We’ve helped over 10,000 dogs become their best selves by blending 30+ years of expertise with completely individualized methods. Every session is led by Ralph Smith, a world-renowned trainer known for transforming dogs of all ages and breeds.

Ready to elevate your dog’s skills and deepen your bond? Discover the difference our training can make.

Call (434) 973-7968 now for your free consultation.
www.atlanticcoastk-9.com

05/01/2026

So Honored to receive this award. This is something that we don't take lightly and we certainly appreciate all those clients who have trusted us with the training of their dogs. It has always been our mission to train dogs to a Competition level that far exceeds what anyone else does. If you'd like to experience that Level of training with your dog and take your dog to a level that you never dreamed possible, give us a call today. We don't talk about what we can do. We Prove it!!!
Call Today (434) 973-7968
www.atlanticcoastk-9.com

04/05/2026

Do you have an "Out of Control" dog that needs some Professional Training? Does your Dog Pull On a Leash? Perhaps it Jumps Up on Strangers. Reactive to other Dogs? Steals Food Off of the Counter? Don't settle for this bad behavior. We Can Help!!! We are the Experts. Our Owner/Training Director Ralph Smith has been training dogs for nearly 35 years and is Nationally Recognized as one of the Best in the United States. He has won Best Of Charlottesville for 7 Consecutive years for Dog Training and has trained over 10,000 dogs ranging from Family Pets to World Class Competition Dogs. If You want your dog to be the "Best in the Neighborhood" don't wait another day. Call us now to schedule an evaluation or to set up training for your dog. Your Dog is your Best Friend. Don't they Deserve the Best?

CALL TODAY (434) 973-7968
www.atlanticcoastk-9.com

02/05/2026

Amazing Story!

A handler waited 37 years to stand in that winner's circle again at Westminster.

Andy Linton won Best in Show in 1989 with a Doberman named Indy. Then came decades of showing dogs, health challenges, and one persistent goal he never let go of. On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, he finally returned to that spotlight—this time with Penny, a 4-year-old Doberman he calls "as great a Doberman as I've ever seen."

The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show brought 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds to compete for the most coveted prize in American dog showing. Penny had been a crowd favorite the year before, and this time she delivered a performance Linton described as razor-crisp. She moved through the ring with precision while a throng of handlers and dog enthusiasts cheered. According to NPR, the moment came down to seven finalists, including Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever and Cookie the Maltese.

Judge David Fitzpatrick called the lineup "one that will go down in history." When he pointed to Penny, the arena erupted. Linton, winding down his career after nearly four decades, had reached his goal at Westminster's milestone anniversary. The win makes Penny the fifth Doberman to claim Best in Show at Westminster, while no retriever has ever won—a fact that made Cota's runner-up finish just as meaningful to his supporters. Ringside afterward, Penny politely nudged her nose into visitors' legs, looking for pets.

Have you ever watched someone achieve something they'd been working toward for decades? Share your story in the comments—maybe someone needs to hear it today.