Liberty Belle K9

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Liberty Belle K9 Liberty Belle K9 is located in Cherryville, NC.

Contact: 210-441-2130 texting is acceptable
Email : [email protected]
Services: Service dogs, Obedience, Behavior modification, Trick, AKC prep and evaluations. Dog training with specialty in Psychiatric Service dogs and ability to provide behavior modification through balanced training.

Ender has officially completed his Puppy Foundations class!Ender, bred by Dogsmith Purebred and owned by Wyatt, came int...
09/24/2026

Ender has officially completed his Puppy Foundations class!

Ender, bred by Dogsmith Purebred and owned by Wyatt, came into the program to build a strong foundation from the beginning. Because Wyatt consistently put in the work between sessions, practiced the homework, and stayed committed to the process, Ender progressed much faster than the minimum expectations of the class.

He not only completed the requirements for his AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy title, but has already progressed far enough that he is only working on one remaining portion of the Canine Good Citizen requirements.

Rather than spending the rest of his paid sessions repeating skills he had already mastered, we continued advancing his training appropriately. Ender and Wyatt will now be moving forward into Advanced Obedience.

This is a great example of how training works at Liberty Belle K9. I don’t believe in wasting sessions simply because a program is scheduled for a certain number of lessons. If you are consistent, do the work at home, and your dog meets the goals ahead of schedule, we move forward. Every dog progresses at a different pace, and the training should reflect the dog and handler in front of me—not an arbitrary timeline.

Congratulations to Wyatt and Ender on all of their hard work. I’m excited to see what they accomplish next.

Our Greensboro trip gave us a lot to be proud of, especially seeing just how far Liberty has come.She is getting incredi...
09/22/2026

Our Greensboro trip gave us a lot to be proud of, especially seeing just how far Liberty has come.

She is getting incredibly close to graduation, and this trip gave her plenty of opportunities to show that she is ready for the next step. She worked through busy public environments, handled new sights and distractions, and tasked appropriately several times when she was needed. One of the biggest moments was watching her completely ignore dogs that were barking, lunging, and growling at her. She stayed focused on her handler and continued doing her job.

I was equally proud of my daughter. During one of the festivals, a volunteer became rude when she was not permitted to interact with Liberty and told my daughter that she shouldn't have her dog in public if people couldn't interact with her. Instead of backing down or becoming overwhelmed, my daughter advocated for herself, her dog, and her access. She handled a situation that never should have been placed on her in the first place and did a fantastic job.

That is a huge part of what this training is ultimately about. Liberty needs to be able to work confidently and reliably in the real world, but her handler also needs the confidence to navigate that world with her.

This weekend showed me how much progress they have made as a team. We still have a little work left before graduation, but they are very, very close—and I couldn't be prouder of both of them.

WHY PRIVATE TRAINING DOESN’T MEAN TRAINING WITHOUT DISTRACTIONSOne of the most common reasons owners look for group clas...
09/21/2026

WHY PRIVATE TRAINING DOESN’T MEAN TRAINING WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS

One of the most common reasons owners look for group classes is because they want their dog to learn how to behave around other dogs and people.
That exposure is important—but it doesn’t necessarily require a traditional group class.

At Liberty Belle K9, training is individualized, but it isn’t limited to working in an empty environment. I have several dogs on the property with varying temperaments and training levels that can be introduced strategically when appropriate.

This allows us to work on neutrality, leash handling, engagement, impulse control, settling, and maintaining obedience around other dogs while keeping the environment controlled.
Instead of every dog being placed into the same group regardless of skill level, I can adjust the distraction based on the individual dog. We can change distance, movement, intensity, and the type of dog being used as the client dog progresses.

The goal isn’t simply for your dog to behave in a training session. The goal is to teach skills that remain reliable when real-world distractions are present.

DOG TRAININGLiberty Belle K9 has training openings available in Cherryville, NC. This not a Board and Train program. Thi...
09/18/2026

DOG TRAINING
Liberty Belle K9 has training openings available in Cherryville, NC. This not a Board and Train program. This program believes that teaching the owner how to communicate with their dog is the most effective way to create a lasting bond.

We work with dogs and handlers at a variety of training levels, from young puppies just beginning their foundations to more advanced obedience, behavior concerns, and service dog training.

Programs may include puppy foundations, basic and advanced obedience, loose-leash walking, recall, impulse control, duration work, public manners, behavior support, and service dog training or evaluations.

Training is tailored to the individual dog, the handler’s goals, and the areas that need the most work rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you are looking for help building better communication, reliability, and practical skills with your dog, message Liberty Belle K9 for current availability and program information.

GENETICS MATTER — EVEN IN A WELL-TRAINED DOGOne of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that obedience and temp...
08/13/2026

GENETICS MATTER —
EVEN IN A WELL-TRAINED DOG

One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that obedience and temperament are the same thing.

They aren't.

A dog can have beautiful obedience—heel nicely, recall immediately, hold a down-stay, ignore distractions, and know dozens of commands—and still struggle with serious behavioral issues caused or influenced by temperament and genetics.

Training teaches a dog what to do.
Temperament influences how that dog naturally experiences and responds to the world.

Genetics can influence traits such as:

- Confidence vs. environmental sensitivity
- Sociability and tolerance of strangers
- Resilience and ability to recover after stress
- Prey and chase drive
- Defensive tendencies
- Arousal and impulse control
- Sound or movement sensitivity
- Persistence and frustration tolerance
- Fearfulness and anxiety
- Thresholds for reactive or aggressive behavior

Environment, socialization, health, experiences, and training absolutely matter too. Behavior is rarely as simple as "it's genetic" or "it's how they were raised." Both nature and nurture contribute to the dog standing in front of you.

This is why an excellent obedience does not automatically create a temperamentally stable dog.

A dog may perform a perfect heel beside its handler while remaining uncomfortable with strangers. A dog may have an outstanding recall but recover poorly after being startled. A dog may hold a flawless place command while still having an unusually low threshold for defensive behavior.

Good training can provide communication, structure, coping skills, management, and better behavioral choices. In many dogs, it can dramatically improve what we see day to day. It also helps the handler better learn those thresholds and manage more appropriately.

BUT.

Training cannot simply erase the genetic component of temperament.

This distinction is especially important when evaluating breeding dogs, working dogs, service-dog prospects, and dogs displaying significant behavioral concerns. We shouldn't assume every behavior problem means someone failed to train the dog—and we shouldn't assume impressive obedience proves the dog has a stable temperament.

Obedience is what a dog has learned. Temperament is part of who that dog is.

A well-trained dog and a temperamentally unstable dog can absolutely be the same dog—one does not automatically guarantee or eliminate the other.

Ripley's Aquarium brought new challenges today. Carnage has been to aquariums before but this time we did the Glass bott...
07/25/2026

Ripley's Aquarium brought new challenges today. Carnage has been to aquariums before but this time we did the Glass bottom boat. It always feels amazing when you hear the whispers of "That's how a REAL service dog behaves!" or "He's so well behaved. Look how he just stays right with her and never leaves her side."

Carnage amazes me every day.

First Picture is at the Entrance tank. Second picture was in the tunnel under one of the fish tank. Big sister is helping him stand so he can see the fish. He definitely got a few chuckles with his goofy moment.

He really liked the Mermaid show the best because that meant he got to take a little nap!! Even with all the screaming kids and loud music, he knows he's safe.

2 year old Carnage Painted with Fire at Cape Fear. To get to Cape fear we had to ride a 25min ferry in rough water packe...
07/25/2026

2 year old Carnage Painted with Fire at Cape Fear.

To get to Cape fear we had to ride a 25min ferry in rough water packed with people while getting pelted with spray. (We were soaked) Then ride on a golf cart across the island. He had a pet aggressively lunging at the end of its leash the whole time we were waiting for the ferry.

You know your work payed off with training when other people comment to the owner of the yapping dog about how he just ignored it, and they wish their dog could be half as well behaved.

Thats MY boy!!!

Not every great dog is meant to be a service dog.One of the biggest misconceptions in the service dog world is that any ...
07/12/2026

Not every great dog is meant to be a service dog.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the service dog world is that any dog can become a service dog with enough training. The reality is that training is only one piece of the puzzle.

A successful service dog needs the right temperament, confidence, health, resilience, and natural ability to handle the demands of public access work. They must remain calm in stressful environments, recover quickly from surprises, and genuinely enjoy working alongside their handler.

Choosing to train the dog you already have simply because it's convenient can lead to frustration, burnout, and heartbreak for both the handler and the dog. Sometimes the kindest and most responsible decision is recognizing that a beloved pet may not be suited for service work.

Service dog training starts long before task training begins—it starts with selecting the right candidate.

The goal isn't to make every dog into a service dog. The goal is to find the right dog for the job and then help that dog reach its full potential.

Because when we prioritize the dog's well-being and natural abilities, we set both the handler and the dog up for success.

AI notification: The graphic in this post was assembled using the assistance of a program.

SDIT Arlo is doing a fantastic job in his training. He's happy to go into the crate but he would definitely rather be wi...
05/31/2026

SDIT Arlo is doing a fantastic job in his training. He's happy to go into the crate but he would definitely rather be with the humans. His leash skills are on point. This week we introduced shoes and Rexspecs and he got the chance to see another well-behaved service dog in action which was pretty cool. He learned how to work around a wheelchair and he even made friends with a baby who was happy to test his patience. He did really well posing with Snoopy. Some of these photos look cute but each one has a purpose. Exposure to lots of things in a controlled environment is part of what makes it possible for a service dog to focus on their job and not be distracted or disrupted by the environment.

I don't normally focus too much on task work this early but he is happy to bring me stuff which is a great start to object retrieval and he has started showing behaviors that indicate he is aware of heartrate changes what will be shaped into alerts down the road. I'm super proud of him.

**Videos of Arlo doing his thing will be added on a different post. FB doesn't allow them to be added to a post with photos for some reason.

I would like to officially announce the arrival of Mr. Arlo!! Arlo is a 4.5yo Golden Retriever who has been with us for ...
05/09/2026

I would like to officially announce the arrival of Mr. Arlo!!

Arlo is a 4.5yo Golden Retriever who has been with us for a couple of weeks. Most of the people who know me know that I like to be thorough in my testing before continuing with training or opening a dog up for applications. Arlo has passed all my tests and has started the process of training. He is suitable best for psychiatric (Autism, ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety) but will likely reach the size to do mobility too pending hip and elbow evaluation. He is not the typical dog I would choose for me but I prefer dogs that are challenging and energetic. Arlo is neither. He is so easy going and calm which makes him FANTASTIC for a first time handler, teen, young adult or someone who is not super active.

If you are interested in being interviewed or want to start the application process, please send a message or text to set up a phone consultation.

Arlo is expected to be placed around 12 mo (December/January) as a started dog. Additional training will be required!!!

First 2 photos were courtesy of Pet Hair Design Studios Mobile dog grooming of Arlo's first professional grooming session with the program. If you are looking for a groomer Selina May is the way to go!

Address

Cherryville, NC

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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