61k9 Dog Training

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61k9 Dog Training 🐕 Reactive & Aggressive Dog Training
📍 Twin Cities, MN • San Diego, CA
🎯 Obedience • Off-Leash Freedom
⭐ Board & Train • Private Lessons
🇺🇸 Veteran-Owned

09/29/2026

This Frenchie came to us after biting another dog and showing serious dog aggression.

Because of the severity of the behavior, behavioral euthanasia had even been considered.

Her owner wanted to give her another chance. So did we.

Dogs like this deserve an honest chance, but that also means being realistic about the dog in front of us.

One of the biggest things we educate owners on is tools.

Sometimes we choose the tool that feels most comfortable to us, but that does not always mean it gives the dog the clearest communication.

A harness can be great for many dogs, but with a strong, reactive, or aggressive dog, it may not give the handler enough ability to clearly guide, redirect, or communicate through dangerous behavior.

That does not mean every dog needs the same equipment.

The right tool depends on the dog, the behavior, the handler, and the level of safety and communication needed.

And the tool itself does not train the dog.

Training does.
Structure does.
Timing does.
Consistency does.
Clear communication does.

Sometimes the goal also needs to change.

Success may not mean your dog plays with every dog.

Success might mean neutrality.
Passing another dog safely.
Being able to redirect.
Enjoying walks again.
Giving your dog the structure and clarity they need to succeed.

If you are dealing with reactivity or aggression, you are not coming to us to be judged.

You are coming to us for clarity and a plan.

At 61K9, we help you understand what your dog needs, set realistic goals, choose the right training approach, and create a plan built around your individual dog.

No unrealistic promises. No judgment. Just honest training, clear communication, and a real opportunity to move forward.

If walks, other dogs, or everyday situations have become stressful, message us for a free evaluation.

We’ll help you build a realistic plan for your dog or your money back.

09/18/2026

A better relationship with your dog starts with better communication. 🐾

Training isn’t just about commands. It’s about building trust, understanding your dog, and creating a better relationship together.

From obedience to reactivity and aggression, we help you build communication that carries into real life.

📍 Minneapolis / Twin Cities, MN
📍 San Diego, CA

Ready for a better relationship with your dog?

🐾 Schedule your FREE phone evaluation
👉 Click the link in our bio to get started.

09/12/2026

Reactivity is a process, not just a lunge.

Many dogs show several signs before the bigger reaction happens:

Staring.
Fixation.
Body tension.
Leaning or pulling forward.
Difficulty disengaging.
Then barking or lunging.

These changes matter because they can tell us the dog’s arousal level is increasing.

As arousal rises, it can become harder for the dog to process information, respond to cues, and make calmer choices. That’s why timing is so important in behavior modification.

If we wait until the dog is already lunging, we’re often working at the hardest point in the sequence.

Instead, watch for the earlier signs.

Create appropriate distance when needed.
Rebuild engagement.
Reward calmer responses.
Help the dog disengage from the trigger.
Then gradually work on changing how they respond to that situation.

The goal isn’t just to stop the outward behavior.

The goal is to understand what leads to the reaction and teach the dog a more appropriate response before they reach that point.

Read the dog before you react to the behavior. 🐾

09/04/2026

September puppy training opening 🐾

1 spot available.

The habits your puppy builds now shape the dog they become. Build clear communication, engagement, confidence, structure, and real-world manners before unwanted behaviors become established habits.

Available for Board & Train or Day Train.

📞 Schedule your FREE phone evaluation now
619-605-9881
🔗 Link in bio

Limited September availability.

09/04/2026

Before you teach the word “come,” build a puppy that actually wants to engage with you.

Puppies do not automatically understand recall. The word has no meaning until we consistently pair it with a behavior and an outcome.

That starts with engagement.

When I move and the puppy chooses to follow, look at me, or check in, I reinforce that decision. Over time, the puppy begins to learn that staying connected to the handler is valuable.

From a learning perspective, this is important because recall is not just a command. It is a chain of behaviors: notice the handler, disengage from the environment, orient toward the handler, move in, and complete the response.

If we rush to say “come” before the puppy understands that sequence, the cue can quickly become background noise.

That is why I like to build the behavior first, then attach the word later.

Move. Create interest. Reward the check-in. Reinforce the follow. Let the puppy learn that choosing you pays.

Once that behavior becomes predictable, adding “come” becomes much easier because the word is being attached to something the puppy already understands.

This also helps prevent one of the biggest mistakes in puppy training: repeating commands the dog has never actually learned.

The goal is not to see how many times you can say “come.”

The goal is to make the cue meaningful.

Short sessions. Clear timing. Lots of reinforcement. Very little pressure.

You are building attention, confidence, engagement, and recall at the same time.

Build the connection first. Name the behavior second.

That foundation will matter far more later than rushing obedience too early.

09/04/2026

A dog reacting is the part everyone notices.

The barking. Lunging. Pulling. Fixating.

But stopping the reaction is not the same as changing the behavior.

A correction can interrupt the moment, and training tools can absolutely help create clearer communication. But if the dog only succeeds when the equipment is doing all the work, then the dog still has more to learn.

The goal is to teach the dog what to do instead.

Notice the trigger without immediately escalating. Disengage. Check in. Move with the handler. Recover faster. Make a better choice the next time the same situation happens.

That is where real behavior change happens.

Tools should support the lesson, not become the lesson.

Give the dog direction, not just a consequence.

Clear communication. Better timing. Consistency. Repetition.

The goal isn’t just control. It’s understanding.

09/03/2026

THURSDAY TRAINING TRUTH 🧠🐕

Your dog is learning all day, not just during “training.”

From a behavioral science standpoint, behaviors that consistently work are more likely to be repeated. If pulling gets your dog closer to something, ignoring a cue still leads to freedom, or breaking position changes nothing, your dog is learning that behavior is still an option.

Dogs also learn through context. The leash comes out. The treats appear. The training collar goes on. Suddenly they listen better.

That can become context-dependent learning.

The dog may understand, “I listen when this setup is present,” instead of learning how to respond across different environments, distractions, and situations.

That’s why the small things matter.

One mistake is not the problem. Repeated inconsistency is.

Training should not be about constantly correcting your dog. It should be about creating clear patterns, reinforcing the behavior you want, following through, and helping your dog generalize those skills into everyday life.

The goal is not a dog that only performs during a session.

The goal is a dog that can think, regulate, and make better decisions even when the setup changes.

What you allow, you teach.
What you repeat, you strengthen.
What consistently works becomes behavior.

Stay consistent. Communicate clearly.
Stop making unwanted behavior an option.

09/01/2026

In this clip, we’re working on engagement while also teaching the puppy not to jump for the reward.

A lot of puppies get excited once they understand food is involved. That excitement is not a bad thing. I want the puppy engaged, interested, and motivated to work. But that does not mean they should be allowed to jump up and take the treat.

If the puppy jumps toward the food, the food goes away.

Once the paws come back down and the puppy offers the sit or the behavior I’m asking for, the reward becomes available again.

That’s how the puppy starts learning:

Jump = reward goes away
Paws down or sit = reward comes back

If they do it again, repeat the same process.

This is a puppy, so the goal is to teach before correcting. We’re not trying to shut the dog down or take away motivation. We’re using the moment to build engagement and impulse control at the same time.

Keep the puppy excited.
Just help them understand how to earn the reward.

Teach first. Correct later. 🐶

08/31/2026

Most people ask for obedience before the puppy even understands why they should pay attention.

That’s the mistake.

Puppies aren’t born understanding recall, engagement, leash pressure, or what we expect from them. We have to teach it.

In this video, I’m using food, movement, a flexi lead, and short repetitions to build value without forcing the puppy.

At first, he’s confused.

Then he notices the food.

Then he starts following.

Then you can actually see the connection happen.

He starts coming to me faster because he’s learning that engaging with me leads to something good.

That’s what I want first.

Not perfect obedience.
Not constant corrections.
Understanding.

Puppies learn best through clear communication, repetition, motivation, and short sessions that don’t overwhelm them.

Before you demand attention, become worth paying attention to.

Build value first.
The obedience gets easier after that.

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San Diego, CA
Minneapolis, MN

Telephone

+16196059881

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