Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat

Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat Balanced trainer working with all pups & behavioral issues, with no breed discrimination.

From puppies to complex aggression cases, I create tailored programs to fit all. Rescue advocacy is at my core, with my Shepherd mix, Kiwi as the face of my company.

Balanced dog training is one of the most misunderstood topics in the dog world.As someone with a Bachelor’s degree in Ps...
08/05/2026

Balanced dog training is one of the most misunderstood topics in the dog world.

As someone with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a career as a professional balanced dog trainer, I wanted to clear up a few of the misconceptions I hear most often.

This isn’t about convincing anyone to train exactly the way I do. It’s about encouraging thoughtful discussions rooted in behavioral science, ethical training, and recognizing that every dog is an individual instead of uneducated bickering I see all over social media.

Swipe through to explore some of the biggest myths I’ve discovered surrounding the balanced training community.

Which misconception do you hear the most? 👇

Never in a million years did I think I’d be making a post like this.My sweet Calypso has been diagnosed with a soft tiss...
08/01/2026

Never in a million years did I think I’d be making a post like this.

My sweet Calypso has been diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma, and we’re beginning her fight against cancer. Her first surgery is scheduled for August 13th, and while the procedure alone is just over $800, this is only the beginning of her treatment journey.

If you’ve ever met Calypso, you know she’s the gentlest soul with the biggest heart. She deserves every chance to keep living the happy life she’s finally found.

If you’re able to donate, share, or simply keep her in your thoughts, it would mean more to us than words can express. Every dollar and every share brings us one step closer to giving her the care she deserves.

Thank you for loving our girl. 💗🐾

GoFundMe link is in my bio as well.

07/16/2026

King Caspian has progressed incredibly fast through his training program here at Dr. Kiwi’s! 👑

In this clip, he’s showing off his ability to identify which handler is giving direction by recognizing who is holding his Mini Educator remote, mom versus dad. This advanced skill helps create clear communication, reliable obedience, and stronger handler trust. By teaching dogs to understand where information is coming from, we can reduce confusion and build confidence when working with multiple handlers/owners in the home. ✨🐕💕

07/13/2026

Handler welfare was sacrificed, but the grip stayed full and committed the entire time. I’ll call that a win 🙂‍↕️

Here’s to Koa’s success in the bitey world, and the diabolical tactics that got him there 🥰🐊

✨ A few spots have officially opened in our next 2 Week Board & Train cohort! ✨At Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat, we keep our ...
06/19/2026

✨ A few spots have officially opened in our next 2 Week Board & Train cohort! ✨

At Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat, we keep our programs intentionally small to provide each dog with individualized training, real world exposure, and the structure needed for lasting success.

We are currently accepting applications for:
•Foundations Program
•Behavior Modification Program

Every program includes customized training, daily progress updates, and lifetime trainer support.

We understand that professional training is a significant investment. That’s why we strive to keep our programs as affordable and accessible as possible, and flexible payment plans are available upon request.

⭐️VERY limited spots available. DM us to see if our program is the right fit for your dog!⭐️

One year of Grayson at Dr. Kiwi’s! 🩷From a goofy puppy to the handsome young man he is today, it’s been so much fun watc...
06/10/2026

One year of Grayson at Dr. Kiwi’s! 🩷

From a goofy puppy to the handsome young man he is today, it’s been so much fun watching him grow. While Grayson mostly comes to hang out with us for daycare and boarding, we like to sprinkle in the occasional refresher school session to keep his skills sharp and his brain working.

This video is one of my favorite reminders that training should be fun. Off leash obedience, lots of engagement, and of course, his favorite ball as a reward!!🎾

So proud of this boy and grateful to have been part of his journey for the last year. Here’s to many more adventures, sleepovers, and training wins, Grayson! 🐾

Meet Caspian👑🐕Caspian is a 2 year old show line German Shepherd, and he is just as stunning as he is strong. His family ...
05/04/2026

Meet Caspian👑🐕

Caspian is a 2 year old show line German Shepherd, and he is just as stunning as he is strong. His family loves him deeply and recognized he needed help getting into a calmer, more neutral headspace.

On leash, he was coming in hot. Strong, reactive, and overwhelmed, which is not a great mix at his size. His reactions were fierce. Snapping, lunging, pulling, barking. All of it. By the end of his very first day at Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat, we were able to safely remove the muzzle and have him both on and off leash around my three dogs with zero aggression.

What we’re seeing with Caspian is fear based reactivity from a lack of proper socialization, both on leash and off. Once we introduced clear communication, structure, and the right tools like a Herm Sprenger and Educator collar, everything started to click. In the beginning, he needed stronger corrections than an average pup. But as the reaction starts to fade, so does the correction strength and amount! He is such an intelligent boy who wants to learn!

He didn’t need to be “fixed.” He needed clarity.

His owners are doing everything right, and it shows. Caspian is already on track to be an even more solid, confident dog than he was before.

Working dogs save lives!!🐾✨💗🐕‍🦺🐕🦮Kiwi and Gigi had a little working girl outing at La Encantada, grabbing ice cream whil...
05/04/2026

Working dogs save lives!!🐾✨💗🐕‍🦺🐕🦮

Kiwi and Gigi had a little working girl outing at La Encantada, grabbing ice cream while sharpening their skills in a real-world setting. Gigi also learned how to safely load and unload on an escalator, which is huge for preventing injury and building confidence.

She’s getting ready to take her therapy dog certification test with her handler, and the consistency in their work, both with me and on their own, is really showing. Proud of these girls. Keep it up!✨🩷

04/26/2026

Koa is thriving in his new home. From being returned to the shelter twice to stepping into protection work, this dog is a force.
Progress like this doesn’t happen by chance.

04/08/2026

Roxie came to me reactive, overstimulated, and struggling to stay engaged, and no prior training had really clicked for her until we changed the approach completely. Instead of forcing a system that did not fit her style, we built the training around how she learns by combining obedience with fun obstacles to keep her engaged and confident. She is now able to go through obstacles with my cat and Dr. Kiwi herself actively being around her, acting as distractions!

We are not done yet, but the progress she is making is consistent and promising, and it is allowing us to keep building real results. This is what happens when you meet the dog where they are and train the dog in front of you.

If your dog is not improving, it is not hopeless. You just need the right approach. Message me to get started 🤍🐾

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Tucson, AZ
85701-85775

Telephone

+15205614645

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