Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat

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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.

10/06/2026

What proper low-level e-collar conditioning actually looks like 👇🏼

Disclaimer: The e-collar isn’t teaching Koa recall, he already knows the command and is e collar trained! I’m demonstrating how I condition a dog that has the foundational obedience and is now learning what the e-collar sensation means.

I start at level 1 and slowly work up until I see the smallest sign they noticed it… a tiny twitch, ear movement, or glance even. We’re looking for the lowest level they can reliably feel, NOT the highest they can tolerate. Koa’s working level here is just 4/100.

I pair that low-level pressure with his recall cue and release it as soon as he disengages and commits to coming back to me. Think leash pressure, just from a distance. Praise and rewards still follow!✨

E-collars should never replace teaching, rewards, or a solid training foundation. When properly conditioned, they’re simply another way to communicate clearly and safely at a distance. 🐾🍓

And HUGE shoutout to our videographer for capturing this!! 🎥 It’s pretty awesome when your pup clients have parents in super cool fields 😎 Koan Media Productions

A little late on the graduation post, but congratulations are officially in order for Bubby! 🎓🍓Bubby recently completed ...
09/16/2026

A little late on the graduation post, but congratulations are officially in order for Bubby! 🎓🍓

Bubby recently completed his two-week Board & Train with Dr. Kiwi’s Elite Retreat, and we are so proud of the progress he made during his stay!

Over his two weeks with us, Bubby worked on:
🐾 Sit, down, stay & place
🐾 Heel and leash manners
🐾 Off-leash recall
🐾 Crate training
🐾 E-collar conditioning
🐾 Impulse control and settling in public
🐾 Appropriate household manners, including eliminating marking
🐾 Wearing and comfortably walking in his booties

One of Bubby’s biggest challenges was learning how to stay calm and focused in exciting environments rather than feeling the need to greet every person he saw. We spent lots of time taking his new skills outside of the home and practicing around real-world distractions.

Training doesn’t end at graduation, but Bubby went home with a strong foundation for his family to continue building on. We couldn’t be happier with the progress this sweet boy made in just two weeks.

Congratulations, Bubby! 🎓❤️🍓

09/04/2026

Place training is one of the best ways to teach your dog how to settle, self regulate, and stay calm even when there are distractions.

The goal is simple: your dog stays on their cot, bed, mat, or blanket until released.

It can also help with things like rushing guests, stealing treats, or constantly needing to be involved in everything going on around them.

This was her first time learning place, so she still has some work to do. But notice the dog in the background never gets up to join in or steal treats. He came in with no training and after almost two weeks of consistency, his place stay is already this solid.

Consistency changes everything.

08/30/2026

Titles are so much more than letters after your dog’s name. Working toward them builds trust, confidence, communication, and an incredible bond between dog and handler. 🩷

Kiwi is working toward her AKC Trick Dog title(s), while Koa is chasing his dock diving, BH, and IGP 1 titles! Two very different dogs with different goals, but the same beautiful journey of becoming an even stronger team together. We don’t know where the journey will lead, but we are happy to be on it, nonetheless!

The title is the bonus. The relationship built along the way is the real prize!🐾🍓

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! 🐾

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Tucson, AZ
85701-85775

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+15205614645

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