Campbell K9 Coach

29/10/2026

A HARNESS DOESN'T TRAIN YOUR DOG NOT TO PULL!

Here's something I see almost daily.

Dog pulls on the lead. Owner gets frustrated. Someone recommends a harness.

Problem solved?

Not quite.

Now you simply have a dog dragging you down the road in a harness instead of a collar!

You've changed the equipment. You haven't changed the behaviour.

Let's talk about harnesses, collars and why I choose different equipment for different purposes.

🔴 FRONT-CLIP HARNESS

These are often marketed as no-pull solutions. But have you considered HOW they work?

When the dog pulls, the front attachment redirects the dog's body, potentially creating uneven pressure and altering its natural movement.

I'm not interested in relying on mechanical restriction to teach a dog to walk politely.

🔴 HARNESSES THAT RESTRICT SHOULDER MOVEMENT

I'm referring to designs with a horizontal strap running across the front of the shoulders.

Depending on their design and fit, these can interfere with the dog's natural stride.

A dog's shoulders are attached to the trunk primarily through muscles rather than a conventional bony joint. Allowing natural shoulder movement matters.

I prefer equipment that works WITH the dog's anatomy rather than restricting it.

SO WHY DO I PREFER A COLLAR?

For everyday lead walking, obedience training and controlled outings, my preference is generally a properly fitted collar.

Why?

Because I want to communicate with the dog, not physically manage its entire body.

A collar allows me to give clear, subtle lead guidance and teach the dog to respond to light pressure, rather than constantly leaning into the equipment.

I want a dog that understands:

- Where its handler is.
- How to respond to lead guidance.
- That pulling doesn't earn forward movement.
- That walking WITH me is more rewarding than dragging me behind it.

I also prefer a collar when working on engagement, position changes, loose-lead walking and obedience exercises.

For dogs that are physically suited to collar work, it gives me the communication I want without having to rely on a harness to redirect their entire body.

BUT HERE'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION!

A collar is NOT an excuse to jerk, yank, choke or drag a dog around by its neck.

And I certainly wouldn't use one to restrain a dog that is repeatedly lunging at full force.

If a dog is constantly hitting the end of the lead, we need to address the training, environment and safety rather than simply applying more pressure.

Dogs with certain medical conditions, neck or airway concerns, and some other individual needs may be better suited to a harness.

Good training means choosing equipment appropriate for the individual dog.

WHEN WOULD I CHOOSE A HARNESS?

Absolutely! Harnesses have their place.

For tracking, certain working disciplines, pulling activities and appropriate conditioning exercises, I WANT equipment designed for those activities.

In those situations, I prefer a correctly fitted, non-restrictive harness that allows natural shoulder movement and distributes pressure appropriately across the dog's chest.

I may also use a harness as an activity cue, helping the dog distinguish between different types of work.

Different equipment. Different expectations.

The equipment should suit the job, not replace the training.

NOW LET'S ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM...

Your dog doesn't pull because you haven't bought the right harness.

Your dog pulls because, somewhere along the way, pulling has become a successful strategy.

Think about it.

🐾 Dog pulls towards a smell. You follow. Dog gets to sniff.

🐾 Dog drags you towards another dog. You allow the greeting.

🐾 Dog jumps for attention. You eventually give in.

What has the dog learnt?

That persistence works!

Every time an unwanted behaviour successfully gets the dog what it wants, you risk strengthening that behaviour.

This is why I put so much emphasis on teaching dogs what TO DO, rather than simply trying to prevent what we DON'T want.

Teach your dog to respond to light lead pressure.

Reward engagement.

Build communication.

Set clear boundaries.

Be consistent about when forward movement is earned.

And most importantly, stop allowing pulling to be the most successful way for your dog to get somewhere!

My philosophy is simple:

I don't want a dog that walks nicely ONLY because a piece of equipment physically prevents it from doing otherwise.

I want a dog that has actually LEARNT how to walk with its handler.

A harness is a tool.

A collar is a tool.

NEITHER ONE IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR TRAINING!

🐾 CK9 COACH DOG TRAINING

Boundaries, not bullying. Rewards AND rules. Training, not shortcuts.

29/10/2026

I get asked so often if I can please help with seperation anxiety, their dog goes ballistic and sometimes Rips up furniture or breaks through doors because of it.

This is what I have to say about seperation anxiety. Because giving your dog a kong with food in before you leave the house or a Licky mat or even anxiety medication, is not going to fix the problem, this is just management not the solution or the fix. But nobody wants to take the time to actually do the fix because it is not a quick fix especially if this behaviour has gone on for a few yrs.....

People think separation anxiety is just a dog missing you. It's not. It's a dog whose mind is confused and whose body has too much energy left in it.

Look at how they are built to live. Dogs are supposed to do everything together. Fish move as a school, elephants as a herd, orcas as a pod. Together is the default. Sit, lie down, run, chase, dig, swim, hunt — that's all natural. Waiting together — natural. Waiting alone? That's not natural. And nobody ever showed them how to do it.

Then we walk out the front door and expect them to understand how to switch off and let go, when we've never practiced it and they haven't even had a walk.

Do it in the right order. First, drain the body with a proper walk. Then, while you are still in the house, ask her to stay in one place while you move around. Start with a minute. That is how you teach her to detach without panic.

24/10/2026

CK9 Student spotlight 🌟

24/10/2026

Spending the day with these 2 😍

18/10/2026

18/10/2026

🚨 Warning 🚨

We are in a heat wave 🥵🔥
Please take extra care of your fur fam. Make sure they are hydrated and have fresh cool water to drink. A cool place to chill in. No walks in the heat of day, if the ground is too hot for you then it's too hot for their paws, they can burn and blister from walking on hot road surfaces etc. throw a wet towel around them or get a cooling jacket if you can't get them into a cool bath or tub of water or pool to cool off. Heat stroke for a dog can be fatal.

07/07/2026

Responsible dog ownership means making a lifelong commitment to an animal's physical and emotional needs. It requires investing time, money, and patience to ensure your dog is properly fed, healthy, trained, and socialized. Ultimately, it is about keeping your dog safe while respecting your community.
The core pillars of being a great dog owner fall into four main categories:
🏥 Health & Veterinary Care
Preventative Medicine: Keep vaccinations (such as rabies) and parasite control (ticks, fleas, and worms) up to date.
Sterilization: Spay or neuter your dog unless you are a registered breeder, as this prevents unwanted litters and health complications.
Identification: Ensure your dog is microchipped and wears a collar with an updated ID tag.
Nutrition: Feed your dog high-quality food appropriate for their life stage, breed, and weight.
🧠 Training & Socialization
Obedience: Invest time in positive reinforcement training to ensure your dog is well-behaved and manageable.
Socialization: Expose your dog early and safely to new environments, people, and other animals to prevent fear and aggression.
Mental Stimulation: Provide puzzle toys and playtime to keep them from getting bored, which often leads to destructive behavior.
🦮 Public Responsibility & Safety
Leash Laws: Always keep your dog on a leash in public spaces unless you are in a designated, secure off-leash area.
Waste Cleanup: Always pick up after your dog and dispose of waste properly.
Secure Property: Ensure your yard has secure fences and self-closing gates so your dog cannot escape or become a nuisance to the neighborhood.
❤️ Daily Quality of Life
Exercise: Meet your dog's specific daily exercise needs to keep them fit and mentally stable.
Shelter & Comfort: Provide a safe, dry, and comfortable place to sleep and retreat from the elements.
Understanding Limits: Recognize your dog's body language and protect them from overwhelming or stressful situations

Campbell K9 Coach

07/07/2026

🐾 STOP Training in a Vacuum! Introducing Our Real-World adolescent puppy Socialization Course

🚦Does your puppy sit perfectly in your kitchen, but completely ignore you the second you step outside?
Most puppy classes happen in isolated halls. But real life happens on the street, at the park, and at your favorite local café! ☕

Our 6-Week Real-World Puppy Course takes your training out into the wild, teaching your pup to focus on you around real distractions—safely, legally, and professionally.
🌟 What Your Puppy Will Learn:
The "Café Settle": How to lie calmly at your feet while you order coffee.
Neutrality: Ignoring passing joggers, bicycles, and other dogs.
Loose-Leash Navigation: Walking fluidly on different public textures without pulling.
Emergency Safety: Fast U-turns away from loose dogs or hazards.

📅 The Details:
Ages: from 6 months old.
Class Size: Strict limit of 6 puppies max for elite safety and individual attention.
When: Saturdays (time to be discussed
Where: Changing pet-friendly public spaces & venues around Kloof / Hillcrest/ Shongweni / Assagay
Investment: R1,850 for the full 6-week transformation (includes weekly digital homework & graduation pack)

🛡️ Safety First:Because we train in public spaces, all puppies must be up to date on their core vaccination schedule (minimum 2 sets of core shots for the younger pups) and Rabies vaccines for older juveniles. Vet book checks are mandatory prior to day one!

🚨 ONLY 6 SLOTS AVAILABLE. We cap our classes strictly to maintain safety and high-quality coaching.

👉 WhatsApp 0641852727 to check vaccine eligibility and secure your puppy's spot before we sell out!

I am a private dog trainer professional who works with you and your dog on a one-on-one basis. I tailor custom training and/or behavior-modification plans to fit your dog's unique personality and your family's specific lifestyle.