Learn about Educanine’s Certified Dog Trainers in the Lehigh Valley, PA!
Hi Everyone! This is the first of many blog posts from Educanine Training Services! I wanted to take the time to talk about who I am and what dog training means to me.
My name is Kailly and I’ve been a dog trainer for four years. I started this journey into positive training after I adopted a 9 week old boxer mix, Ludo. When I adopted Ludo I had no idea where life would take me. Dogs have always been a love of mine but besides a brief stint socializing a puppy for The Seeing Eye, I didn’t have any training experience.
Ludo seemed like a normal puppy and it was love at first sight for me. I almost didn’t get to adopt him, which left me in tears in the middle of a Petco in New Jersey. But the stars aligned for us and I got to take my baby home.
I followed the “normal” conventions for having a puppy. I didn’t take him out in public until he was 4-5 months old and was up to date on all of his shots. Unfortunately when I finally did take him out, to the dog park, he was attacked by a whippet. This caused his behavior to do a complete 180 and set me up to start learning a great deal about how to handle a reactive dog.
I didn’t really know he was reactive until I took him to a class at 6 months old. I assumed this was a good time to start him, since he had his shots a neuter. It turns out you can start training your puppy as soon as you get them! Who knew?
In the class Ludo was scared, overstimulated and hard to refocus. I had to become very attentive to his body language so that I could anticipate his reactions and try to counter condition them. I won’t lie, I left the classes crying from the stress it caused me. But I didn’t give up on him. I wouldn’t.
So we practiced and we worked and we managed. And Ludo flourished in his ability to learn. He is the smartest dog I have ever owned. This is both a blessing and a curse. Like when he opens doors to escape the house. But while it was very taxing to manage his behavior, it was amazing to see how quickly he caught on to things I was asking of him and how focused he could be on his training tasks.
I was hooked. I started to love thinking about what I could ask him to do, what he was capable of and watching him try to figure things out.
Because of the skills and timing I learned managing Ludo through his reactivity I was asked if I’d like to participate in an apprenticeship with the dog training studio where we trained. From there I applied to the Karen Pryor Academy and was accepted to their Dog Trainer Professional program. I graduated in 2016 and am the only Certified Training Partner in the Lehigh Valley. At the beginning of this year I opened Educanine Training Services with the goal of imparting what I’ve learned and the joy that dog training gives to me onto others.
I understand that having a new dog, whether they are a puppy or an adolescent or an older rescue, and trying to train them can be very frustrating. I still have to manage Ludo’s behavior. But I also understand the value training has for not only improving your daily life with your pet but also creating an incredible bond between you and our dog. It truly is a way to create a line of communication with your dog that is incredible.
So if you’re looking for a trainer versed in positive reinforcement training, look no further. You can contact me any time for a no commitment consultation. I’d be honored help you work through any issues you’re having with you pup and I think you will be impressed with the results.
I look forward to hearing from you! Contact Us
Kailly