JADA SEPTEMBER 2008
Jada was one of our most memorable Board and Train dogs of the year. Jada came to stay with us at about 15 weeks old. She picked up a few thing her 1st week with us. Then came week 16. This is when the fun started. At week 16 Jada's baby teeth fell out. This is an indication of mental maturity. Her learning abilities were phenomenal. She absorbed everything I was teaching her faster than most dogs I have worked with. This Cane Corso is one of the most solid breed dogs I have worked with. Many of the mastiff breed I work with are skittish, insecure with people and or dogs. Jada was social with people, dogs and filled with confidence. I miss her loud snoring and the sound of her jowls when she shakes her head in the morning. The most comical moments I had with Jada were her sit stays. When she would sit, her back side would swing from side to side with excitement. Below are some pictures of Jada working and training with our dogs.

Asha, Neiko, Jada, Arko

Arko, Jada, Asha, Neiko

Neiko, Asha, Arko, Jada

Jada performing the check movement.

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Jada performing a sit stay on the swing bridge.

Jada climbing up to the 5 foot high platform and performing a sit stay.

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Jada on the tunnel catwalk.

Jada working tunnel and recall.

Jada recall form over 70 feet.

Jada down stay form over 70 feet.

ENZO AUGUST 2008
Every so often I post pictures of my Board and Train dogs. This is Enzo. Enzo was 5 months old when he started his Board and Train Program with me. In my Board and Train Program, obedience training is part of the work. Working on a dog’s confidence, insecurities and other issue is the larger portion of the job. Obedience is not always the answer to training a dog. A dog should be balanced before he enters obedience and higher levels of training. Having a dog at zero makes it easier to create clarity in a dogs mind. A dog behind zero had too much mental distraction that will create more stress for the dog and handler. Enzo was a fun dog to work. He has great levels of confidence that we challenged during his stay. Below are pictures of the different training programs we included in Enzo’s schedule that helped him stay above zero.

We socialized Enzo with our dogs. Having him join our confident pack teaches him how to be a confident dog.

Enzo with HVK9 Neiko, Arko & Asha

Enzo with HVK9 Xano, Kilo, Bashan, Ico, Espy, Eros, and Maya

Enzo Joined us on a walk to Fire Island where we introduced him to the ocean.

Neiko Harry & Enzo

Here is Enzo being trained on the advanced HVK9 agility course. This course consist or barrel walks, barrel climbing, 5 foot platforms, and swing bridges.

Harry and Enzo go up the ramp and over the barrel. Enzo climbing over the barrel.

Enzo goes up the ramp to the 5 foot platform. Here he performs a sit stay until he is called.

Enzo is climbing onto the swing bridge and performing a sit stay. He then continues over the bridge.

Enzo is working the catwalk.

Enzo is walking on our brick wall and holding at a sit stay and down stay on it.

Enzo running on the treadmill learning how to hold the bite rag and building confidence and balance.

Enzo swimming and getting socialized to the pool.

Enzo is walking an 8 inch wide board that crosses 17 feet over the pool. The two boards are connected by hinges to make the board flex. The board on top act as on obstacle for Ezno to overcome. Performing this task requires focus, trust, confidence, and a strong bond between the dog and handler.

ASHA TREADMILL TRAINING
Below is a video of Asha working out on a dog treadmill. Asha has titled Tier 4 on her 4th time on a treadmill. The Tier 4 Title consists of an up hill run, down hill run, up hill run with a bite, a down hill run with a bite. Once the dog had engaged in the bite, it must continue to pull the decoy into the treadmill for one minuet on the up hill and down hill bite. Marty from Martin's K9 Formula has considered creating a tier 5 title. This would require the dog to bite a hidden sleeve or bite suit along with a clatter sticks as a distraction. Asha and I have this covered.

Asha Treadmill Workout

BRADLEY TREADMILL TRAINING
This is Bradley. Bradley is a rescue. When Bradley came to USA K9, he was very shy and unsure of our training area. He didn’t appear to be confident. Bradley and his handler Bob took our On-Leash Obedience Program. During the program we took some time to introduce Bradley to our treadmill. This is not a motorized treadmill for humans. The motor on the treadmill is the dog. This requires a great deal of concentration. We used the treadmill to build Bradley’s focus, confidence and balance. Every time he got off of the treadmill, he was mentally stronger. We built Bradley’s focus, confidence and balance up to a full run along with grabbing a jute and holding it while continuing to run. This may sounds easy and looks easy but, most dogs don’t have a clue what to do when faced with the challenge of walking on a treadmill. Please consult a professional before attempting this kind of work.

PROTECTION VIDEOS
All of the dogs in our protection classes and videos are social with people and other dogs. We teach the dogs when to go to work, and when they are done working. You can find more photos of Xano with children and other dogs in our gallery’s and the HVK9 web site.

The dogs you are viewing are trained for protection, not Schutzhund sport. Schutzhund dogs are not protection dogs. We teach our protection dogs to target several body parts.

Xanos Protection

NYDOBERMANS/HVK9 DOG Czars Level 2 Protection

NYDOBERMANS/HVK9 DOG Czars Level 2 Protection

NYDOBERMANS/HVK9 DOG Czars Level 2 Protection

NYDOBERMANS/HVK9 DOG Czars Level 2 Protection in the snow.

NYDOBERMANS DOG Thor Level 1 Protection

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Below are stories on how we fix skin, coat, and allergy issues after owners spent thousands of dollars trying to fix. This is to remind you that the cures for many of these problems are short and simple. A healthy diet can produce a healthy dog. This is why we feed Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement. Below are some of the many severe condition we have solved after owners paid thousands of dollars on medication and endless test and had no cure.

PRINCESSES RAW NECK & CHERRY FEET
On August 13th 2007, Princess’s owner came to us asking if we could fix her. Princess is a 3 year old Pit Bull Terrier with serious skin allergies. The skin under her neck was raw. Her neck was scaled with dry skin, scabs and cuts. Her coat was very thin with bald spots and no shine. Her feet were pink and like the rest of her body, they were itchy to the touch. As bad as the pictures are, they do not represent how severe her issues was.

Princess’s owners spent a few thousand dollars trying to find out what was wrong with her. After several tests, several skin scrapes and the standard prescription treatment, it was recommended that she should have more allergy test that would cost another 3 to 4 thousand dollars. Princess’s owners where desperately trying to help her but didn’t have the finances to pay for more of the same testing that did not find or solve the problem.

On August 13th 2007, Princess diet was changed to Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement. We put her on a 14-week program. With this diet plan, Princess gained muscle, and recuperated from her raw neck, hair loss, itchy skin and feet. On the left are the pictures of Princess before Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement followed by the 14 weeks after she was put on Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement.

UPDATE: April 14th 2008 : Below are pictures of Princess 8 months after she started her new diet. As you can see, her skin condition has not returned.

April 14th 2008

CHYNA’S HAIR LOSS
Chyna is a 4-year-old Boxer whom earlier in the year (2005) started losing the hair on her back. The condition continued to get worse over several months.

Veterinarians diagnosed this as a food allergy and wanted to do a biopsy and testing that would have cost thousands of dollars. The second opinion was that is was a reaction from separation anxiety that is very common in boxers. Whatever the cause, the condition was getting worse and after spending a few thousand dollars had not results.

In June of 2005 Chyna's diet was changed to Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement. We put her on a 14-week program. With this diet plan, Chyna lost weight, gained muscle, and has recuperated from her hair loss 100%. On the left are the pictures of China before Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement followed by the 12 weeks after she was put on Martin's K9 Formula and Nupro Supplement.

Over One Year later

Alfarones Thank You! Oct 2006
Dear Harry:

We wanted to thank you for all the help you gave us working with Shana over the past several weeks. You've made a huge positive difference by showing us how to develop a strong bond with Shana through patience, leadership and a positive attitude. Your passion for working with dogs is contagious and our goal is to keep improving upon everything you taught us! We would gladly recommend you to potential clients and look forward to our final session in town on Saturday.

Attached is a picture of Shana for your collection. Thanks again for all the extra time you spent with us.

The Alfarones (Joanne, Jim, Ed and most importantly Shana!)

Keegan 2005
Put your mouse over the picture to see the after USA K9 Training.