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Small Dog Training is Possible!

October 10, 2023 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Training a small dog is possible!

Our Miniature Pinscher Board & Train, Gus, is officially home with his owners after a month full of training! Here is what his owners had to say:

“It’s day 4 since Gus came home and we have already noticed big differences!

Before going to UPK9 and working with Coach Sara, Gus was very much out of control (not his fault 100 percent ours). He would constantly jump on anyone or anything that moved. Just jumped and barked when anyone came in and hated to walk on leash. Going for a drive was also a nightmare.

Since being home we noticed how much calmer Gus has been. He loves to train and go for walks with no leash pulling! I can do day to day chores without him needing my attention all the time. He is not constantly trying to jump and get what we are carrying. Before, when I would take him to the vet he thought he could play with every dog. When we went on Thursday for a wellness check he just sat by my side. That in its self amazed me!

He has also become so much more affectionate. Loves to sit with my husband when I’m not in the room. But when Momma comes back he is all my dog. We just woke up from a 2 hour cuddle nap!”

– Owners Jacinta & Ralph

We are loving this update and can’t wait to hear more as Gus and his family flourish together for the years to come! We sure will miss him 🙂

➡️ Ready to unleash your dogs full potential? Please book your free consult to discuss all your training options with us: Click here

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Reactive Lab Training

February 22, 2023 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Reactive Lab, Murphy, enrolled in our E-Collar Training Program (UPX) to help with his confidence, socialization, anxiety, and obedience. He and his family have been working hard and they are experiencing amazing breakthroughs!

Here is what they had to say about a recent outing to the groomers:

“Thanks to Sara, and a lot of hard work, we had Murphy in for his monthly nail trim today!

He walked in and went right up to the groomer, climbed on the workstation, and was totally relaxed.

After he was done, he wandered around checking things out! He walked up to her sitting in the chair and put his head in her lap!

My big reactive snarling boy is finally getting the message! He had his muzzle on and his e-collar but I had left the remote in the car – wasn’t even a thought.

Thank you for helping us get to this point! Still ongoing but my boy is getting better!”

– Owner Pam

Awesome work guys and way to go Murphy!!

➡️ Do you have a reactive dog? Looking to unleash their potential? Please book your free consult to discuss all your training options with us: Click here _______________________________________________________________

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Would you like your dog to be an off-leash dog? Or looking to explore our other services?

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Reactive German Shepherd Training

February 7, 2023 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Lewis came to us as a typical reactive German Shepherd. His owners were in need of help and decided to enroll him in our Board and Train Program. This is where a dog comes to live with a trainer for a month minimum to get fully trained both on and off-leash!

Lewis has now finished our Board and Train Program and is living his best life! 🤩🙌

His owners have been loving having him back home. Here is what they had to say 🥰:

“This is Lewis my four-year-old German Shepard. I absolutely love this guy!

Lewis is your typical GS a loyal, loving dog to me, my husband, and my kids, I was shocked and dismayed how reactive he became and how he scared people with his fierce barking and lunging especially toward cars and strangers. I thought to myself, will he bite someone?! I had no idea how to change this behavior.

A friend told me about Unleashed Potential in PEI and there I met Sara Bryanton. In a few months under her amazing care and training, Lewis returned a changed dog. Now when someone new approaches us, Lewis will stay in a sit command and calmly wait while I chat.

How can this be the same dog?! I’m still shocked that he listens to me lol. I have been bringing him to work daily and continue to socialize him. He’s such a happy guy because he gets to go everywhere with me.

My heart is about to burst I am so proud of him and of the incredible work Sara did with him!

Thank you so very much. Our lives have changed for the better!”

– Owner Patricia

Thank you for the kind words! We sure will miss having this big loving fella around!

➡️ Looking to unleash your dog’s potential? Book your free consult to discuss all your training options with us: Click here _______________________________________________________________

Looking for help with your dog’s training?

Sign-up for our Free Dog Training Mini-Series to get started!

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Would you like your dog to be an off-leash dog? Or looking to explore our other services?

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Tips for Camping with a Reactive Dog

September 22, 2022 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

TIPS FOR CAMPING WITH A REACTIVE DOG

I’m an avid camper and if I am booked for board and trains and want to go camping, I will usually take them with me. Sometimes the dogs I have in for training are reactive as is the case with my current board and train – Yasha, the 1.5-year-old sable GSD. We are camping right now at Green Park in Tyne Valley, PEI.

Having her along on this trip inspired me to share some tips with you on how to camp with a reactive dog:

🐕When choosing a campground, if possible, drive and scout out the best site for you and your dog prior to booking. Camp in the off-season when campgrounds are quieter. I’m the only tenter here right now and am enjoying lots of space and a decent amount of privacy. If you have a trailer choose a spot off by yourself as best you can.

🐕 Muzzle train the dog. If you are in training, still working on your dog’s issues, and don’t have full control yet, then for everyone’s safety have a properly fitted muzzle on the dog when you are out and about with them. A good muzzle allows the dog to eat, drink, and pant.

🐕Kennel train. Yasha is coming along well but I do not trust her yet to be tethered on my campsite unattended while I’m puttering around and not freak out at anything that passes by. Also, I’m friends with the staff and they sometimes pop by unannounced to chat. This sets me up for setbacks if Yasha loses control and lashes out and I’m not ready. Whenever I can not 100% watch her, I put her in her kennel. Times when I’m working online, cooking, cleaning up the site, collecting firewood, etc.

🐕 Walk the campground solo and see what kind of dogs are here. Make note of any that are sometimes not tethered or are in groups of 2 or more. Also, how secure are their tie-outs. Note if any are reactive themselves and whether owners try and do anything about it when they react. Avoid areas where you think there will be potential problems.

🐕 Train a bombproof recall. Before having your reactive dog in any lesser controlled environments, you want to make sure that they have a 100% reliable recall. IF I had Yasha tethered on my site and IF someone I didn’t initially see walked by and she reacts, I want to immediately call her to COME so I can diffuse the situation.

🐕Post a beware of dog sign at your site. People will appreciate having a heads-up.

🐕 Prevent what you can not control and control what you teach. For safety have all the proper management protocols in place at times when you are in uncontrolled situations. Always be in a position to reward or correct behavior the moment things happen so you can succeed at teaching the dog more desired behaviors. Don’t set them up to fail by getting slack on your protocols and assuming no one will come by, so it’s okay to have them off their tether this time. Assume nothing, plan for everything.

If you don’t feel your dog can handle the potentially high distractions of campground life, or you lack confidence in your abilities to manage and keep things under control – then arrange to have them boarded. This does not mean you are a failure. There are a lot of people who don’t camp with their dogs. And if you are living life with a reactive or aggressive dog it is ok to take some respite, board them somewhere and go camping, and have a break. Especially if you camp in high season where the campgrounds are teeming with kids and dogs. Some cases of reactivity take a while to fully get under control.

In the meantime prevention of out of control situations is paramount. If you are not at a point in training where you feel you can manage your dog then it’s ok to say you know what? We’re not ready for this yet and that’s ok. Let’s find you a place to stay and have fun and we’ll keep working on things so we can all camp together someday. Sometimes the best way to love your dog is to avoid having them in situations they find too stressful. But this does not mean you have to avoid those places as well.

– Coach Sara Bryanton

Are you an avid camper who dreams of taking your currently reactive dog camping? We can help!

Book a FREE consult with us today to get started on your dog training journey!

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Hogweed Poisoning Dogs

July 13, 2022 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

There is a dangerous plant lurking in PEI woods called Hogweed. If you or your dog come into contact with this plant’s sap – it can lead to Hogweed Poisoning.

My dog, Kyro, went into the woods to potty and briefly explore for 5 mins before coming home, as he’s done for years and came out with two abrasions on his face. I thought he must had just hit a branch.

Within 24-hours, blisters and open wounds started appearing. I called my Vet right away and booked an appointment. By the day of the vet appointment, Kyro had blisters/burns on his nose, eyes, ears, skull, armpits and legs.

He is now being treated for Hogweed Poisoning and is on Prednisone, a steroid-topical ointment, and antibiotics.

The issue the Hogweed sap causes is called Phytophotodermititis – which is severe photosensitivity to sunlight. Once a dog has had a case of Phytophotodermititus, that area will be sensitive to sunlight for several years and he will likely have permanent scarring. So there will now be limits on when Kyro can be outside.

I will have to work to provide him shade and keep him indoors if possible during the sun’s strongest times of the day. I am going to research pet sunblock products and other remedies that might allow us some more time outdoors after the Hogweed Poisoning treatment. We will adapt though and make it work and still live our best lives possible!

Kyro is handling the whole thing like a champ! Nothing slows a Malinois/GSD down! His spirits and energy have not changed one bit!

Shoutout to the team at Southport Animal Hospital for the exemplary service, care, and attention!

If you suspect your dog to has been in contact with Hogweed – call your Vet immediately!

– Kyro’s Mom & Dog Trainer Sara Bryanton

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Looking for help with your dog’s training?

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Would you like your dog to be an off-leash dog? Or looking to explore our other services?

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