Little Yuki has been working hard this week! She wants to remember her new bff in her prayers! 💜

Who's playing along with our February Relationship Quest? Ive attached a copy of the sheet below.. hope to see some cute pics!

Chess! We are kicking off the new year with a brand new challenge at REACH K9! To start us off right, our January theme is Calm & Confident. Whether you are looking to build steadier focus or help a shy dog find their bravery, this month is all about strategic, thoughtful progress. But we aren't just training—we’re playing! And all our faithful Skoolers get to play for free! And what better game for strategy than chess? Dog training is never just a straight line; you have to be ready, look ahead, adapt, and think outside the box. The same could be said of the Game of Kings. To play, simply print out the board below and pin it to your fridge. You can track your position with a magnet. You claim a square by performing the skill listed, but if you get stuck, no problem! It’s always okay to step back, reset, and set your dog up for success. Post your pictures and videos for validation. (both for the game, and your own confidence!) :) Your ultimate mission is to Capture the King, so take your time, get creative, and enjoy the journey. Checkmate earns you a medal! Who is ready to claim their first square? Let’s get to work!

ill be honest - i have no idea what class we were talking about this in - BUT; here are my sheets for intro to rally. Training for the first few WCRL signs, etc...

Our list from today is below. There are two overarching themes... confidence, and engagement with the handler. When you can get skills at home, but not out and about; its typically because the dog can't disengage from the environment and engage with the handler. One of the first games I play for this is I choose You; which we've done before. (ill paste video links below for a reminder) we can also use environmental rewards and a lot of premack. Of course; we also want to pay attention to our dogs, and any time they choose to engage, smile at them. Reward them. If you dont have food - praise, petting, play, toys... acknowledge them somehow! The skill itself is rarely the problem! Sit Ah, sit. One of the foundational obedience behaviors. Go slow, and help your dog. Lure their nose straight up. When they look up, the butt tends to tuck under. If your sit is pretty solid, start refining it. Can your dog sit on the left, in front, on the right? When you ask for a sit, does your dog sit immediately or do they move to a preferred location? Can they sit on different surfaces? https://youtu.be/vXMhax2w004 https://youtu.be/snVBbdsYZ0g https://youtu.be/-Emi_gCUcOk Formal Heel I treat heel differently than loose leash walking (llw) - however, they share a similar foundation. While many people know the lure the heel foward, a step that often gets missed is teaching the dog the actual position. They get used to following the lure, but when the lure fades, or theres a distraction; heel disappears! I use some fancy footwork to teach the steps. Start by facing your dog, step back with your left foot, then lure your dog past your left leg; remember to go at the dogs pace. Imagine their nose is metal and your hand is a magnet - if you go too fast, it will detach! Keep them with you - lure back until their hips are past your leg, then lure a J-hook towards you. As the dog's nose reaches your leg, step forward with your left leg so your feet are aligned again.) reward straight down your pant seam, then pivot in front and do it again!