Our Training Ethos
At K9ET, we believe training should never be about fear, frustration, or forcing a dog into obedience. Instead, we focus on creating happy, confident learners who enjoy the process. Our approach is built on positive reinforcement, a modern, reward-based method recommended by vets, behaviourists, and leading trainers worldwide.
​What Positive Reinforcement Means?
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Positive reinforcement simply means rewarding the behaviours we want to see more of. When your dog sits calmly, comes when called, or leaves something on the ground, we instantly reward that choice with something they love, like a tasty treat, a favourite toy, play, or praise.
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By rewarding the right behaviours, dogs learn to make good choices on their own. Training becomes a game they’re excited to play, instead of something they “have to do.”​
Why We Don’t Use Force or Fear
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Training methods that rely on punishments like yelling, leash jerks, or shock collars can stop a behaviour in the moment, but they come with serious downsides:
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They can make dogs anxious, stressed, or even aggressive.
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They damage trust between you and your dog.
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They suppress behaviour without teaching the dog what to do instead.
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That’s not the kind of bond we want to build. Dogs should feel safe to learn, and owners should feel proud knowing they’re using kind and effective methods.​
Why It Works Long-Term
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Positive reinforcement isn’t just about treats it’s about communication, consistency, and confidence. This style of training:
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Builds a strong, trusting relationship between you and your dog.
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Creates behaviours that last because your dog enjoys doing them.
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Works for puppies, adult dogs, rescues, and even reactive or nervous dogs.
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Keeps learning fun, so dogs stay engaged and excited.
At K9ET, we practice all our exercises through the lens of the "3Ds" of Dog Training: Distance, Distraction, and Duration.
What does it all mean?
It means we always start small and build difficulty gradually. For example, if an exercise is new for your pup, we will start with short distance, short duration, and no distractions.
As your puppy becomes more fluent, we increase the challenge. We might ask for a longer stay, step further away, or add real-world distractions - like a squeaking toy, other dogs, or some yummy treats from the trainer's pouch - to make sure your skills will survive "in the wild."
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Why are the 3Ds so important?
Our approach, built on the 3Ds, allows you to:
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Decrease frustration: We ensure you and your dog are set up for success from the start.
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Build reliable skills: We "bulletproof" behaviors by gradually testing them against real-world distractions.
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Strengthen your bond: Smooth, successful training sessions build a positive relationship with your dog.