More About Journey K9

Our Mission Statement

At Journey K9, our mission is to change the way families and their dogs experience life together. Through our heart-centered, relationship-based training, we create calm, trustworthy dogs and empowered owners who feel equipped, supported, and deeply connected. We believe every dog thrives with clear communication and compassionate leadership, and we’re committed to guiding families toward freedom, connection, and a lifetime of shared adventure.

Our Core Values

Relationship First – Great training begins with a great relationship. We don’t just teach commands—we build trust, confidence, and meaningful communication so you and your dog feel truly understood by one another.

Owner Empowerment – Dog training isn’t just about training your dog. We teach you how to lead with confidence and compassion. When owners feel capable and connected, the transformation lasts long after training ends.

Real World Training – Dogs learn where life actually happens — in homes, neighborhoods, parks, stores, and the everyday world.

Structure Creates Freedom – Clear boundaries, predictable routines, and calm leadership help dogs feel safe, grounded, and able to fully enjoy the freedom their families want for them.

Family & Heart – Journey K9 is a family-run business, and we bring love, care, and heart to every dog and human we work with, treating clients like part of our extended family.

Our Training Philosophy

At Journey K9, we understand every dog is on their own unique journey. Each dog learns differently, and the approach we use must be tailored to fit their individual needs. Our goal is to bring every dog we work with to their fullest potential, guiding them toward calm, confident, and reliable behavior.

We practice balanced training, which combines positive reinforcement with structured guidance and clear communication. Balanced training is effective because it mirrors how dogs naturally learn: they respond to rewards, but they also need clear boundaries and consistent cues to understand expectations. By using both reward-based techniques and tools like a low-level e-collar as a communication aid, we can address behaviors more efficiently while still nurturing trust, confidence, and a strong bond between you and your dog.

Our focus is on teaching the behaviors we want to see, rather than just trying to stop unwanted behaviors. The e-collar is used as a gentle attention-getter to redirect your dog’s energy toward appropriate behaviors. This allows us to guide dogs effectively while keeping them confident, engaged, and eager to learn.

Equally important is helping you become the leader your dog wants to follow. Through coaching and consistent guidance, your dog will learn to look to you for direction and make good decisions even in challenging situations. Balanced training empowers your dog to think, make choices, and succeed — creating a partnership built on trust, communication, and confidence that lasts a lifetime.

What is an e-collar and why do you use it?

At Journey K9, we use low-level e-collars as a safe and effective way to communicate with your dog. The stimulation is gentle, similar to a TENS unit used in physical therapy, and allows you to get your dog’s attention instantly — even from a distance — helping you communicate clearly and consistently.

While reward-based training is excellent for building confidence in young puppies, it can sometimes fall short as dogs grow older or encounter distractions, fear, or anxiety. Leash-based training provides physical control, but once the leash comes off, dogs may no longer respond reliably, especially in exciting or unpredictable situations.

E-collar training bridges this gap. Dogs communicate primarily through body language and physical cues, and low-level stimulation allows us to “speak their language” in a way that they understand. We use the e-collar as an attention-getter, paired with verbal cues, to redirect your dog toward positive behaviors. This approach builds focus, confidence, and reliability, while strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

Our goal is not punishment — it’s clear communication, trust, and teaching your dog how to make good choices, whether at home, on walks, or exploring the outdoors.

Will my dog have to wear the e-collar forever?

No, your dog will not need to wear an e-collar permanently. Our goal is to gradually wean them off this tool once they consistently demonstrate their new behaviors. At that point, your dog will be able to maintain focus and respond reliably without the collar in familiar environments, during walks, and in situations where they have practiced extensively. We will always recommend using the e-collar when your dog is off-leash as an added safety measure, providing peace of mind in case they encounter distractions or choose not to respond.

Will training change my dog’s personality?

Not at all! Training doesn’t change who your dog is — it brings out the very best in them. All the personality traits you love will remain, while the habits that lead to unwanted behaviors will gently fade away. You’ll also discover a deeper, more rewarding connection with your dog once the daily frustrations disappear. Life together becomes easier, calmer, and so much more enjoyable when communication and trust take the lead.

But my dog is already fearful or anxious. Will the e-collar make this worse?

It’s a common concern that e-collar training might make a fearful or anxious dog even more uncertain — but in reality, the opposite is true when it’s done correctly and compassionately. Fearful dogs thrive on structure, consistency, and clear communication. The e-collar allows us to create predictability in their world, helping them understand what’s expected and how to make the right choices. This clarity builds confidence and helps them feel safer in their own skin.

Guiding a fearful dog through new or uncomfortable situations with calm, confident leadership is one of the best ways to build trust. While they may show signs of hesitation at first, each small success under gentle guidance reinforces their confidence and deepens their bond with you. Over time, they learn that you are a steady, trustworthy leader — someone they can look to for reassurance and direction in any situation.

Do you offer a guarantee on training?

Training is a partnership, and as your dog’s owner, the role you play is just as important as the work I do. While I can’t control how closely you follow the training plan or use the tools we choose, I can promise my unwavering commitment. If we work together, I’ll be by your side every step of the way — guiding both you and your dog, sharing the knowledge and skills you need, and helping you build a relationship that creates lasting, confident, and reliable results. Together, we’ll make this journey one your dog will thrive in for life.

Why Journey K9?

At Journey K9, you’re not just another client — you become part of our family. We are a small, family-owned and operated business, which means your dog is trained with a level of personal attention, intention, and care that simply can’t be replicated in large facilities.

We intentionally take only 2–3 dogs at a time, giving each dog the focused attention, structure, and calm environment they need to thrive. Your dog trains in our home, learning how to settle, follow guidance, and live respectfully within a family structure — because that’s exactly what you want at home too.

And because real life doesn’t happen inside a training building, we spend just as much time out in the world — in neighborhoods, parks, stores, trails, and busy environments. Our goal is to create a real-world ready dog, confident and capable anywhere you want to take them.

Most importantly, our approach is heart-centered and relationship-based. We don’t just train dogs — we empower owners. You’ll learn how to communicate clearly, lead confidently, and build a bond rooted in trust and understanding. The transformation doesn’t just happen during training… it happens as we guide you to become the calm, capable leader your dog needs.

Choose Journey K9 if you want a training experience that’s deeply personal, thoughtfully structured, and designed to help both you and your dog thrive in everyday life.