About K9Phuket
About K9Phuket and Anna
In May 2021, I brought home my first dog, Cooper. He is a golden retriever, whom we chose because the breed is often described as friendly, intelligent, and ideal for first-time dog owners.
What could possibly go wrong?
Let me introduce you to pre-training Cooper.
Like many adolescent dogs who lack impulse control, he quickly became overwhelming to handle and also exhibited behavioural issues.
- He pulled on the leash as if it gave his life purpose.
- He became reactive to other dogs, growling, barking, and lunging at them.
- He growled at me multiple times and even bit me before he was 6 months old.
- Basic grooming, like nail trimming, felt impossible.
- Walks became stressful.
- Beach trips became challenging.
- Trying to take away chicken bones and other goodies he found on walks meant choosing between getting bitten or ending up at the emergency vet later.
- Twice, Cooper pulled so suddenly after another dog that the people holding his leash suffered fractured fingers.
Then came an unfortunate incident: my dad was bitten by a neighbour's dog, leaving him incapacitated for 3 months. What I saw as naughty puppy behaviour in Cooper before suddenly felt dangerous. My dad, understandably, suggested raising Cooper as an outdoor dog or giving him up...
But I was determined not to give up on my boy!
So I sought out my mentor, Patrick Bundock of K9Bangkok.
Lessons on Dog Behaviour
It never occurred to me that Cooper could be dangerous until one day he started chasing a little dog in the middle of a group class. Embarrassed, I laughed as I tried to get a hold of him. My mentor remarked 'You laugh, but if he were a pitbull, you might be forced to put him down.'
That message stayed with me. The irony of the double standards sunk in. The word 'dangerous' became objective.
I learnt to analyse a dog from 4 lenses: animal, species, breed, and individual character.
Now is Cooper an inherently bad dog? Absolutely not!
He was born with a confident nature that needed an informed handler to prevent the confidence from turning into reactivity, dominance or aggression.
When I treated Cooper
like the most precious child of God that could do no wrong, it made Cooper view me as soft and incapable of looking out for both of us. So, he took charge - his primal instincts.
By not taking an active role in training my dog and showing him how to navigate our world, I had put him in survival mode. I gave him freedom without a manual, so that he was coping by asserting his dominance to create a sense of safety for himself.
Once I was able to step up and help him, he learnt to trust me, to relax and to follow my lead.
My Approach to Dog Training
My training focuses not just on obedience, but on clear 2-way communication between you and your dog, predictable structure, impulse control, and helping pet dogs feel secure in the human-oriented world.
There are 2 approaches to training:
Proactive Training
Starting young so we can identify your puppy's natural inclinations and nurture the good traits, while strategically nipping any unpleasant behaviours in the bud.
Corrective Training
If you've got an older dog whose undesirable behaviours have become a bit of a nasty habit, we approach it slightly differently, by first teaching new skills and then applying those new skills to replace previous reflex responses (like barking, jumping, growling, nipping, etc). In doing so, we replace the old habits with new trained responses.
Who Does K9 Phuket Help?
You will benefit most from my training if calmness, safety, and good manners are important to you in the life you share with your dog.
My programmes are particularly well suited to families with young children, older adults, and owners who want a dog they can confidently welcome around guests, neighbours, and in everyday life.
I work best with committed dog owners who understand that lasting behaviour change requires consistency and follow-through.
If you’re ready to be actively involved and want a calm, well-mannered dog you can confidently include in everyday life, I’d love to help.
