SUCCESS STORIES
From First Steps to Big Wins
We train a lot of dogs. Some come to us just needing a little boost in confidence or a refresh of the basics.
Others come to us needing a little bit more.
Every once in a while, we'll post a story about some of the incredible dogs (and humans) who’ve trained with Ashton & Co. K9 Academy. Whether it was overcoming reactivity, mastering obedience, or finding confidence in agility, these teams put in the work — and it shows.
Their stories are proof that trust, patience, and good training go a long way.
When I first met Riley, a sweet, spirited Lab mix, she struggled big time with impulse control. She was extremely prey driven and loved a good chase. Her owners told me she’d sit on the front porch just watching squirrels, waiting for her chance to bolt after one.
The real challenge came at home with her little brother Sampson. He’s bouncy, fast, and full of energy, basically a real life squirrel! It was almost impossible for Riley to resist chasing him, and a few times it turned into full on tackles. After one big scare, they had to be kept apart for safety, which made things stressful and frustrating for everyone.
Her owners’ goals for training were to help Riley build better impulse control, learn respectful boundaries, and stop her habit of chasing vehicles.
In the beginning of our sessions, Riley would hard core stare at Sampson and watch him like a hawk, tracking his every move. She was just waiting for him to bolt so she could follow after. To someone who doesn’t understand dog body language, I can one hundred percent understand why that came off as intimidating and even scary to witness.
We got to work right away introducing the e-collar as a positive communication tool. It helped us create clarity for Riley and gave her the structure she needed. When things started to escalate, we could simply apply a vibrate to cue her to disengage and give Sampson the space he needed.
We also introduced place training to give her a clear, calm destination when she was told to go. And I have to say, she absolutely loves her cot! It quickly became her favorite spot to relax, reset, and feel confident in her new self control.
These sessions aren’t just for Riley though — they’re just as important for Sampson. Building his confidence around Riley is a big part of this process because of the negative experiences he’s had in the past. He can still be a little jumpy around her, but today we actually got them nose to nose for a split second, which is huge progress!
I am so impressed with this dog and her owners and even little Sampson! They have quickly become one of my favorite weekly stops.