SUCCESS STORIES
From First Steps to Big Wins
Meet 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.
READ THEIR STORIES BELOW
RESCUE TO ROCKSTAR
Jackson
The little guy on the left is Jackson and his owners contacted me because after recently adopting him he has been super insecure around other dogs and has been showing some pretty intense reactivity that looked a lot like aggression. But underneath all that was just a scared pup who didn’t know how to cope. Instead of pushing him into stressful situations or forcing nose-to-nose greetings, we introduced him to new dogs through calm, structured pack walks. These kinds of walks are one of my favorite tools! They let dogs exist near each other, decompress, and build confidence without all the pressure. And I’ve got to give credit to my sweet Bentley on the right. His calm, steady energy has helped so many nervous dogs feel safe, and today was no different. Watching these two walk side-by-side like it’s no big deal? That’s the kind of progress that fills my soul.
TRIGGERS TO TRIUMPH
Pike
Pike is a Weimaraner-Vizsla mix, which means he's a high-energy handful. His owners reached out when his reactivity was becoming a danger to him and to them. He would lunge and bark at motorcycles, scooters, loud cars, people, and other animals. His mom was afraid that during one of his fits, he would pull her off her feet and injure her.
We started him out with some 1:1 sessions, gradually exposing him to new sounds, smells, and other people and pets. Desensitizing him to things he perceived as being scary helped him to focus on impulse control and allowed him to enjoy being in the moment without stressing.
Within a few months, he passed his Canine Good Citizenship test and continues to grow and learn in our classes.
WISE TAILS
Penny
"My Dog Will Never Do That."
That’s what I heard in every class from Penny’s person. It wasn’t that Kelly thought Penny wasn’t smart enough. It’s just that, well, Penny isn’t exactly a puppy anymore. She’s seven. Just celebrated her birthday in April.
Over the course of two confidence builder classes I ran Penny and Kelly through all the usual tasks, even climbing the a-frame and running through the tunnel.
Each session I heard the same phrase. Every week I smiled, more confident with each hurdle that Penny would do exactly what she was asked. And she did. Every time.
Penny is living proof that age is just a number, trust is a learned skill, and new tricks are the spice of life.
Today if Kelly tells you that Penny will never do something you’ll see a wry smile and a knowing twinkle in her expression. The comment is purely ironic.
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS
Ila
When Susie first reached out, Ila was a sweet, sensitive 3-month-old puppy tightly bonded to her — but struggling to connect with Susie’s husband, Chris, and their son, Macin. I believe that early on, they had unintentionally overwhelmed Ila with too much, too fast, which left her feeling unsure and overstimulated around them.
We took a step back and focused on building trust through consistent, low-pressure exposure. Slowly but surely, Ila began to let her walls down and started seeing Chris and Macin as part of her family.
Along the way, we discovered something magical: Ila loves agility. Her confidence shines brightest on the course, and it’s become a key part of her growth.
Today, Ila has graduated from one-on-one sessions and completed our Level 1 group class. She’s rocking agility lessons and growing more confident every week. While her bond with Chris and Macin is still developing, it’s come a long way — and we’re so proud of this family’s patience and love.
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