At Koru K9 Dog Training & Rehabilitation, our method is built on one simple truth: every dog is an individual. We don’t force one rigid system on every case. Instead, we use balanced, relationship-based dog training that helps dogs and owners succeed together in the real world.
Whether you’ve just brought home a new puppy or you’re living with serious behavior issues like aggression, reactivity, anxiety, or fear, our job is to guide you through a clear process that creates lasting change—not quick fixes.
“Balanced” is one of the most misunderstood phrases in dog training. For us, it’s very specific:
We use all four quadrants of learning thoughtfully and fairly.
We balance reward and accountability, depending on the dog in front of us.
We focus on your dog’s state of mind, not just surface-level obedience.
That means we may use food, toys, praise, pressure and release, and modern training tools—all with the goal of clear and fair communication, not force, not bribery. We don’t subscribe to extreme, one-sided ideologies. If you take an extreme position in either direction, you limit your ability to truly help dogs and their owners.
Our training is designed for real life, not just rehearsed behaviors in a controlled environment.
We look at:
Your dog’s temperament, genetics, and drives
The home environment and routines
Your relationship, leadership, and handling skills
Triggers in the real world—other dogs, people, sounds, movement, environments
From there, we build a plan that changes how your dog feels, not just what they do. As your dog’s state of mind improves, you’ll see a dog that is calmer, more confident, and more responsive—at home, on walks, and anywhere you go together.
Training doesn’t end when a trainer hands the leash back. Our goal is to train you to confidently handle your dog in everyday life.
With Koru K9, you will:
Understand what your dog is actually “saying” through their behavior
Develop better timing, leash handling, and follow-through
Build structure, clarity, and consistency into your daily routine
Many of our clients come to us after trying other trainers or methods without meaningful results. Often, both dog and owner are living in a constant state of stress, worry, embarrassment, or frustration. Our method is built to change that dynamic as quickly and fairly as possible, so everyone in the home can breathe again.
Because we are balanced trainers, we’re not limited to one tool or technique. Depending on your dog and your goals, we may incorporate:
Food and reward-based training for motivation and engagement
Leashes, long lines, and place work to create structure and impulse control
Training collars (such as prong or modern low-level e-collars) used humanely and fairly, to make communication clearer and reduce confusion or conflict
We always explain how and why we use any given tool, and we teach you to use it correctly. The goal is not dependence on a tool, but a dog that understands what’s being asked of them and feels supported, not overwhelmed.
Our method is designed for dogs at every stage:
Puppies who need a strong foundation, boundaries, and socialization
Adolescent dogs pushing limits and struggling with impulse control
Adult dogs with behavior issues like barking, lunging, aggression, anxiety, or fear
Rescue dogs and dogs with unknown histories who need patient, clear guidance
We meet each dog where they are, without labels or judgment, and build a plan that makes sense for that dog and that family.
We apply this method across all of our programs:
Private in-home dog training – real-world behavior change in the environment where issues actually happen.
Board & Train programs – immersive training and rehab with structured follow-up to transfer results back to you.
Hybrid programs – a blend of in-home and board & train support.
Puppy training – building solid foundations, not just teaching “sit” and “stay.”
Every program is tailored to your dog and your goals. There are no “cookie-cutter” timelines or one-size-fits-all solutions. We move at the speed of the dog, and we only recommend programs that are in your dog’s best interest.
Our method is ultimately about creating a calm, well-balanced relationship between you and your dog. That looks like:
A dog that can go places with you without chaos or constant management
A home that feels peaceful, not stressful
Clear communication and trust on both ends of the leash
The confidence to handle real-life situations together
If you’re ready to change the way you and your dog live together, our team is here to guide you through a proven, balanced method that delivers real-world results.
Explore our dog training programs or contact us to get started.
We offer private in-home dog training, as well as board and train and hybrid programs for behavior modification and rehabilitation in real-world settings.
