About Your Trainer
Kirsty & Koda
I’ve always been intrigued by dog training and the bond you can build with another creature, but I didn’t truly understand the gravity of it, until Kodama came into my life.
He was a sad puppy with a terrible breeder and I was a sad girl who just left home for the first time and didn’t know a thing about the research needed in finding a good dog.
Sold to me as a white German Shepherd, I had no clue what I had just done.
Koda was an extremely disconnected and depressed puppy when I brought him home to my four roommates. They wanted him to be the bouncy care free puppy most would expect but he would rather sit in his space and watch.
Over time they lost interest and he was my dog 100% so I got to work training him the way I wanted. Unfortunately for me at this point he was an 8 month old, neutered, 75lb bear that talked back, chased small animals and barked aggressively towards men.
Fast forward two months later and I’ve gotten a good handle on his issues and he’s on a solid routine. I was working a full time job where I was treated terribly and was just one week away from being out of the 90day period to receive the benefits I had been working towards. Something happens.
I suddenly find myself in a Starbucks 6 blocks from my work place. I didn’t see red, I didn’t hear the large amount of traffic I had walked, hopefully safely, past. I didn’t remember a thing. I got home that night and things changed.
I was afraid. Afraid to go outside, shopping, to dive. I lost any want to be social and locked myself away. I became riddled with mental illness I didn’t manage and stopped talking to my family, eating and doing things I enjoyed. I hated myself and was certain everyone who had to meet me would agree.
I didn’t want to exist. But Koda didn’t give me that choice. He was the reason I got up even if it wasn’t until 2pm. He would get me outside and we would walk everywhere and nowhere. Never really a destination but always a journey. The world didn’t exist when I had his leash. It was just us.
That’s when I started to teach him how to help me. Bring me things like food, shoes, his leash. Help me up and brace me when I was too weak to stand. Counter balance when I couldn’t stop the room from spinning. He loved his job and I took so much joy in teaching him how to do it.
Two years into his training I started to see people take notice in us and see potential in their own dogs. “If this small girl can do it…” not only people though, dogs. Dogs would watch him and mimic him to get rewards! Nervous dogs would pull confidence from him and move forward with me with an eye on him the whole time.
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That’s how Koda’s Classroom became exactly that! We were the head trainers, him and I. If the dog wouldn’t respond to me they would always respond to him. It was amazing to literally watch him teach dogs, young and old.
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Koda saved my life many times during his career and showed me the true extent of the bond that can be made. He has changed the way I see relationships both human and dog and I will forever be grateful for him and wear his silhouette with pride.
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I am here to provide the best possible life for you and your dog, whatever that may be for you.
Kirsty & Higgins
When I found out Koda was sick and would need to retire as a service dog I begrudgingly started researching my next breed. I had saved up and was planning to go through a breeder I had connected with through the animal hospital I was working at the time. I was looking into Rottweilers and bully breeds because of multiple past experiences with both, lifestyle, and trainability.
Then came Dish. Dish was a blue heeler and some would say dumb as rocks. He was a farm dog and didn’t really have the concept of inside vs outside down. He was an obsessive marker and if you didn’t get him from point A to B in 10 seconds there would be pee on your walls, floor and whatever other objects he passed.
But man did I love him. I would spend time when he was boarded with us in his kennel just hanging out giving him loves. I would walk him any chance I got and turns out he’s really dang smart! I had never looked into heelers, or herding dogs at all for that matter.
I brushed it off and scheduled to meet a litter of bully’s. We set up a time and place and I was so excited when they informed me they had a family emergency that would take them else where. We couldn’t meet for another two weeks. At that same time my sister reached out and sent me a picture of a beautiful red heeler. She was having puppies in a week or so and both parents have the qualifications I’m looking for.
I agreed to a FaceTime once they were born not thinking much of it. Weeks go by and my phone starts ringing with video chat and a number I didn’t know. I accidentally answer and there is this lovely woman with a puppy in her arms. Higgs.
He was only 2 weeks old and didn’t even have his eyes open yet when I picked him. I just felt like he was mine. I offered to pay a deposit then and there but was told we were fine to wait until the temperament test
4 weeks later we get to meet him. He’s a chubby, confident thing with spitfire behind his eyes. He was intelligent and playful but still independent enough to go lay by himself. It was decided then he was mine to pick up for good in three more weeks.
I was excited as I studied his breeds and the training challenges we would run into and conquer together. There were times I almost said I couldn’t handle it. They are so much energy and so many sources said they have terrible fear issues.
He came home to a third story apartment with grass I didn’t trust and it’s been history. He is an amazing service dog in training and an even better demo dog. He’s my best friend and I wouldn’t want him to change a thing. He loves to bark and bite, but cuddles and kisses with as much effort.
He has shown owners with dogs similar to him that it’s doable and dogs with little confidence how to flourish.
With my team complete we have continued our education through online classes, web/seminars, and completing multiple courses in positive reinforcement.
We are/have been members of multiple groups and private classes like Recallers, Obsidian Academy and Training between the ears to name a few to ensure we are up to date with behavior and methodology to bring you the best in home training you can find.