Gallery | Ivy League Canine Academy

We turn BAD dogs into GOOD dogs!

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When two worlds collide! Here we have several of o

When two worlds collide! Here we have several of our dog teams working through some drills at today’s monthly alumni session. In addition, one of our families who is currently going through the board and train program, was able to do their weekly check-in session at the same park. Here we have Xena and her owners working together in a stimulating but controlled environment to help expose Xena to more dogs so they can work through any reactivity that may arise. This was a beneficial drill for Xena and her owners as well as our seasoned alumni dog teams. Controlled and structured training makes for lots of progress for everyone.

Happy Monday 🤭🐶

Happy Monday 🤭🐶

Meet OOx! We have decided to foster this pup on b

Meet OOx!

We have decided to foster this pup on behalf of the Department of Defense.

I’ll make a video to explain things a little better, but OOx will be a future Military Working Dog. The MWD program needs fosters to look after these dogs from 8 weeks until about 7 months of age.

Maddie and I thought this would be a good opportunity to honor our boy Bass, as we always wish we got to meet him when he was a pup. We hope OOx gets the chance to grow up, bond with his handler(s), and help keep our service members safer.

This is also a great chance to raise a puppy, and document all the steps we take to ensure we are setting OOx up for an incredible life!!

Another great Alumni session this weekend. We had

Another great Alumni session this weekend. We had one of our biggest crowds as our family continues to grow. Super proud of the progress our owners are making and the dedication and commitment they have.

Thanks for everyone that made it. See you next month!

Happy 30th birthday to my beautiful wife, Maddie S

Happy 30th birthday to my beautiful wife, Maddie Schnell! Can’t wait to see what you accomplish this decade, and all the adventures that come our way!

Everyone give a warm welcome to our newest member

Everyone give a warm welcome to our newest member of the ILK9 Training Staff, Lulu Melvin!

Lulu, a vibrant native to San Antonio, graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. She stumbled into the world of bartending where she honed her interpersonal and customer service skills for 7 years. She loves an active environment and genuinely enjoys connecting with people and their stories! Also, having two dogs, a cat, and reptiles at home, it’s safe to say she loves connecting with animals too.

Ever since Lu was little, she’s been invested in learning about animals, their husbandry, and their behavior. Canines in particular were adraw! With this in mind, Lu shifted gaze onto a more fulfilling career path- dog training. A passion reignited by her loyal companion, Cannon, a charismatic American bulldog with a personality as immense as his size (to say the least). Upon rescuing, Cannon struggled with severe behavioral issues Lu hadn’t yet experienced as a dog mom. This presented her with challenges that would ultimately shape her future. After six long months of ‘dealing’ with Cannon’s issues, he was sent to a three week board and train program, changing life as they knew it.

Having witnessed so much growth in “Baby C” afterward, Lu realized there was way more to this training thing. So she immediately immersed them both into daily obedience practice to keep challenging their skills. The new, positive lifestyle changes they experienced together had a profound effect on Lu. The more the duo overcame, the more she felt called into replicating her experience for others.

Lu completed the ILK9 internship program through the guidance of owner and lead trainer, Alex Schnell, and the rest of the ILK9 team. Although she had a solid foundation of dog training skills from her journey with Cannon, Lu has become a subject matter expert in canine behavior and owner coaching techniques.

Lu prides herself on her adaptability and perseverance in the face of
challenges and is excited to help you find a deeper connection with your dog!

Happy Monday! Let’s talk about the “F” word

Happy Monday! Let’s talk about the “F” word 😅😏

Are you always concerned with whether or not your dog is having fun?

The word fun gets thrown around a lot by dog owners. Applying human emotions to your dog’s actions can cause you to overlook certain issues or unwanted behaviors that your dog may be exhibiting.

As an owner and the leader of your dog team, it’s important that you understand the need for a balanced lifestyle with your dog that includes freedom AND structure.

Applying structure does not mean the absence of fun but unlimited freedom will most certainly lead to problems down the road which is not fun for you or your dog.

Sacrifice superficial fun now, for long-term fun later.

More info to come on why we say no to dog parks an

More info to come on why we say no to dog parks and what our solution is instead.

This new static electricity kennel hair is ALL the

This new static electricity kennel hair is ALL the rave these days! 🤭

We’ve had a few clients reach out with questions

We’ve had a few clients reach out with questions regarding AKC certifications. We’re happy to announce that ILK9 is AKC certified and that we are working on providing this service to past ILK9 clients AND non-clients in the coming months. Stay tuned for dates and how to sign up and secure your spot!

Balanced training + the right tools + an educated

Balanced training + the right tools + an educated owner = one badass dog team and an empowered owner that is capable of working their dog through anything.

We hope all of our ILK9 owners and dog graduates feel confident, capable, and like total badasses after completing one of our board and train programs.

As an owner, have you ever felt like your dog need

As an owner, have you ever felt like your dog needs more “friends” or even “play dates” at the dog park?

Often times we as owners place human emotions on our dogs. Many dogs do not benefit from or even enjoy being forced to say hi to other dogs nose to nose or thrown into a dog park and expected to just fend for themselves. There are too many variables that we cannot control when it comes to letting our dogs say hi to every dog or roam free with stranger’s dogs. This also does NOTHING for your relationship with your dog. All you’re doing here is putting more value and emphasis on your dog’s relationship with other people or dogs vs their engagement with you.

We always recommend that our owners work on this passive style of socialization seen in the second half of this video because it encourages observation, confidence and neutrality. This is helpful for reactive, aggressive and even fearful dogs as it helps them build their confidence around other dogs and learn that it is possible to be around them in a more controlled environment. We love seeing dogs play together but we always recommend that you monitor this “play” and it should be done with dogs that are in your dog’s inner circle.

If every time you went to the store, every single person there came up and hugged you, would you enjoy that experience? Would that make you anxious, fearful or perhaps even annoyed? Probably a mix of all three of those feelings, so why do we force our dogs to do that and expect for it to be positive for them?

“Oh my dog loves being chased at the dog park.” Okay, but do they really or are you just applying your own human emotions and perception to that situation? Are you truly analyzing their body language and behavior before, during and after that interaction?

As people, we can set boundaries for ourselves and there is a general understanding amongst each other when it comes to socially acceptable behavior. However, dogs don’t necessarily have the means to advocate for themselves. That is our job as the owner. Set boundaries for you dog.

✨Continued in comments✨

Make training FUN! Don’t be afraid to switch it

Make training FUN! Don’t be afraid to switch it up and try something new while still utilizing your tools and foundational obedience skills.

Here we have three of our trainers working their dogs through the place command, follow, sit, down, duration, and engagement. We added a few objects into the mix and made it into a fun little drill.

Weekend challenge: copy our setup or create your own mini drill/obstacle. Challenge yourself and your dog! Maybe you want to take it one step further and try it off leash or in an area that is stimulating for your dog. Even if you feel like it’s a disaster, you’re still getting some quality time in with your dog and getting some reps in, which is all that matters. Keep building that relationship brick by brick!

Tag us in a video here on IG or if you’re an ILK9 grad you can always send us a text! We’d love to see you and your pup trying something new!

Who can relate? 🤭🤦🏼‍♀️

Who can relate? 🤭🤦🏼‍♀️

Po Boy has a history of being reactive towards peo

Po Boy has a history of being reactive towards people and dogs, especially when they come into his space.

This weave drill is one of our favorites because it kills two birds with one stone.

Po Boy and his owner are working through Po Boy’s reactivity when it comes to being around other dogs. At the same time, our trainers are working their board and train dogs through some duration and neutrality work.

WE LOVE DOGS, TOO! 🤭😍 Our trainers go above

WE LOVE DOGS, TOO! 🤭😍

Our trainers go above and beyond to make sure each dog is getting the exposure they need. When Kane checked into our board and train program, his owner shared with us that Kane was uncomfortable around kids and the owner was concerned that could lead to dangerous behaviors like fear aggression.

This is a short clip illustrating how our board and train program is specially tailored to address the issues of each dog and the specific goals the owner may have.

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ Before you get def

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Before you get defensive, stick with us and read the whole post.

As always, our goal is for our instruction and content to be educational and encouraging for our owners and followers. Like every other area of life, there seems to be a lot of judgmental trainers and owners in the dog training space who love to shame others. Our aim is never to add to that negativity or to make our owners and followers feel like bad dog moms and dads.

With that being said, we felt this topic still needed to be touched on even if it may be a hard pill to swallow for some.

There is never any judgment here at ILK9. If you have ever worked with us, you know personally that we will always praise you for seeking professional help for your dog even if you feel like it’s too late or that your dog is too far gone. Not every owner can say they’ve taken that step. Let’s acknowledge our shortcomings, encourage and praise each other for being amazing dog moms and dads, celebrate our wins and continue to strive to be lifelong learners when it comes to our babies AKA our dogs. 🥰🐶

Can anyone relate to this post?

Do you smell that? Smells like a trained and happy

Do you smell that? Smells like a trained and happy dog team!🥧🐶

Did we catch your attention with this one? 🫢🙊🙈🫦

Are you able to identify that arousal curve? What triggers seem to be the most difficult for you and your dog to work through?

Here are some goals we have this week with our dog

Here are some goals we have this week with our dog, Rooster. Plus LOTS of time for belly scratches and snuggles. 🐶

What goals do you have this week for you and your dog(s)?

Drop them below! 👇🏼

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