About Camillus K9

Camillus K9 works from 2350 Canal Road in Camillus and asks that nobody stops by without an appointment. It combines one-on-one dog training with German Shepherd breeding, and the training half is the part that concerns most owners.

The stated philosophy

The business is direct about what it is selling: it wants to teach you to train your own dog. Its published curriculum for the handler is canine drives and character traits, proper leash handling, methods of correction, how tone of voice and body language affect a dog, and the importance of socialization.

On tools

The site takes an explicit position on equipment that is worth reading before booking. It says it believes in positive reinforcement for proper behavior and that it will not simply put an e-collar on a dog to gain compliance, adding that in its opinion an e-collar should only be used as an absolute last resort. Owners choosing between local trainers on method grounds will find that easier to compare against than most sites offer.

What is taught

One-on-one training is offered in basic obedience, advanced obedience, agility, tracking, scent detection, and protection work, the last of these on a case-by-case basis and described as not for everyone.

Advice it gives away

The front page argues that the first year of a dog's life sets the behaviors it keeps, that most people call a trainer only after a few years of bad habits, and that owners should get basic training with a professional while the dog is young, explicitly adding that this holds even if you choose a different trainer.