About Trailblazer Dog Academy

Trailblazer Dog Academy in Blanco

Trailblazer Dog Academy is a board-and-train and behavior practice in Blanco, run by a trainer who introduces himself as Ryan. Dogs train on a 33-acre Texas property. Ryan describes a path that ran from a protection-sport club through mentorship under a training director with 40 years of experience and a two-year live-in apprenticeship, followed by work with military and police K9, pet obedience and behavior modification. His malinois, Skookums, went on to compete in French Ring.

Programs

The 4-week On-Leash Obedience Board & Train is the most popular option, teaching everyday life skills and when to settle. The 6-week Off-Leash Obedience Board & Train covers the same ground with every behavior proofed off-leash, aimed at owners who hike, run the beach or swim with their dogs. Boarding and daycare round out the menu, with one-on-one time or a sniffari with the trainers for shy dogs.

Approach

The academy works with reactive, anxious, aggressive and simply untrained dogs, and its stated goal is a shared language between the dog and the person holding the leash. Its methods were pressure-tested in French Ring, and the academy stresses that intensity is never the point.

What to ask

Ask about pricing for each program and how far the property is from your home.