About Badenheath K9

Badenheath K9 is one of the few schools in this part of the Southern Tier that publishes an actual course catalog rather than a list of problems it will fix. The site is organized around named classes you enroll in, which makes it unusually easy to work out whether it fits what you need before you call. The school is the training arm of a long-running German Shepherd kennel, but it is explicit that it takes every breed: "While we love German Shepherds, our facilty trains ALL BREEDS, focusing on training both the dog and their handler."

The course list

Six things are on offer and each has its own page: a S.T.A.R. Puppy Class, a Canine Good Citizen Course, a Therapy Dog Course, Service Dog Training, Pack Walks, and Private Instruction. The first two are AKC programs, and the site says the owner is an AKC certified evaluator for both, which means the class and the test can happen in the same place – worth knowing in a rural county where the nearest evaluator is often an hour away.

How they describe the training

The method is set out as three steps. It starts with the goals you have for your dog; then, in the school's words, "we enact proven balanced methods to gain focus and obedience from your canine partner"; and last you learn how to keep refining what the dog has learned. Balanced is the school's own word for its approach. The brand language is about trust, structure and a lasting partnership rather than fast fixes.

The trainer's background

The About page says the owner has over 25 years training all breeds, from German Shepherds and St. Bernards to Cockapoos and Cane Corsos, and lists experience with temperament evaluations, therapy-dog training, behavioral modification including reactive dogs, and service-dog training. Note that this is described as her experience rather than as a program you can book: the enrollable classes are the six above.

Where and when

The About page says the school is located in Scio and offers outdoor training areas on over 93 acres, while the address on its listing is on Culbertson Road in Dansville. If the drive matters to you, ask which site your class runs at before you book. Classes are said to run through the week as well as at weekends, and the site offers a free consultation to start.