About Native K9

What it is

A kennel on the Thumb coast offering three things together: "Located in Caseville, MI we provide boarding, daycare, and training. We strive to make our kennel your dogs home away from home." The services page adds grooming: "We offer a range of pet care services, including dog training, boarding, grooming and daycare."

The training philosophy, stated at length

This is the part of the site that says the most. "At Native K9 we believe that successful dog training finds its foundation in nature itself. With years of studying and understanding the natural instincts of our domesticated dogs and their origins we are able to build programs that mimic those seen in the wild and by the pack leader wolf. Our techniques for training, correcting, and caring for dogs stem directly from our understanding of how they survive, communicate, and adapt to their environment."

It is equally specific about what it rules out: "We do not use training and correcting tactics such as yelling, hitting, shaking pennies in a can, spraying water in a dogs face, turning around when being jumped on, or other such tactics. With confidence we can say that we train dogs in their own language and in a way that they understand."

Who runs it

Two owner/trainers are listed, Gretta Van Valkenburgh and Jake Van Valkenburgh, alongside a kennel staff: Maggie Eggink as "Kennel Tech Manager/Trainer," four kennel technicians (Beth Terril, Melissa Maggard, Mercy Gunden, Allison Barwig) and a groomer, Heather Blunt.

The stated mission

"Native K9 is committed to providing exceptional pet care services that keep your furry friends healthy, happy, and safe. Our mission is to provide personalized care that meets the unique needs of your pets and exceeds your expectations."

Booking

Through the site: "Register & Book Now" and "Schedule a Consultation."

Before you book

Ask for the street address, prices, program lengths and any certifications when you book the consultation.