About Up A Level K9

Who runs it

Up A Level K9 Academy's about page is written in the first person and signed "I help people discover the greatness in their dogs. – Karen Wannemaker, Owner/Lead Trainer." The page says she "spent the first fifteen years of my professional career as a Critical Care Nurse" and that "Almost a decade ago I chose to pursue my own education as a dog trainer." It states that "Up a Level K9 was born in Anchorage Alaska in 2015" and that "In 2019, I returned to my roots in the Midwest and found the perfect property for Up A Level K9. A beautiful, 20 acre rural farm site surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland in Door County, Wisconsin." The site credits her with having "trained over 1000 dogs here at 'Dogville'." Two other people are introduced on the same page: Cohen, described as "one of the trainers at Up A Level K9," who "started out my journey in the dog world by working at a kennel in my hometown before attending Kennelwood Academy," and Cali, who handles "bookkeeping, client support, Paw Partner app assistance, scheduling coordination."

The setting

Dogs stay on site. The home page says "Dogs stay in a facility attached to the trainer's home, ensuring constant oversight, comfort, and a calm, family-integrated environment. Our rural 20-acre property – surrounded by farmland in all directions – creates the ideal setting for learning, decompression, and behavioral reset." Training is explicitly taken off the property as well: "Training begins onsite at our facility and extends to private trails, the fenced yard, the spring-fed creek, and outings throughout Door County and beyond."

What you can book

The programs page publishes five offerings. The "21 Day Foundations Program" teaches "Sit Down Here Recall Out Climb Heel On-Leash and Off-Leash Training" plus a "Non-Aggressive Behavior Overhaul (i.e Jumping, Barking, Leash Pulling, Counter Surfing, etc)." The "5-Week+ Behavior Modification and/or Advanced Training Package" aims at "greater mastery of the skills learned in Foundations, and reduced negative behaviors such as reactivity, anxiety, fear, prey-drive, and fighting," and includes "e-collar (muscle stimulation collar) training." The "Puppy Immersion Program" is described as a "10-day Immersion Program!" covering "potty training, crate training, socialization, and foundational obedience," with "Daily exposure outings into town and three sensory-rich property walks each day," "One 2-hour private lesson upon program completion" and "Daily video updates and progress reports." The "Puppy Imprinting Package" is for puppies "under 15 weeks of age" and runs as "Two private lessons" plus daily homework submitted by video. A "Puppy Consultation" helps owners choose a dog before they get one, covering lifestyle assessment, breed options and working with "local shelters and rescues." The home page also mentions an "advanced 'Live with the Trainer' program" and says "Daycare and boarding are available on a limited basis for Up A Level graduates."

Method and owner education

The programs page states the method plainly: "We use a balanced, science-based approach, touching on all four quadrants of Operant Conditioning." Owner involvement is a stated principle: "Training doesn't end when your dog goes home. Owners participate in an educational program throughout the process… Every client receives a customized reintegration plan to support long-term success."

Before you book

Ask about prices; the programs page notes a non-refundable deposit for each package. The immersion listing says the "exact number [is] provided upon enrollment" for its instructional videos.