About V3 Gun Dogs & Canine Academy

Gun dogs and K9 work near Willimantic

V3 Gun Dogs & Canine Academy serves Willimantic and offers gun dog training, a Canine Academy, police and military K9 training and personal protection K9s. Formerly known as Whiskey River Kennels, it was founded by owner Jeremy Cormier, a full-time police officer who has also aided local police departments in training their K9 units. "V3" stands for the three qualities he expects from a dog: versatile, vigilant and valiant.

Method

The academy says the old school way of training is gone: "No more heavy hands and putting a dog down." For obedience it primarily uses positive reinforcement, and behavior work starts with an initial assessment followed by a personalized plan for issues such as aggression, separation anxiety and excessive barking.

Team and programs

Gun Dog Training tailors field skills and obedience for novice and seasoned hunters. The Canine Academy runs courses on obedience, agility and socialization. Trainer Kienan Giller serves as a certified decoy with the Willimantic Police Department, and business manager Shae Cormier trains and competes in AKC horseback field trials with German Shorthaired Pointers.

What to ask

Ask about program lengths and pricing for gun dog and academy training.