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Alan's K9 Academy

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🐾 Homemade Dog Treats: Healthy Rewards Your Dog Will Love

Treats are one of the most powerful tools in dog training. They're easy to carry, highly motivating, and help create positive associations with learning. Whether you're teaching a puppy to sit, improving recall, or reinforcing good behavior, the right treat can make all the difference.
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Alan Carr
June 24, 2026
The Truth About Socializing Your Puppy
One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is the idea that puppy socialization simply means letting your puppy meet as many dogs and people as possible.
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5 Mistakes That Make Dog Behavior Worse Without You Realizing It
Many dog owners accidentally reinforce bad behavior without even knowing it. At Alan’s K9 Academy in Cartersville, we see this every day with dogs that pull on leash, jump on guests, bark excessively, or ignore commands. The good news? Small changes can make a huge difference.
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Why Your Dog Doesn’t Listen — Even Though They Know the Command
If you’ve ever told your dog to “sit” or “come” and gotten completely ignored, you’re not alone. One of the most common frustrations dog owners face is feeling like their dog only listens when they want to.
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Meatloaf Veggie Dinner for Dogs: A Simple Homemade Meal Packed with Nutrition
Homemade meals can be a great way to add variety, freshness, and whole-food ingredients into your dog’s routine. While balanced commercial foods are convenient, many dog owners enjoy preparing occasional homemade meals or toppers using dog-safe ingredients they can trust.
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🐾 Homemade Training Treats for Dogs: Simple, Healthy, and Effective
Not all training treats need to come from a pet store shelf. In fact, some of the best rewards for dogs can be made right at home with simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
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Is Your Dog Really Protecting You — Or Living in Fear?
Many dog owners believe their dog is being “protective” when they bark, growl, lunge, or react aggressively toward people approaching them. While that may occasionally be true, in many cases the behavior actually comes from fear, anxiety, and insecurity rather than genuine protection instincts. Understanding the difference can completely change how you help your dog live a calmer, happier life.
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Why Dogs Eat Poop (And How to Stop It) | Bartow County Dog Trainer Explains
If your dog is eating poop, you’re not alone—and no, it’s not just a “bad habit.”
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When Was the Last Time You Noticed Your Dog Getting Older? | Alan’s K9 Academy
When was the last time you paused and realized your dog is growing older right in front of you? 🐶💔 At Alan’s K9 Academy, we work with dogs of all ages—from energetic puppies to wise senior companions—and one truth always stands out: time with your dog moves faster than you think.
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🐾 Why Alan’s K9 Academy Is Blue and Yellow
When people ask why Alan’s K9 Academy is blue and yellow, they usually expect some clean branding answer—something about psychology, trust, energy, or visibility.
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Frequently asked questions

Is it worth hiring someone to train your dog?

Absolutely! Investing in professional training for your furry friend is like giving them the gift of communication. It's not just about obedience; it's about building a deeper bond. Trained dogs are happier, more confident, and safer companions. Plus, it fosters mutual respect and understanding.

What Type Of Training Methods Do You Use?

We promote positive reinforcement training. We also use a variety of training methods and training aids to achieve the goals of our dog owners and their pets.‍

How Much Does Your Obedience Training Cost? 

Each of our dog training programs is custom-tailored to the specific situation. There are a number of factors that we evaluate prior to building a training package for you, such as your dog's age, temperament, previous training, as well as the desired goals of the dog's parents. Our programs vary in price depending on where your dog is currently, and how long we estimate it will take to reach your goals. The only way we can give an accurate quote is by evaluating your dog. Our signature 6-week program is $2,900, but not every single dog we meet is a great fit.

Where Do We Train?

Alan's K9 Academy offers personalized, in-home dog training, as well as training sessions at our 12 Acre facility in Cartersville. Our 12-acre facility location allows us to train dogs in real-world settings, such as parks, downtown area, pet friendly stores ensuring they learn to stay calm and well-behaved in various environments. Each dog enjoys multiple walks and daily field trips around the neighborhood, promoting socialization and building a calm, neutral demeanor. Our training approach emphasizes desensitization, social skills, and confidence-building for balanced, happy dogs. For our clients, we also provide exclusive boarding at our 12-acre training facility, where dogs can enjoy continued training, playtime, and exercise. Convenient pick-up and drop-off services are available to make the experience stress-free.

‍Do We Offer Payment Plans?

Yes, we offer financing through AFFIRM, Klarna, or Lending USA options to our clients. Payment plans can vary as low as $120 a month for up to 3 years.

Do you take all dogs regardless of age, breed, or issues?

We take any breed and any age needing obedience training or behavioral issues. Our goal is to assist as many dogs and owners as possible. Aggression and behavioral issues would require a much longer and more intensive program. We are happy to work with any dog needing help with insecurity, anxiety, impulse control, hyperactivity, leash reactivity, dog reactivity, etc. We have decades of experience working with high-drive breeds.

Do you offer therapy or service dog training?

Yes! We also offer therapy dog training and service dog training, though we don't currently advertise them. If this is a need, please contact us with the form for more information. To answer this question, we will start by explaining what a service dog does and how a service dog is different from a therapy dog and an emotional support dog. A service dog, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, is a dog individually trained to perform specific tasks and to work with people with disabilities. The work of a service dog must be directly related to the handler's disability. The ADA mandates that service dogs have full public access rights. Therapy dogs are trained to be comfortable in new environments and to interact with different people. They typically have certain personality traits, and they volunteer in clinical settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Therapy dogs do not have the same legal right to access service dogs, and although a dog can be certified as a therapy dog through an organization, there are no uniform state or national rules that regulate the certification. Emotional support dogs are not considered service dogs under the ADA. They may be trained for a specific owner, but they are not trained for specific tasks or duties to aid a person with a disability. ESA owners have only limited legal rights, and those typically require a letter of diagnosis from a doctor or psychiatrist. They have certain access when it comes to housing but do not have unlimited access to public spaces.

Why should I work with you instead of a less expensive trainer?

Veterinarians wholeheartedly trust and endorse our exceptional dog training services. We have over 75 years of combined experience training dogs to obey. Alan, the owner, holds a master trainer certification. Most dog trainers and stores like Petco and PetSmart just don't have the same level of knowledge and expertise that we do. In fact, one of our clients was referred to us by PetSmart because they couldn't help them! When you work with a higher-quality trainer, you skip many of the struggles that come with hiring someone cheaper, including unintended and negative consequences for your dog's behavior! Our training method builds a rewarding relationship with you and your dog.