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Alan's K9 Academy

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Our newest blog

🐾 Proofing Commands: Why Dogs Fail Outside the Living Room

“He listens perfectly at home.” “The moment we go outside, it’s like he’s never been trained.”
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Alan Carr
February 8, 2026
🐾 The Difference Between Fear, Anxiety, and Arousal in Dog Behavior
Dogs don’t misbehave “for no reason.” Every behavior is driven by an internal state — and one of the biggest mistakes owners make is lumping very different emotional states into the same category.
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🐾 Socialization vs. Exposure: Why Flooding Attention Can Backfire?
“Just expose them more.” “Throw them into it and they’ll get used to it.” “They need to see everything to be socialized.” These phrases are common in dog training advice — and they’re also responsible for creating fear, reactivity, and long-term behavioral issues in countless dogs.
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🐾 Puppy Fear Periods: What Owners Must Know to Prevent Future Issues
Puppyhood isn’t just about cute moments and basic training — it’s also a critical developmental phase that can shape a dog’s emotional stability for life. One of the most misunderstood parts of this stage is fear periods.
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🐾 The Science of Timing: Why Reward Placement Matters More Than Treat Quality
One of the most common mistakes dog owners make is focusing on what they reward instead of when they reward. High-value treats. Fancy food. Special toys. None of those matter if the reward arrives at the wrong moment.
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🐾 Why Regressions Happen in Dog Training — and Why They’re Not Failure
One of the most discouraging moments in dog training happens when things seem to be going well… and then suddenly, they’re not.
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🐾 How Long Does It Really Take to Change a Dog’s Behavior?
One of the first questions dog owners ask is also one of the hardest to answer honestly: “How long will it take to fix my dog’s behavior?” The internet is full of promises — 7 days, 2 weeks, instant results, quick fixes. But behavior science tells a very different story.
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🐾 Why Punishment Suppresses Behavior — but Doesn’t Fix It
Punishment is one of the most misunderstood concepts in dog training. It’s often discussed in extremes: either promoted as the solution to every problem or rejected entirely as harmful. Neither position reflects how dogs actually learn.
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🐾 How Dogs Actually Learn: Classical vs. Operant Conditioning Explained
Dog training advice is everywhere — social media clips, heated debates, and buzzwords that sound convincing but often lack substance. Beneath all of it, dog training is governed by one thing:
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E-Collars: Evidence Doesn’t Care About Your Feelings
Few tools in dog training trigger more emotional reactions than the e-collar. And that reaction is exactly the problem.
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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.