Dog TRAINING
For Every stage of life
Whether you’re raising a new puppy, preparing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, building off leash reliability, or addressing behavior challenges, we offer programs designed to help dogs and owners succeed together.
Helping Northern Colorado dogs and owners build better relationships since 2014
The principles
WE live by
Great training is not just about obedience. It is about creating clarity, confidence, and trust between you and your dog.
Timing
Timing is one of the most important aspects of dog training. Dogs learn through clear, immediate feedback, so rewards and corrections must occur the moment a behavior happens for the dog to make the connection between its actions and the outcome. Precise, consistent timing creates clear communication, speeds up the learning process, and helps dogs understand exactly which behaviors are being encouraged and which need to change. When your timing is accurate, training becomes more effective, reliable, and fair for your dog.
Motivation
Effective dog training starts with understanding what motivates each individual dog. Some dogs respond best to food, toys, praise, or correction, while others may need a different approach entirely. At Mountain State K9 Academy, we tailor training to the dog in front of us because no two dogs learn the same way. Finding what drives your dog is what creates clear communication, reliable behavior, and long term success.
Consistency
Consistency is what gives dogs clarity and confidence during training. When commands, expectations, and follow through change from moment to moment, dogs become confused about what is being asked of them. Clear, consistent communication helps your dog understand exactly what is expected the first time a command is given, creating more reliable behavior and a stronger relationship between dog and handler.
How It Works
Initial Consultation
Schedule a free consultation where we assess your dog's behavior, temperament, and training needs to build a personalized plan.
Customized Training Plan
We design a tailored training program based on your goals, whether it's obedience, behavior correction, or advanced skills.
Training & Progress
Your dog begins their training journey with our certified trainers. We provide regular updates and progress reports throughout.
Graduation & Support
Your dog graduates with new skills and confidence. We provide a handler session and ongoing support to ensure lasting results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about our training programs.
Every dog is different, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all training schedule. The frequency and length of your dog’s training sessions depend on their individual progress, learning style, age, and attention span.
For most dogs, we find that multiple shorter training sessions throughout the day are the most effective. These shorter sessions keep your dog engaged, prevent mental fatigue, and allow us to reinforce new behaviors more consistently.
As your dog progresses and develops a solid understanding of their commands, our focus shifts toward building duration, reliability, and real-world application. At that stage, training sessions may become longer but less frequent, allowing us to challenge your dog in more advanced scenarios and ensure they can maintain behaviors despite distractions.
Our goal is always to tailor the training to your dog’s individual needs, ensuring they learn efficiently while enjoying the process.
No. Dogs enrolled in our training programs do not participate in group daycare or free play with other dogs.
Our priority is helping your dog learn, and we want to preserve their physical and mental energy for productive training sessions. Free play can leave dogs tired, overstimulated, or distracted, making it more difficult for them to focus and retain what they’re learning.
Instead, your dog will receive structured training sessions, individual exercise, potty breaks, enrichment, and plenty of time to rest and process what they’ve learned. This balanced routine helps maximize progress and sets your dog up for long-term success.
Many dogs know how to sit, down, or come when they’re at home in a familiar environment. The real question is: Can they do those same commands reliably when distractions are present?
Our goal isn’t just to teach commands; it’s to build reliability, consistency, and confidence in real-world situations. We gradually increase distractions and challenge your dog in different environments, such as parks, restaurant patios, neighborhood walks, pet-friendly stores, and family gatherings.
We also focus on teaching your dog to:
- Respond the first time they’re asked.
- Stay focused despite distractions.
- Maintain commands for longer durations.
- Make good decisions in exciting or stressful situations.
- Look to their handler for guidance instead of reacting to their environment.
Knowing a command is only the beginning. A truly well-trained dog is one that listens and responds no matter where they are or what’s happening around them.
Aggression is a complex behavior, and no ethical trainer can guarantee that it can be completely “fixed.” However, we can help your dog learn more appropriate behaviors, improve impulse control, and teach them how to navigate situations safely and successfully.
Not every dog needs, or wants, to interact with other dogs or unfamiliar people. Just like people, some dogs are simply more comfortable keeping their distance. Our goal is not to force social interactions but to teach your dog to remain calm, responsive, and under control, even when triggers are present.
With experience working with thousands of dogs displaying aggressive or reactive behaviors, we’ve found that obedience, clear communication, and reliable handler control are far more valuable than encouraging nose-to-nose greetings. We focus on building your dog’s confidence, teaching them how to make better choices, and giving you the skills to safely manage them in everyday life.
Success doesn’t always mean your dog becomes everyone’s best friend; it means they can safely coexist with the world around them while remaining under your control.
Separation anxiety is a complex emotional condition, and there is no quick or guaranteed “fix.” However, we can help your dog develop healthier coping skills, build confidence, and learn to remain calmer when left alone.
Every dog is different, and progress depends on the severity of the anxiety, your dog’s temperament, and your consistency once they return home. Through structured training, confidence-building exercises, clear routines, and owner education, many dogs learn to better manage their stress and become more independent over time.
Our goal is to improve your dog’s quality of life by reducing anxiety, teaching them appropriate behaviors, and giving you the tools to continue their progress at home. Lasting success comes from consistency, patience, and ongoing reinforcement.
Generally, we do not recommend visits during Board & Train programs. Seeing their owners often interrupts the training process and can make it more difficult for dogs to settle back into their routine afterward. Our goal is to keep your dog focused and progressing consistently throughout their stay.
Not necessarily. Our goal is not to turn every dog into a “dog park dog.” Instead, we teach dogs how to remain calm, confident, and under control around other dogs without feeling the need to interact with them.
For dogs that are fearful or anxious, forcing social interactions can actually increase stress and, in some cases, make fearful behaviors worse. A well-socialized dog isn’t one that wants to greet every dog they see; it’s one that can safely and calmly exist around other dogs without reacting.
Through training, we help your dog build confidence, improve obedience, and learn to focus on you instead of the dogs around them. Many dogs become much more comfortable walking through parks, visiting pet-friendly stores, or passing other dogs on a trail. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll enjoy or benefit from off-leash play at a dog park.
Our priority is helping your dog succeed in everyday life, not forcing interactions that may make them uncomfortable.
Absolutely not! Our facility is fully staffed every day from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM, including weekends. While your trainer may have scheduled days off, your dog continues to receive exceptional care from our experienced kennel staff.
Throughout the day, your dog receives regular potty breaks, enrichment, meals, fresh water, and plenty of individual attention to ensure they remain comfortable and well cared for.
In many cases, we actually recommend that training dogs stay with us over the weekend rather than going home. Returning home for just a day or two can unintentionally reinforce old habits that we’re working to change. Keeping your dog in a consistent environment helps maintain structure and sets them up for greater success when training resumes.
Our goal is to provide your dog with a safe, structured routine every day they’re in our care, even when formal training sessions aren’t taking place.
Training is not a magic fix; it’s the beginning of a lifelong relationship between you and your dog.
Our job is to teach your dog new skills, build reliable behaviors, and give you the tools to communicate effectively with them. Just as importantly, we teach you how to maintain and reinforce those behaviors once your dog goes home.
The results you see will depend on several factors, including your dog’s temperament, age, history, and, most importantly, your consistency after training. Dogs thrive on clear expectations and regular practice. If you continue using the techniques we teach you, your dog can make incredible progress.
We don’t promise perfection, but we do promise to give you and your dog the foundation, knowledge, and support needed to achieve lasting success. Training is an investment that continues long after your dog leaves our facility.
Training doesn’t end when your dog goes home. While we’ll build an excellent foundation during their program, maintaining and improving those behaviors is a lifelong process. Your consistency after training is one of the biggest factors in your dog’s long-term success.
Of course! Training isn’t about taking the fun out of your dog, it’s about creating more opportunities for them to enjoy life safely. A well-trained dog gets to go more places, experience more adventures, and enjoy greater freedom because they understand what’s expected of them.
Still have questions?
If you don’t see the answer to what you’re looking for reach out to us. We’re happy to help!