K9 Connection holds obedience training space available to sign up owners and their dogs

“I’m hoping to learn the basics of communicating with my dog, I don’t want my dog to be neglected,” said Monica Peters, an Akwesasne resident who will begin basic obedience training with her 3-year-old Akita/German Shepherd mix Niiohontesha. “When people decide that they want to attend dog training class it allows for their dog to be better integrated into the family.”

The class in question is being organized by local dog trainer Andrea Dugan, who has over 25-years of experience training in dog sports. Dugan’s business, K9 Connection, has been serving not only the North Country, but has been providing support to groups nationally for years. Starting in the sport of Schutzhund, which is a way of determining whether a dog exhibits the traits for police-type work, Dugan did not agree with the training methods used. At the time using force and harsh corrections on the dog was popular, but after years of research and attending seminars on dog behavior Dugan developed her own methods of training.

“There are three classes being offered, the beginners course teaches the owner/handler how to establish a communication system to tell the dog whether a behavior is correct or incorrect,” said Dugan. “This is accomplished without using force on the dog. They learn the commands ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘sit stay’, ‘down stay’, ‘come when called’, and to walk on a loose leash.”

In addition to the basic obedience course, K9 Connection will also hold an advanced obedience course and a course on training agility. The location for these trainings is at Dugans residence on Haverstock Road on the way to Massena. A fenced in area provides a safe place for dogs and handlers to begin developing their obedience skills.

“The advanced level of obedience teaches the dog how to perform the desired behavior even with environmental stimulants trying to distract them,” said Dugan. “Whereas agility teaches handlers control over the dog behaviors while teaching them jumps, to go through tunnels, to go through weave poles and around pylons.”

Ideally anyone interested in agility work should first master the beginners level skills and then to work up to the other two levels. A strong foundation will increase the dog’s reliability on the agility course, or in any other situation that owner and dog might encounter.

“Ideally, I would like to bring Niiohontesha with me during my day,” said Peters. “If I go into a place that does not accept dogs then I like to take her out and walk her a little before we get back into the vehicle, which provides me with exercise.”

The course itself costs $75 for 6-weeks of lessons, all classes taking place outdoors. In the event of rain on one of the scheduled dates the class will be postponed to the following week. With a limitation of 8-dogs per class, the basic level is scheduled to begin this coming Monday, June 13 at 6:00pm. The advanced level obedience is being held on Tuesdays at 6:00pm, with Agility slated for Wednesday evenings that same week also at 6:00pm.

“Having titled dogs in Schutzhund, Obedience, Tracking, Rally, Herding and Agility with two dogs having achieved their Canine Good Citizenship test and passing the temperament test to become therapy dogs, I have been very successful in this field,” said Dugan. “Now I’m a judge for mixed-breed dog sports. All of this experience means that the methods I have developed are unique and effective.”

For more information about K9 Connection visit her website at

http://www.infinitejourneydogtraining.com. For additional options for dog training around Akwesasne, the Cornwall Kennel Club offers classes at least twice a year at a cost of $80 for 6-weeks, or Shannoncourt Dog Training in Martintown who also offer 6-week training for $120.