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The CK9 Training Method
Learn to Play. Play to Learn.
Introduction
At Callander K9 we believe great behaviour comes from a calm nervous system, not force or obedience.
Our training method builds a dog’s confidence, focus and emotional regulation through three progressive steps:
Play, Disengagement and Self-Control.
Step 1: The Power of Play
At Callander K9, We understand that play is an essential part of behaviour. Play can solve almost all struggles you may have with your dog.
Play is not just fun.
It builds emotional regulation, drive control and connection.
Before we ask for focus, we create motivation.
Dogs learn through movement, instinct and reward.
If your dog struggles with over-excitement, pulling or switching off outdoors,
this is your starting point.
Step 2: Disengagement
Choosing You Over Distraction
Disengagement is the bridge between instinct and control.
Your dog notices a distractionand chooses you instead.
We are not forcing eye contact. We are rewarding recovery.
This step helps dogs:
• Lower reactivity
• Reduce pulling
• Move out of fixation
• Build emotional control inside arousal
Instead of escalating into barking or chasing, we reinforce the return.
This is where behaviour begins to change.
Disengagement teaches your dog to think inside excitement.
Not suppress it.
Not avoid it.
Work through it.
Step 3: Self-Control, Habitual Behaviours
& Frustration Tolerance
Building Stability That Lasts
Self-control is not obedience.
It is the ability to:
- Pause.
- To wait.
- To think before reacting.
Many behaviour struggles are not about stubbornness.
They are about frustration.
A dog that cannot cope with delay, restriction or “not yet”
will rehearse behaviours that become habits.
Pulling.
Barking.
Demanding.
Fixating.
Exploding when prevented.
If repeated often enough, those responses wire into the nervous system.
This stage of training builds:
• Wait and release cues
• Boundary and bed skills
• Toy control and switching
• Calm holds in exciting environments
• The ability to tolerate small amounts of frustration safely
We teach dogs that calm behaviour works.
- Not through force.
- Not through flooding.
But through structured games that build emotional resilience.
Frustration tolerance grows gradually.
If a fully grown dog reacts explosively when prevented,
that is not dominance.
It is an under-developed skill.
We build that skill safely.
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