Nick Clark knows a thing or two about getting dogs to behave. A self-proclaimed “dog geek” behind Clark’s K-9 Training, he wants to teach you what he knows. And he knows a lot.
“I got bit a lot at the beginning because I was doing things I saw done that just didn’t work, and so I learned my lesson pretty quick,” Clark said on a recent Friday afternoon.
Clark wants to help families who are struggling with their dog’s behavior. He believes by getting the dogs’ behavior problems fixed, it will keep them out of shelters and stop the killing of aggressive dogs.
While he trains dogs for a living, he recently offered his services for free. In April, Clark launched aGoFundMe page titled Free Public Dog Training. The money raised would be used to produce online dog training videos anyone can use for free.
Clark also hopes to provide free weekly group classes, a weekly or monthly podcast, weekly Q&A on dog training and behavior-related questions and mentoring for trainers.
Clark said, “There’s people out there who can’t pay for training. There’s people out there who’ve already paid for two trainers already. They’ve already paid for training they didn’t get, so why would I charge them?”
On Friday, Clark is working with a pet owner in Lenexa. Michelle Heyen adopted her dog, Grace, from a shelter five years ago. Grace is a 7 1/2-year-old mixed breed who’s very aggressive.
With her dog at her feet, Heyen told 41 Action News, “There was one time we were driving out to Shawnee Mission Park and I had all the windows down in the car and she jumped out of my moving car to attack a mini pony on the side of the road ... so that was a big sign.”
Grace also once busted through a window screen to attack a dog that had wandered into the family’s yard. Now living in a new home, Heyen is concerned about what could happen next.
“We just purchased a new house that has all single-pane windows and we realized we have to replace all of the windows in our house to double-pane or she will more than likely bust right through,” Heyen said.
Clark said while positive praise works for some dogs, it often doesn’t work for aggressive dogs or pets with severe behavior issues. During his training, Clark uses tools he said some may find barbaric such as a prong collar, or pinch collar.
While off-leash, he also occasionally uses a remote collar. He said they are necessary and they work.
Clark explained, "Today we are basically using these tools in the complete opposite way that we were doing it back in the day whereas one harsh correction will stop a behavior, but that doesn't work. Then your dog is compliant out of fear and not because they want to comply with you."
After spending a few minutes with Grace inside her home, the dog quickly responded to Clark's commands. He spent more time with the dog outside, teaching her to focus on him and not the group of dogs barking next door.
Grace's owner is hopeful this time the training will stick.
"My message would be just don't give up," Heyen said.
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