FORTUNATE K9 is devoted to helping dogs and their owners find success through a combination of time-tested methods and individualized programs.

 

   Because our knowledge comes from years of hands-on experience with dogs of all breeds and temperaments, you will get the answers you and your dog need, whether they are for simple good manners or intensive, life-saving behavior modification. We guarantee that you will see a positive difference in your dog’s behavior the very first time we work together.

Why Train With Us?

    Proven, real world training experience plus genuine empathy for dogs and the people who love them make FORTUNATE K9 the first choice of informed dog owners. Clients are referred to us by veterinarians, humane societies and rescues, and even other dog trainers. We offer you the insight you need to understand your dog’s behavior, and we effectively teach the skills you need to address it.

    Julia began formally training at the age of twelve, when she trained and titled dogs in AKC obedience competitions for friends and neighbors. As an adult, she turned her attention to solving the dog behavior problems that complicated many pet owners' lives, and along the way became a nationally recognized and respected professional due to her no-nonsense, results-oriented approach and her compassion for dogs and their owners. Julia was the Training Director for Doberman Rescue Unlimited from 1998-2005, and started their "DRU University" shelter dog program, which served as a model for shelters and rescue groups across the country.

 

    She was also the senior trainer on staff at Olympia Kennels training hundreds of  dogs who were there for basic to advanced obedience and behavior modification, while also handling dogs in personal protection and Schutzhund training.

    Julia has conducted seminars and presentations for numerous humane groups and training organizations, focusing on balanced training and working with aggressive and defensive dogs. Her monthly column “The Canine Contrarian” appears in the Dog In Sight newspaper. Her training articles have been published in magazines such as Schutzhund USA, The Aggression Newsletter, The North American Working Bouvier Association Journal, Griffonnier and the IACP Safehands Journal, and are handed out as brochures by shelters and rescue groups around the country, as well as appearing on numerous training websites.

 

    Julia was honored by the International Association of Canine Professionals as a “Certified Dog Trainer” based on her extensive experience and history with the organization. Several of her current students compete very successfully in AKC Obedience and Rally Obedience, and have titled their dogs with the entry level of “BH” in Schutzhund and “WDTT” in the new AKC Working Dog Sport.

 

    Julia and her faithful demo dog, Kinderspiel v. DRU, CGC, have even appeared on the NBC Today Show! Described by some of her students as a "life coach for dog owners”, Julia is an articulate champion of common sense and compassion, and a clever and effective “translator” between human and dog.

Gus, CGC proves that “difficult” breeds aren’t difficult for us!

Easy-going dogs sit shoulder to shoulder with previously “incorrigible” classmates in our Advanced Group Class, “The Ruff Crowd”.

Julia with Doc de Brucelee BH and Jane Doe v. DRU BH

Julia and Corazon von Rubenhof demonstrate the joy of a training partnership.

WHEN YOU’RE READY FOR RESULTS!

29 South Ave.  Derry, NH

1 mile from exit 4 off I-93

 

Click for map

Visit our News/Updates page for the latest class announcements and additional important information!

Rick Froton has been Julia’s training partner since 2000 when he was hired as a paid trainer on the staff at Doberman Rescue Unlimited where Julia was the Training Director. He had helped DRU in the late 80’s with transport and as the “muscle” at the DRU dog tattoo clinics. When he returned from California in 2000 he contacted DRU to volunteer his time and was offered a paid trainer position that day by the President of DRU based on the performance and training of his dogs.  Though Julia was extremely skeptical about taking on another trainer after spending too much of her time coaching the volunteer “trainers” that tend to flock to rescues and shelters, she was impressed with Rick’s extensive knowledge, commitment and ability. The partnership has grown beyond anyone's expectations into the finest dog training school in New England.  Below is an interview with Rick that should provide a helpful look into his background and training philosophy.

Rick demonstrating the value of a good sit/stay command with Izzy.

Catching up on some paperwork at our former location with  two FK9 boarding students Millie and Fenway.

When did you get started?

--- I have been a consumer of training since the 80’s and have had the privilege of training with some of the best trainers in the country.  I began my professional training career in 2000 when I was hired by Doberman Rescue Unlimited as a paid staff trainer. The offer was a surprise since I had visited DRU on my return from California to volunteer some time transporting dogs or helping in anyway I could as I had 12 years earlier. Apparently my dogs made a lasting impression as I was offered a paid training job when I walked through the door.  At that time I was working for myself in another field which allowed me to set my own hours so I took the job.  Julia was on vacation when I was offered the position and she was not looking forward to having to waste time coaching another trainer wannabe that “wuvs doggies”. Now look at us and what Fortunate K9 has become. It makes me smile when I look back on those first few weeks.

 

Was it difficult to modify your training style to accommodate Julia’s method?

--- Her system is very balanced and logical making it easy to understand and implement. There were a few habits I had to break but other than that it was a seamless transition.

 

What's the most common misconception that people have about dogs?
--- That their dog will “grow out of” undesirable behavior. Dogs will tend to “grow into” bad behavior if you do not take action to correct them and provide proper training.  By far the greatest number of dogs we see are 2-4 years old and all of them should have started training earlier when the problems began to surface. Another misconception… that the dogs are little fur kids. False!  

 

What's the most common behavioral problem that you encounter?
--- The most common problem I encounter is the complete lack of a proper relationship between owner and the dog.  Many times the owner is viewed by the dog as nothing more than a servant whose function is to feed and pet when the dog demands attention.  Demand barking, growling and pushy body language from the dog gets rewarded and thus the dog learns to control his world versus working as the low ranking member of a balanced team.  This dysfunctional relationship then leads to all sorts of undesirable behavior.

If you train a dog on neutral territory, will it behave the same on its home turf?
--- Good training is completely transferable. We have found that bringing the owner and dog out of their “comfort zone” and working on neutral territory helps to focus the lessons. The distractions of home tend to slow the lesson. Having performed many home visits in the past I can comfortably say that learning takes place faster and with greater clarity at a safe comfortable training facility.  We selected our training space specifically because its location also allows us the flexibility to train in downtown Derry, along the bike paths and at the nearby dog park.

 

  Of course it would be nice to eliminate all the expenses that accompany a training facility (rent, utilities, insurance etc…) and train out of a car but that would not provide the best and most consistent results.  Occasionally if there still is an unresolved issue we will visited a client’s home AFTER they have completed one of our programs, though that is rarely necessary.

 

What's the best age to train a dog?  If a dog is not trained as a puppy, is it too late to reverse established habits?
---  Any age greater than 12 weeks.  You should never give up on your dog because you think he may be too old.  If your senior dog’s behavior is becoming an issue (and you have ruled out any health concerns with your Vet) you need to start training ASAP.  Many of my favorite success stories are dogs who are 7, 9 or even 11 years old.

What was your proudest moment?
--- Every time I hear about the positive change the training is having on a dog and owner. This takes place essentially every day. The big moments are typically during the turn over lesson after a dog has been with us for our Boarding School program.  Owners become very emotional when they see what can be and realize that their future life with their dog looks so much brighter than the tension and frustration that had been part of their everyday life till that day.  When you also consider that almost all of our students have trained with at least one other trainer it creates a very high level of satisfaction and pride when I can solve the problem when the owner had little hope based on their past disappointment with training. 

 

Have you ever been bitten?

--- Yes. Thankfully nothing serious.  If you are going to put your hands on dogs and be near dogs that communicate with their teeth, the odds are that eventually you will learn what a bite feels like. 

What is your success rate? How many students get an F in your class?

--- If the owners are willing to put in the time and follow the program I am comfortable saying we have a 98.999959% success rate.  Sometimes however, a dog is a mismatch for the owners situation whether that is lifestyle or expectations of behavior.   A  Boerbel Mastiff or Caucasian Ovcharka might not be the best choice if you insist that your dog must “love” everybody and/or you have an active social life.  Same for the Jack Russell owner who wants a nice quiet lap dog.  This is why I always tell people to research a breed before buying.  Breeders and rescues can say whatever they want about their dogs and make every dog sound like Lassie. However, you should meet at least 2-3 examples of the breed before deciding.  Having a dog growl at you for your entire visit may cause you to consider that nice black Lab instead of the Fila.

 

Do you have a favorite breed or type of dog?

--- No. I try to see the best in all breeds and more importantly I respect that the genetics matter.  Dogs bred for thousands of years to perform a specific task are not going to immediately forget that task just because you want one for a companion. So the German Shepherd will likely be very vocal and alert often, the Border Collie will herd your kids and neighbors kids, the Pit Bull is probably not a good choice for dog parks visits etc… etc…  Yet each of those breeds has the potential to be great pets and companions with the right training and home life.

 

What's the best part of being a dog trainer?

--- Teaching the owners that there is a better way and that they can have their life back. And I also get to “play” with dogs all day.

 

What's the most difficult aspect of being a dog trainer?

 --- Knowing that a dog may be euthanized because the owners do not get it!  Whether it is the aforementioned mismatch of lifestyle and breed or an unwillingness to change their behavior. Another issue is the amazing increase in the number of “trainers” and the fact that most are going to fail their clients. When that happens good dogs are going to pay a very high price. It is sad when the owners give up on the dog because of ineffective training.  Watching the “Dog Whisperer” DVD box set, reading a couple of books on “positive only” training and attending an echo chamber seminar every 2 weeks or joining 5 or 6 associations and taking the multiple choice “certification” tests is not going to do the job.  There are a lot of people taking money to train dogs who really have no business doing so and it is sad that the dogs have to pay for the hubris and incompetence of these “trainers”.  Adding insult to injury is the fact that many of these “trainers" actually expect the prospective client to pay for the initial evaluation before the training has begun. Dog owners need to expect more. Dogs break your heart because their lives are so short in comparison to our own. It is essential to make the most of that precious time and demand results from your trainer. 

 

If you had to sum up your philosophy of training, what would it be?

 --- Stop waiting for the dog to guess what you want. Teach the dog what you want and then proof that behavior under as many different real life situations as possible until it becomes the default behavior.  Obedience training is NOT trick training. Solid obedience training will save your dogs life, prevent him from overreacting and create a better relationship than all that couch time feeding him biscuits and stroking his fur.  Effective training provides clarity and clarity is the greatest gift you can give your dog.

 

 

 

 

Rick with his Doberman “Blue” aka Geronimo von Rubenhof CGC the day of his CGC test. Rick had not planned to participate in the CGC evaluations however  Rick thought that while he was there he might as well get the certification.  The reason Blue was with him that day was to have some fun doing this after the CGC evaluations were completed… YouTube Video  proving that a well trained dog can have it all!  Or as one of the YouTube comments states

“... Calm, focused and under control.” 

All content copyright Fortunate K9 Dog and Owner Training

Julia V. McDonough, CDT

Co-Owner, Training Director

 

IACP Professional #1100

 

Rick Froton

Co-Owner, Trainer

 

603-432-K9K9

 

CLICK TO CONTACT US

Big dog or small dog, we train them all!  We offer breed appropriate training and behavior modification for dogs of all ages that is the benchmark in our profession. Our program is easy to understand and easy to implement at home or wherever you may travel with your dog.

Proud puppy owners and their well behaved companions at our Puppy Prep class

Ron and Dianna with their well balanced pack

Blue taking a break on a discarded wobbly three legged chair along Beacon St. in Brookline MA at the height of rush hour.

Westminster just happened and that usually means that the winner's breed (this year, a Sussex Spaniel) becomes popular. Besides that obvious one, do you see trends among dog owners?

 --- Regarding trends; we are seeing a tremendous number of Southern dogs coming into the region.  Unfortunately I suspect that a fair share of these dogs are being sent up because their temperaments make them unadoptable in their home towns.  However, I am pleased with the fact that most of these dogs have responded well to training.  Regarding the AKC and dog popularity; I am concerned that the Dogue De Bordeaux has been recognized as an AKC breed. Many breeders will “sell” the idea that the breed is for everyone when in fact the Bordeaux is typically good with immediate family and very frequent guests but not tolerant of strangers. Sooo… if you have an active social life or have friends or relatives that drop in occasionally you may want to consider a more social breed.

 

Your company is called "Fortunate K9 Dog & Owner Training". Who's harder to teach, the dog or the owner?

---  The owner.

 

Personal history: everyone has had a "best dog". What made your best dog your best dog?

---  The dog that taught me the value of training and the tremendous amount of freedom it can bring.  While still in college I acquired Sadie (Doberman/Lab) in 1984 from the pound in Sterling MA. I then set out to learn how to train her. After fits and starts, failed attempts and tremendous success I learned what was effective and what was less than effective. I was living in Brookline at the time and my schedule allowed me a lot of free time to spend exploring Boston metro.  I was determined to have off lead reliability in order to allow us to have as much freedom as possible. I spent countless hours along the Charles River, in Franklin Park, Larz Anderson Park, the Boston Common etc… etc… and because Sadie’s reliability was rock solid I was able to go places and do things most dog owners would never consider (or should never consider). This was before the advent of dog parks and I am happy for that fact.  I traveled across the US a half dozen times with her by my side.  We walked along the Rio Grande and visited trainers at the far outposts of the country.  She attacked muggers in Arkansas (good girl!) and stared down a loose bull in Texas, found an eagle’s nest in the buttes of Utah (left undisturbed!) and ran along Ocean Beach in San Francisco. The training never failed me and I could never imagine a life with dogs that did not include the bond that training can create. Maybe she would have been just as happy sitting on the couch all day BUT… I doubt it. She was with me for 11 years and I miss her while I write this and think about her and the adventures we had every day.  What made her the best dog?  Time and an open mind. I took her everywhere and was willing to listen to all trainers who had experience and could show me well trained dogs.  I was fortunate that this was a time before the Internet and also a period when dog training books were in fact about dog training.  Imagine that!  Thankfully I had the time to invest in her. A dog is not an appliance. If you think that a few minutes a day of head scratching and petting with the occasional treat will build a healthy bond you are mistaken.

 

It is not always “big” moments that need an obedient dog! Boarding school student Hampton the Bull Mastiff on one of many real world in-town training sessions.

FK9 students demonstrate attention downs in a casual position and Rick works with a Boarding School student under distraction.