Blazing Trails K9 Academy
Blazing Trails K9 Academy
Most people think virtual training is what you settle for when in-person isn't an option. That's backwards. Some of my best handlers are virtual and hybrid clients — and I mean that literally, not as a sales line.
And this isn't just obedience over video. We do real behavior work virtually too — not every trainer will, but we've built a solid track record working through a variety of behavior cases this way, and in some cases it actually works better.
Request Your Free Phone ConsultWhen I'm not in the room, I can't step in and fix it for you. That sounds like a disadvantage. In practice, it means you learn to actually run the training yourself, from session one, instead of watching me do it and hoping it transfers later. The dog listens to you from the start, because you're the one giving the cues.
I also see things differently through a camera than I do standing next to you. I'm watching the dog's eyes, the body language, the moment attention breaks — not managing the room, not being a distraction the dog is reacting to. For fearful or reactive dogs especially, that matters. A stranger walking into the house is often the last thing that dog needs early on.
We offer both. Straight virtual is entirely remote. Hybrid blends in-person sessions with virtual ones. Here's the thing most people don't expect: some of my best handlers come out of the hybrid program. It's not the "in-between, not quite as good" option people assume it is when they hear the word "hybrid." It just takes a learner willing to follow direction closely through both video and voice, not just watch and copy — and those handlers end up with dogs that listen to them, from the ground up.
Every dog is different, so we start with a free 20-30 minute phone consult to understand your goals before recommending a program. All three options below include our "Trainer In Your Pocket" Marco Polo support, so help is never more than a video message away. Prefer to work together fully in person? See our Private Lessons page instead.
Not sure which one fits your dog? That's exactly what the free phone consult is for — let's talk it through.
Almost everyone feels weird on camera the first few sessions. That goes away fast. And the tech itself is simple — Google Meet, nothing complicated. I'll walk you through it before we ever start.
This is the real one. It's not that people don't understand the instructions. It's that translating an instruction into your hands, and getting the dog to actually respond, is a skill — and when it doesn't click right away, people assume the dog is broken, or the method is broken. Neither is true. That's exactly why I'm still watching and adjusting in real time, not handing you a lesson plan and disappearing.
Most training runs on a schedule — see your trainer every week or two, hope your dog is ready to move forward by the next appointment. Trainer in Your Pocket means we're with you almost any time in between, not just at your next scheduled visit. When I see your dog has actually got it — ready for the next cue, ready to add distractions, ready to build on what you just nailed — we move forward right then, usually with a response from me within 24 business hours. No waiting two weeks for the calendar to catch up to what your dog already knows.
It's not just video, and it's not just text or email support either. Watching short clips lets me tweak things on the fly — little timing adjustments, small handling changes — that I'd never catch from a written update. And you're not stuck saving up your questions for the next appointment. The random thing that's bugging you, the moment you need to vent about your puppy, the question that popped into your head five minutes ago — you can ask it right then, while it's still fresh.
It also means I can coach up other family members who are working with the dog, even ones I've never met in person. Kids, spouses, whoever else is handling your dog day to day — I can watch how they're doing it and guide them directly, without ever needing them in the room with me.
And honestly, I'm not just watching for the technical stuff. I'm your cheerleader too — celebrating the wins with you, because watching a dog and owner turn a corner is still my favorite part of this job after forty years.
"We were able to use her Trainer in Your Pocket system so she could really see his behaviors and help us understand his triggers. Lynn was like a translator between us and our dog when we weren't speaking the same language. She really knows how to bring out the best in a dog." — Samantha Pike
That's the difference between training on a fixed schedule and training at the pace your dog is actually capable of.
Virtual works best with a handler who's paying attention — genuinely distracted households (TV on, kids running through, three other dogs underfoot) make it harder, though that's also just real life, and real life is what your dog has to function in anyway. Some things do need to be caught live, before a habit sets in. And a few things are just easier to show you in person. I won't pretend virtual solves everything. I'll tell you honestly when it's not the right fit for what you're dealing with.
"The virtual classes were amazing! We did two in-person classes to help with the progress. I thought I might have to remove one of my dogs… so thankful for finding an amazing trainer!"— Mary S.
This dog had never been on a leash. He was so terrified he wouldn't even eat in front of people. We worked together entirely by video, at the height of COVID, and that changed.
"Lynne was able to do a video consult, and just through the phone she saw everything about his personality. After following her advice, we had him walking with us on a leash in less than 2 hours. His personality has changed drastically — all from one video call."— Brent Brighton
Let's talk it through — free 20–30 minute phone consult.
Request Your Free Phone Consult