Sunshine K9 Training

Today I took one of our boarders to Lowe's. His owner specifically asked me to continue taking him on fun outings while they're away, so I combined one of my errands with a dog-friendly socialization trip.

It was 89° outside. Feels like 100°. That's exactly why we chose an air-conditioned, dog-friendly store instead of spending time outdoors.

Despite the fact that my foot is still healing from a fracture, I still made the effort to take him out. Because training is a lifestyle for us. No matter what's going on—rain or shine, freezing cold or brutally hot—we work with dogs in the environments they're going to encounter throughout their lives.

He crossed a short stretch of pavement, enjoyed a cool walk around the store, and then crossed that same short stretch back to the car. He wasn't exercising in the heat. He wasn't left in a vehicle. He wasn't showing signs of overheating. He was simply getting to enjoy an outing in a safe, climate-controlled environment.

Yet while I was checking out, employees standing directly behind me are criticizing people that take dogs out like this because "it's too hot for a dog."

Living in coastal Georgia means it's hot for a large part of the year. If the expectation is that dogs should never leave the house for several months because they'll have to cross a parking lot to reach a dog-friendly, air conditioned business, then many dogs would spend most of their lives sitting at home.

And that's not the life we believe in. That's lazy and unfair to an animal that's built for movement.

We got dogs to be part of our lives and part of our families—not to leave them at home 24/7. Training doesn't stop because it's inconvenient or uncomfortable for YOU. There are plenty of dog-friendly, air-conditioned businesses that allow us to safely socialize dogs during the summer months. In fact, a majority of our summer training happens in places like indoor hardware stores where dogs can experience real-world environments while staying cool.

All of our board and train dogs get exposure to these types of outings. And in the winter, we take advantage of the cooler weather and spend more time outside. We adjust based on the season, but we don't stop.

I wish I could spend more time outside with every dog in training, but many come to us not conditioned to heat because they've been kept indoors most of their lives. Our personal dogs, on the other hand, are well acclimated. They run, play, and enjoy being outside—even in the heat—because we live in Georgia, and it's hot here most of the year. They're acclimated to it.

Yes, I sweat. Yes, dogs pant. That's how bodies regulate temperature. But I'm not going to confine a dog to a couch just because it's hot outside. I'm going to give them a full life.

That also means using common sense. We shorten outdoor exposure, seek air-conditioned locations, watch for signs of heat stress, avoid unnecessary time on hot pavement, and adjust our plans based on the conditions. Keeping dogs safe has always been the priority.

The unfortunate reality is that no matter what you do, someone will find something to criticize. Whenever we take dogs on outings with booties on because the pavement is unavoidable, we get so many hateful comments about how unnatural it is for dogs to wear shoes. Damned if we do. Damned if we don't.

I'm going to keep doing what's best for the dogs in my care.

If you're genuinely concerned, I'd much rather you come talk to me than talk about me from a few feet away. We heard some nasty comments today and it's pretty disappointing, but hey, they clearly know better than I do. 🤷‍♀️🤣🐾☀️

Photo of Wyatt in his booties to offend those of you who hate them so much. 💙

If your dog's recall isn't reliable inside your house or your backyard, you should not expect reliability at the beach or park. Train at home. Train everywhere. So you and your dog can enjoy life together without worrying they'll make a poor choice.

🐍 There’s nothing worse than watching your best friend suffer from a venomous snake bite. 🐶

One unexpected encounter can turn into an emergency in a matter of seconds — and here in Georgia, snakes are simply part of the environment we share with our dogs.

That’s why Sunshine K9 Training is hosting Snake School for Dogs, with training provided by Southeastern Reptile Rescue, on Saturday, August 8th here in Brunswick.

Our own dogs will also be going through this program. After giving our clients the first opportunity to register, we’re now opening spots up to the community for dog owners who want extra peace of mind — especially if you hike, camp, hunt, spend time outdoors, or simply worry about your dog encountering snakes.

What is Snake School?
This is a professional snake-aversion training session designed to teach dogs to avoid snakes and reduce the likelihood of dangerous interactions. The training is led by Jason Clark and Southeastern Reptile Rescue, who have years of experience working with both dogs and native reptiles.

📅 Date: Saturday, August 8th
💲 Cost: $65 per dog
📍 Location: Sunshine K9 Training Property in Brunswick
(Exact address shared upon registration)

👉 To register:
Call Jason Clark at 404-557-2470
Or visit snakeschool.com for additional information.

We’re excited to bring this opportunity to our community and hope to see you and your dogs there! 🐾

We’ve recently made some major updates to our available Board & Train programs here at Sunshine K9 Training.

This message is coming directly from me — Lynsey, owner and trainer.

Over the last couple of years, I started noticing a pattern with shorter training programs. The dogs would come in, begin making incredible progress, develop better habits, clearer communication, improved confidence, and stronger obedience… and then many would go home to owners who simply weren’t prepared to continue the process despite knowing that's what they signed up for.

And honestly? We’re tired of just starting a process.

Dog training is not magic.
Board & Train is not a quick fix.
And no ethical trainer can permanently “fix” a dog without owner involvement.

That’s why we’ve officially removed our one and two-week Board & Train options from our available programs.

And to be completely transparent, I had a phone call last week that perfectly explains why.

Someone told me that their dog “already has everything they need” and that they “just need a one-week program”

Then they listed off the issues they were struggling with:
resource guarding, leash pulling, jumping on guests, biting children, attacking the cat, digging underneath the fence, attacking the neighbor’s chickens, and not coming when called.

When I explained that this sounded like far more than “just” a one-week issue, the response was:
“Well, another trainer said they can do it for half the cost and half the time.”

And honestly?
We truly wish them the best.

We sincerely hope that whoever they choose to work with trains their dog ethically and responsibly, and we hope the owners fully follow through with whatever instruction they’re given.

But situations like this are exactly why we’ve removed the shorter stays from our programs.

Real behavior change takes time.
It takes consistency of the humans.
It takes owner involvement.
And it takes realistic expectations and changing of habits which is just not an overnight process for our clientele.

Some owners come to us proactively with young puppies because they want to build great habits before problems ever begin. Others come to us because they’re struggling with leash reactivity, aggression, anxiety, overexcitement, impulse control, fearfulness, resource guarding, or a complete lack of structure and communication in the home.

No matter the situation, our goal is always the same:
Create clarity.
Build communication.
Establish accountability.
And help owners develop a better relationship with their dog.

Our Board & Train programs focus heavily on practical, real-world living skills — not robotic obedience routines. Dogs learn how to navigate public spaces, household structure, distractions, guests in the home, public outings, field trips, and everyday situations owners actually struggle with.

For puppies, that may mean confidence-building, socialization, crate training, exposure work, and preventing issues before they escalate later in life.

For adult dogs, that may mean teaching leash manners, improving obedience, developing off-leash reliability, building confidence in difficult environments, or working through more serious behavioral concerns through structured behavior modification.

But regardless of the program, the training process continues after the dog goes home.

That’s why owner education is such a massive part of what we do. We spend extensive time teaching owners how to maintain progress, navigate challenges, advocate for their dog, and confidently follow through once training is complete.

The clients who see the greatest success are not the owners with “perfect dogs.”

They’re the owners who stay involved, ask questions, practice consistently, and commit to the process long after the program ends.

And just because someone wants a Board & Train does not automatically mean we’ll recommend one.

Sometimes private lessons are a better fit.
Sometimes online coaching is a better fit.
Sometimes owners simply need guidance, structure, and accountability — not a dog living away from home for weeks at a time.

We strongly believe training should be realistic and attainable for owners, and while our Board & Train programs are a significant investment, we also offer affordable private lessons and online learning options because we believe owners deserve access to good information and ethical training regardless of budget.

Currently, due to a recent scheduling change, we unexpectedly have one or two Board & Train openings available for the remainder of the summer before our next projected availability in September. This means we have either a single behavior modification spot, or two advanced obedience or off leash programs available.

If you’re interested in learning more about our programs, pricing, requirements, or whether your dog may be a good fit, visit the link below to explore our Board & Train options and schedule a phone consultation.

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Board & Train Programs | Sunshine K9 Training Want a fully trained dog? Our board & train programs help you accomplish that quickly and effectively while showing you the whole process!