Pacwestk9
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01/13/2026
A year and a half ago, I lost Logan.
I haven’t shared it publicly until now.
Some dogs aren’t just dogs they’re partners, teachers, and constants. Logan was all of that for me. He was a solid dog in every sense of the word. Tremendous fight in protection, clear and honest under pressure. Great with people. Fast, snappy obedience. He set the bar extremely high, and I still measure a lot of dogs against that standard because of him.!!
Tracking was another place where Logan pushed me to grow. He made me fight for it and forced me to teach outside the norm, not unorthodox, just more intentional. Once I learned how to meet him where he was, his drive came alive on the track. He moved with purpose and power, and it changed how I teach tracking going forward.
One month after earning our IGP 3, Logan was diagnosed with DCM. We were given a timeline of three months to a year. He gave me more than that surpassing it by another three months, and he did it the same way he did everything else, with heart, effort, and presence until the very end.
One of the things I’m most grateful for is that he got to meet my daughter. He showed her nothing but love and accepted her into the pack immediately, steady and gentle in a way that mattered deeply to me.
Logan was a dog that consistently took first place in his competitions and even dabbled in PSA, making a strong impact there as well. But beyond titles and placements, it was the way he worked, clear, powerful, and honest that left the biggest mark.
His influence didn’t stop when he left. It shows up in how I train, how I read dogs, and how I hold the standard and in how I teach that standard to my clients. Whether people realize it or not, Logan is still part of my work every day.
This post isn’t for sympathy. It’s for acknowledgment.
For the dog that mattered.
For the bond that doesn’t end just because time moves on.
Rest easy, Logan.
Thankful for the trust and the opportunity. Honored to work with Kenneth Walker Ill and his dog.
Different fields, same mindset, put in the work and let the results speak.
In this clip, you’re going to see a common focused heel problem where the dog’s rear end flares out to the left instead of staying square and parallel with the handler.
This usually isn’t a lack of understanding, it’s a placement issue from rewarding too far forward or across the body. The dog learns to crowd the handler’s left leg, and that pressure causes the rear to kick out.
In the next clips, I’ll show three different reward placements that put the dog back into left thoughts promoting slight anticipation that helps straighten the rear end.
The first reward is thrown directly lateral to the left, from the outside of the dog’s head, to immediately relieve forward pressure as well as to make clear to go left.
The second reward asks for a sharper left turn, angling toward the dog’s left rear, which encourages the rear end to stay engaged and follow the line.
(Do not let your dog turn (right) in towards your leg)
The final reward has the ball in the right hand, with the dog making a full 360-degree turn behind the handler to collect it on the right side, sometimes called a spin, behind, or U-turn reinforcing left thinking without crowding the leg.”
Trudi 14 weeks old. Day 4 of training.
Basics always, then we add real-life distraction.
Early engagement builds neutrality.
Impulse control starts day one.
And when the dog is focused and enjoying the work, it’s okay to push the reps just make sure you end on a win.
Always leave the puppy wanting more.
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