About
At Affinity Dog Academy the focus is to help owners and dogs live the best life they can together. A life that is fun, and enjoyable for the family. We achieve this through balanced training methods. Utilizing training tools such as prong collars, e-collars, and slip leads, we are able to communicate clearly and effectively with the dog(s) and easily transfer the training to the owner so they can continue to make progress with their dog(s) after their training with us is complete.
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Meet Trainer Kennedy
Hello, I am Kennedy the Trainer and Creator of Affinity Dog Academy! Born in Oregon, raised and grew up in Hawaii, and now back in Oregon following my dreams of helping people live their best lives with their dogs!
After going through challenges with my own dogs (general fear/anxiety and reactivity), and experiencing how balanced training changes lives for both owner and dog, I knew in my heart that this is what I wanted to do. Here is my story. The one who sparked this interest in dog training was my first dog Makua, a very large unruly Labrador puppy. Many days he made me want to pull my hair, but I wasn't about to give up. I began to read books, watch videos, and soak up any and all information on training dogs, I applied everything I learned to our life. Then after lots of trial and error we succeeded and I successfully got him over his reactivity to people and dogs. I continued to learn as much as I could even after he was past his reactivity, began to volunteer at shelters walking dogs, working at dog boarding/daycare facilities, as well as shadowing dog trainers near me. Right after high school I took my education further getting certified as a dog trainer through CATCH (Canine Trainers Academy). At this same time Mavericks (my younger lab) came into my life. I took all that I learned through my master course with CATCH and applied it to Mavericks, he was a great dog, nothing like Makua (who I love with all my heart), I was feeling confident and ready, and began training dogs for family and friends, with good results. Then came the dreadful day that would turn Mavericks' and I's world upside down. We were out on our regular walk when the scariest event of his life would take place. After this he was left traumatized, and would soon become a shell of the dog I once knew. I was ready to give up and felt that I just wasn't the person for him. But now looking back I know I am the right person for him, and he's the right dog for me, it is because of him that I took my education further, he is the reason I discovered balanced training, and the reason I am now helping more dogs than ever before. Because of balanced training fear/ anxiety isn't ruling his life anymore, he can enjoy this strange human world with me by his side. My dogs have been my biggest teachers, from learning dog training to being able to connect with all of you having been through similar situations, and it is because of them I have found my calling - to help owners and dogs learn and grow together. |
For more information, and/or insight on our programs follow on Instagram @affinity_dogacademy, where I share free dog training information, and clips of training dogs throughout their stay.
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