SWEET VALLEY, Pa. — Nikki Banfield's School for K-9s is not only training dogs of all shapes and sizes to be on their best behavior but to win blue ribbons.
The school in Luzerne County breeds German shepherds and trains them daily to win national titles at dog obedience shows.
Specializing in Schutzhund Training, Banfield prepares her own dogs to show off their obedience skills in K-9 trials.
The competitions are like a triathlon for dogs. Unlike your typical dog show, these competitions show the dogs' strengths in tracking, obedience, and protection.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, Banfield says she's seen a big change with many of her new students.
"Everyone during the pandemic thought it was a wonderful time to get a dog. And maybe that's true, but the problem is the dogs were not trained. The dogs were not socialized with other people and other dogs."
The lack of socialization of "pandemic puppies" has impacted dogs of all breeds.
Banfield's preferred method of instruction—Schutzhund training—encourages owners and dogs to work as a team and is the same training she uses when preparing her own dogs to compete nationally in K-9 trials.
"You allow them to be pushy and bossy, but I don't because we have a responsibility when we have a pet that they are productive members of society, that they are not harming other people, harming other dogs."
Whether it's training a dog to win blue ribbons or how to be on their best behavior, Banfield travels to homes throughout Luzerne County to teach the same technique.
"It's so difficult to say no to your pet, but it's like your children; sometimes you got to say no."
Banfield adds that obedience training doesn't stop after dogs graduate from her K-9 school.
"It's maintenance training every single day. Once you have a solid foundation, the dog will fall back on what it knows."
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