Money saving tip from your friendly local dog trainer: 'No pull harnesses' don't work. Harnesses were designed to help dogs pull, not stop them, and straight front harnesses can quickly wreck your dog's shoulders and joints. There, saved you $40-80, and new student evals are $25. Just sayin'.

Meet Harley. Her prior trainer charged her owners $4k for 2 weeks board and train, and she came home with no training beyond 'just shock her, she'll come back'. I'm FURIOUS. Owners were ready to surrender her. I cut them a hell of a deal. I have 28 days to get this kid trained. Let's do this s**t.

No joke, I was coming on here to post something NEARLY IDENTICAL but this says it even better. I'd love to just... Not be disabled. That'd be cool. It ain't in the cards, tho, so if people can stop being trash, that'd be cool.

Absolutely living for my clients all sending me pics of their dogs playing in the snow, this is excellent. 🌨️

Hi, I'm Quinlan! I grew up training working dogs, and I'm still doing it to this day. I specialize in obedience, service dogs, and behavioral rehab. I teach in-home in NE IL, and virtual lessons anywhere! This is my family (I'm the Kraken fan); hiring me supports them, not a CEO! #ShopSmall

Got another good one, here. SUPER fun art, and I know that my, like, four followers do love animals. I will legit trade someone a lesson for one of the 'orcanize' zip hoodies, you can quote me.

As a man who fears and respects the noble mushroom... I appreciate this level of detail. How about a cool independent video game for the favorite couch warmer in your life?

Shopping small means supporting a real, living human being, directly. People who couldn't do it without support. It's not just a job for us. It's passion, dedication, devotion. Keep the arts and services alive, choose to shop small!

And a very small business, a wee publisher of non-fiction books!

Well, I saw glitter and you know I had to give a share! My artists, feast your eyes on some stunning supplies 👀

YES! Every single time a new client books their first appointment, I do a happy dance. Every, single, time. It means the world! 💜

Remember - if you're financially in a position to do so, skip the #BlackFriday deals online from big companies and shop instead from small and local businesses. The big guns don't need your money, but for small traders it can be what keeps them going into 2026, so support your community instead.

Oh snap, another cool indie worker? Let's slap that follow button, show them some love and watch cool art happen!

Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.

Community Kitchen Chicago has a mutual aid map! If you're in need of help, or are looking to volunteer/give back, here's a stellar list of resources. Love the people of my city. Keep caring for each other, never let anyone take your spirit. www.communitykitchenchicago.org/mutual-aid-map

Hi, I'm Quinlan! I grew up training working dogs, and I'm still doing it to this day. I specialize in obedience, service dogs, and behavioral rehab. I teach in-person in NE IL, and virtual lessons anywhere! K9Kaliber.com is where you'll find me. Thank you for supporting independent dog training! <3

It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so I know all your inboxes are blowing up with corpos wanting to sell you stuff. So I'm going to spend my time reposting indie shops AND services, because I know how hard it is to fight for visibility, especially right now. Here's Works of Whimsy Studios!

People are best on records and books because you can turn them off or put them back on the shelf - Henry Rollins

'I can't afford dog training, it's too expensive.' Some trainers find it abhorrent that the cost of training has more than doubled in the past five years, and haven't raised our rates since 2018. It's me, I'm some trainers. Fee schedule, anyone? k9kaliber.com/index.php/fe... Open. Honest. No BS.

Why do I hate board and train as a standalone program? Because it ruins dogs' lives. Dogs die from bad training. Just got a referral from one of my clients for a friend of hers. Called the guy up; he sent his dog off for a two week board and train 6 weeks ago. Spent 'thousands'. It was a rip-off.

Don't. Let. Them. Make. You. Feel. Small. Every single person who acts, makes a difference. You want a whistle? Hit me up, I can drop off a few or bulk!

Watched the Kneecap movie with my Irish class friends. There was a line, 'no one's anyone, until they are.' I like that. 💜

I furiously hate the phrase 'you gotta spend money to make money'. You gotta have money in the first place to spend it, and everyone deserves to make their dream a reality if they're willing to put work in. No industry should be pay to win and capitalism is a plague.

Common mistake: bringing a new dog home and immediately throwing them in with the established dog(s). Do you want a new roommate cuddling you on the couch? I see sooo many fights and struggles to get along because of rushed intros. Give them time and their own space to figure each other out, first.

Maidin mhaith, good morning, from Misneach and her turnip! Suburbanites and city dwellers who feel like being in the burbs today: come by Peppo's Pets in Hoffman Estates between 3-6, and bring me some dog behavior questions. See you there! 💜

People often tell me they held back on giving out my info because they didn't know if I'd take the job, so I made everyone a handy flow chart so you can determine if I will or won't take that job ;)

Feel this in my soul. Trying to be visible when you're up against corpos with massive marketing budgets is the most soul-crushing, frustrating, horrible feeling, and double that when you were raised to 'be humble' and never speak highly of your own work or yourself. Go read some books, people <3

Another day, another piece of bad dog training advice given to a client. Today's myth: Correction makes dogs fearful. Read on, my friends! k9kaliber.com/index.php/20...

Life goal achieved: bake cinnamon rolls without having to fish the instructions out of the recycling bin. It's gonna be a good day. I can feel it 🦾

It's always such a treat when Rivet gets to make a new friend. She and Sirius have been playing through kennels and fences for a while, and it felt like time to let them play face to face. Huge win for them both, to have a friend who can match their energy and play style!

I harp on referrals a ton, and for obvious reason. But the reality is so much deeper than I can really go on social media, so I wrote a little post about it. Why am I pushy about referrals? Because they're what feeds my family. Because I will drown without them. k9kaliber.com/index.php/20...

Hot off the printer and assembled, a little gift for the shop that's supported me the most over the past year. Independent walkers, shops, sitters, groomers, etc., know that I see you, love you, and support you! 💜

Open my Tidal recommended tracks, twitch a little because my dog trainer soul had a visceral reaction, go back to Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine'.

The universe is testing me today. Had a business owner try to 'negotiate' with me over using accessible parking as storage for his cars (absolutely not), got told my service dog can't go in stores without a vest (absolutely not)... My patience is so, so thin with ableists. Dog grant me strength-

Live too far, or on a tight budget? Can't find a good trainer near you? Psst... I do video lessons, too! $55 an hour, one-on-one. No hidden anything, no shenanigans. Just good quality dog training 🐾

Genuinely love opening my messages and just seeing a row of awesome dogs, lol. My students are all photogenic, it's just a fact.

Another snowbird, taking flight! Peaches and I have had so much fun these past few weeks, and now it's time for her family to head to Arizona for the winter. They have a lot of new skills to practice, and we've all promised to keep in touch until we see each other again in spring. Safe travels!

SCENE: Person came by my table and saw the 3D printed shepherd dogs. Visitor: Do you have a German Shepherd, too? Me: Close, I have a Malinois cross! Visitor: OH. So a German Shepherd on cocaine. Me: Lol, yep, that's the one!

Oi, Hoffman Estates! We're at Peppo's Pets til 6, so bring us your weird dog questions. Or your normal ones, but the weird ones make me work and much like my dogs, I thrive when I'm kept busy!

New Blog Post! Meet Them Where They're At: Slow and Steady Wins The Training.

We're getting into the slow season, so here's a reminder: REFERRALS ARE CRITICAL! Training is my full-time job. It pays my bills, feeds my family. Without referrals, the financial pinch hits hard and fast, especially this time of year when the bills get higher and the business gets slower.

Not me rushing to pack goodie bags with a 3D printed wiggle dog and a few pieces of candy because I have an event in an hour and twelve minutes and did the fatal 'no, I'll have time tomorrow, it's cool' last night. Anyway, Highland Park, looking forward to seeing you at the Ravinia Candy Stroll!

Ya know... Every time I am forced to interact with an evil corporation (and that's all of them), I get why clients get all giddy they can just text me and I'll answer. I don't think any corp believes in customer service anymore. 90% of my stress is just due to enshittification, it's so exhausting.

I deleted social media/chat apps from my phone, and WOW, it's been something special for my mental health! I read more books again, I have time for other things. It's been awesome. BUT, I'm gonna try to take more dog pics, and post here more often for my, like, twelve followers, lol. Love you all!

Dog acting strange around 6/7pm lately? It's normal! Remember, it's getting darker earlier, and dogs don't have the best eyesight. Things that used to be easy to see aren't anymore, and your dog might be uncertain. Don't stress! Take it slow, let them feel it out. Most dogs adapt in a week or so :)

Who couldn't love a dog so young with eyes this wise? Mr. Sirius came for a little stay, and we had a blast hanging out together. 💜

Would genuinely love to see a push to "rebuild" some extinct dog breeds, the St. John's Water Dog being chief among them. Every time I see Mishi's white spot, I'm reminded of the amazing breed long-gone that became the blessing that is my bestie.

It's been over a decade and I'm still snickering at my old job, who bought a bunch of really expensive leather harnesses for tracking/agitation/etc., and wanted us to sell them as "no pull harnesses". Even if "no pull harnesses" were a thing, those are definitely not the droids you're looking for.

How do I keep going like it's a normal day while my neighbors are being terrorized? How do you stand outside a courthouse while someone is kidnapped, then show up to your shift, business as usual? How do you tend to your wounded friends and then ride off to work? My heart is so heavy...

Ta-da! My first articulated 3D print, I couldn't be more proud. They came out pretty darn good, if I say so myself, and some went to new homes today, haha. Want one? Come find me at Peppo's Pets in Hoffman Estates next on 6/13, 3-6pm, and bring your weirdest dog questions for me!