Canine Pinnacle Performance

03/11/2026

Great things take time. Stay consistent and trust the process. Small steps add up to big results.

02/16/2026

The Rehab Road

The rehab road is lonely.
Brutal.
Painstakingly slow.

It’s made up of inches, not miles.

Tiny weight shifts.
One extra second of balance.
A clean rep where yesterday there was a wobble.

You celebrate milestones that no one else sees.
And you swallow setbacks that feel like they might crush you.

It feels like fighting a war that never ends.
Managing inflammation.
Rebuilding strength.
Protecting joints.
Guarding hope.

It’s exhausting.

But here’s the thing…

It’s worth fighting for.

Because these dogs?
They don’t quit.
So neither do we.

01/14/2026

Well, this became a "do as I say and not as I do" moment. I had been working on Ivo's imbalances, seeing a sports rehab vet, and doing all the right things, except one. I decided to trial him. I was successful with the IGP1 and thought an IGP2 just two weeks later couldn't hurt... I was wrong, and what was an imbalance became an acute injury when he returned with the dumbbell over the jump.

We stopped everything. We're now working to rebuild slowly after addressing the acute injury as well as the initial imbalance. Taking my own advice now, I am taking it slow and not pushing things (as much as possible) in order to fully heal and not turn the acute injury into a chronic one.

One of the most valuable aspects of a structured canine fitness program isn’t just building strength, stamina, or flexibility — it’s the ability to catch small changes in your dog’s movement and posture before they snowb...

01/13/2026

January Jumpstart: Move With Purpose

New year. New habits—for you and your dog.

For the first time, Pinnacle Pup Dog Training and K9 Pinnacle Performance are coming together to offer a small-group class that blends training, structure, and fitness—for both dogs and humans.

This is a structured group walk designed specifically for dogs and their people who want calmer walks, clearer communication, and better real-world behavior, without chaos or over-arousal.

This is not a playgroup.
Dogs will not interact with each other.

Instead, we’ll focus on:
• Loose-leash walking
• Neutral behavior around people and dogs
• Self control and impulse control
• Boundary setting and handler engagement
• Purposeful movement for handler fitness and consistency

From the training side, we’re building clarity and calm behavior.
From the fitness side, we’re supporting sound movement, mental engagement, and sustainable exercise.

Because January is short we’re offering a January Jumpstart option:

January Jumpstart (3 Saturdays):
• $225 for the month

Regular Pricing:
• $85 drop-in
• $300 per month (4 classes)

Class Details:
• 1-hour structured group walk
• Limited to 5 dog/handler teams

This is a first-of-its-kind offering built to help dogs move through the world calmly and confidently, while building better habits for yourself too.

01/05/2026

New Surface, New Scent Picture

When the wild grass gets too tall.
When the fields turn to mud.
When everything else is under water.

We adapt.

Today’s tracking session took us to the sports park—and with it came a whole new set of challenges. Heavily trodden ground, fallen leaves, layers of dog and human scent, and real-world distractions as other people and dogs enjoyed the space too.

Different surface. Different scent picture. Same goal: thoughtful, committed tracking despite the environment. This is the kind of problem-solving that builds a confident, versatile tracking dog—because trials don’t happen in perfect conditions, and neither does real progress. 🐾

12/25/2025

This season, we’re grateful for the dogs who give us everything they have, and the handlers who show up day after day with patience, commitment, and heart.
Whether you’re building foundations, rehabbing setbacks, or chasing big goals in the new year—every small, intentional step matters.

May your Christmas be filled with strong bodies, sound minds, wagging tails, and well-earned rest. Here’s to continued progress, resilience, and partnership in the year ahead.

Thank you for being part of the Pinnacle Performance community. ❤️🐕

12/19/2025

Don't forget to sign up to join us on Sunday, December 21st to update your dog's fitness plan!

Changing their plan as they make progress is vital to creating a well-rounded, successful canine athlete! Don't miss this one!

Be sure to call, message, or comment below to join in!

12/19/2025

6 weeks post-injury. Progress you can feel, not rush.

Today felt different.
The sun was out, and for the first time in a while, so was the quiet confidence that healing is happening.

Ivo is showing steady improvement, and while we both want to surge ahead, we’re choosing patience. Slow, intentional progress. Exercises added thoughtfully. Rest respected. Strength rebuilt the right way.

Even without sport-specific work, I’m already seeing improved rear muscle definition—proof that foundations matter, especially in recovery.

Complete and sustained healing is the goal.
Not shortcuts. Not timelines. Just doing it right. 🐾🌱

12/16/2025

Is your canine athlete ready to level up? Join us on December 21st to reassess your current fitness plan and update that plan to match your dog's current and future needs.

As your dog makes progress along their fitness journey, you'll need to alter their fitness plan. Maybe they've hit a plateau or need a new challenge to keep them at the top of their game. Or maybe you're approaching off-season time and ready for something less intense while still keeping them in shape. Big comepetition coming up in a couple months? Let's get ready!

Whether your goals have changed or your dog needs something new, now is the time to re-evaluate and update your plan!

Comment below, send a message, or call to join us!

12/15/2025

Rehab Reality Check 🐾

Physical rehab is hard.
Not just the exercises. Not just the restrictions.
But finding something—anything—that occupies Ivo without setting his healing back.

Today’s enrichment?
A structured walk.
Today’s outcome?
Ivo grabbing his leash and shaking me like a ragdoll because his brain has far more opinions than his body is allowed to act on.

Is it part of his rehab plan?
No.
Am I able to stop him?
Also no.

Finding him something to carry is better for both of us. Healing isn’t linear. Neither is managing a driven dog who feels better before he is better.
So we adjust, we adapt, and sometimes we just hang on—literally.

Progress doesn’t always look pretty, but it’s still progress.

12/04/2025

Nearly 4 Weeks Post-Injury
— A Big Win for My Boy ❤️‍🩹

It has been almost 4 weeks since Ivo’s catastrophic injury while returning over the 1-meter hurdle during his IGP2 routine. Those first two weeks were heartbreaking… daily cries of pain, and several times he’d suddenly go three-legged. We locked down his activity even more to protect him, but he still yelped and went lame again just trying to jump into the car for his rehab appointment.

That appointment turned out to be the turning point. His Sports Rehab Vet was finally able to adjust his sacrum — something we hadn’t been able to do since the injury. From that moment, we started seeing the kind of progress we had been praying for. The following week she adjusted it again… and the difference felt huge.

And today… we finally got back out on the tracking field.
Slow, careful, and controlled — but back at it. 🙌💪

He gets to load into the car using the Klimb now so there’s no jumping, and we are celebrating every safe step forward.

This journey reminded me of what truly matters in working dogs: the relationship, the heart, and the resilience they bring to the field with us. One day at a time — and today was a very good day. 🖤🐾

11/13/2025

Warm-ups and cool-downs are vital aspects of every athletic performance!

A proper warm-up prepares your dog's body for exercise by gradually increasing heart rate, blood flow, and body temperature, which enhances performance and reduces risk of injury.

A cool-down afterward aids in recovery, reduces muscle stiffness/soreness, and allows your dog's muscles, heart rate, and respiration to gradually return to a resting state safely.

Did you know that it's important to alter your dog's warm-up and cool-down routines as the weather changes? Come learn more by joining our special class on Sunday, November 16th!

Comment below, send a message, or call to join in!

https://k9pinnacleperformance.com/