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Meet the Team

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Special Focuses:

Precision Handling & Obedience

Off-Leash Obedience

Reactivity Rehabilitation

Scent Detection

Canicross

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DEVAN BLAZEY

Summit K9 Founder | Professional Trainer

As a passionate dog lover and lifelong student of animal training, I look forward to helping you and your dog build a stronger, more communicative relationship. My approach centers strongly on the bond between dog and handler, and the canine learning theory behind strengthening this connection.

Research shows us that animals learn best when motivated by reinforcement under low stress. For this reason, the Summit K9 training philosophy is built on a solid foundation of motivation and properly timed rewards, balanced with the clarity of a pressure based communication system. Our approach is evidence and outcome based, balancing deep academic knowledge of animal behavior and extensive hands on experience with a wide range of dogs and training applications, from behavior modification to competitive sport work. 

No two dogs are the same, just as no two handlers are the same. Training sessions with our programs are highly individualized, centering on the specific learning needs of each and every client. While training programs are structured, purposeful, and balanced, plans are created on an individual basis to help you and your dog hone skills more quickly and easily than traditional group obedience programs.

Building skills that translate into real world scenarios are of the utmost importance when building training strategies. We strive to integrate novel environments and obstacles into our training sessions, providing fun and exciting classes that produce happy, well adjusted companions.

Qualifications:

International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) Professional Member
AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

June 2023 Obedience and Problem Solving Workshop | Forrest Micke

May 2023 3 Day Seminar | Michael Ellis

IACP Virtual Conference 2021

July 2021 Competition Obedience Workshop | Deb Zappia

April 2021 Competition Obedience Workshop | Deb Zappia

March 2021 Scent Detection Workshop | Tim Vallaincourt

January 2021-March2021 Walk With Me Ottawa Virtual Mentorship Program

July 2020 Protection Workshop | Deb Zappia

September 2020 Scent Detection Workshop | Tim Vallaincourt

2019 Scent Detection Seminar | Pat Nolan

Alexandrea Underwood

Staff Manager & Program Coordinator

"I was the owner who couldn’t take her dogs out in public. The owner who could barely walk her dog on the leash. The one who loved her dogs so much but knew she wasn’t giving the life they deserve because of their reactivity. Now, I am the Trainer who has walked in my clients shoes and can show them the way to overcome problems and build a great relationship with their dog.” 

 

Starting her career caring for dogs in Dog Daycares and Boarding facilities, Alex learned so much about dogs through hands-on experience. Through the years she continued to further her education in Dog Behavior, Handling, Body Language and Relationship Building. She continued to care for and handle all types of dogs of different temperaments which sparked her interest in advancing to Training. 

 

Alexandrea began to shadow Purely Positive Trainers which gave her some of the great basic’s and starting points. Having 3 dogs who were human and dog reactive she realized this was only getting her so far in her training. She began to watch and learn from Balanced trainers locally & around the world to find different training methods that could work for her dogs. Alex continues to further her education and prides herself on not limiting herself to certain training methods, so that she can help as many dogs and owners as possible. 

Specializations:

Functional Obedience

Reactivity Rehabilitation

Confidence Building

Relationship Building

Fearfulness Rehabilitation

Off-Leash Obedience

Structured Socialization

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