Welcome to Pawsitive K9’s!
About
Pawsitive K9’s is a dog walking and behavior consultation service in the Santa Cruz Area. We focus on positive reinforcement and use the approach of dog psychology to truly communicate what we want from our beloved pack members. Whether you are looking to have your fur baby get a stimulating outing and have their energy drained while you are at work to break up their day or if you simply don’t have the time to take them out yourself and would like to have their manners tuned up, we have you covered. 
From individual walks and pack walks to behavior consultations that focus on specific areas you would like to improve in your pack, we are here to help you obtain balance and peace in your home as well as out in public when you are out and about on your own personal adventures.
Pawsitive K9’s is owned by me, Kendra =) I am a total dog and animal lover who grew up riding and training horses for show jumping competitions. The barn I grew up at was known for transforming horses that had been thrown away by others into show champions. At a very early age, I learned every animal has their own way of communicating with people and other animals, and that the only way to see real results is with positive reinforcement training, clear communication, patience, and above all, love!
I grew up with German Shepherds and Rottweilers, always rescuing any dog in need. When I was in High School I first heard of Cesar Milan, not too long after that The Dog Whisperer came out. I knew then that I had found what truly interested me and I wanted to find a way to make a career working with dogs. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to shadow and learn from some of his trainers, as well as former students who have moved on to open similar businesses of their own. I have also attended the “School of Dog Psychology” seminars taught by his head trainer, Linn Boyke, to learn as much as I can, always trying to improve my skill set. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that there is no such thing as a bad dog if they have the proper rules, boundaries, and limitations. Also how crucial it really is to only reward the behaviors you want.
I graduated from UCSC with a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Non-Verbal Communication. After graduation I worked in the corporate world as the Project Manager of a Fortune 500 company, running multiple projects for offices in three countries. I have also worked as a Property Manager in our beautiful community. For the last 9 years I have been the President of Operations for a small local business that specializes in building custom trucks for off road adventures. In this field I was able to fulfill my passion of helping dogs by organizing many build projects of rescue and evacuation vehicles for Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans (featured on Pit Bulls and Parolees on Animal Planet).
I’ve been a volunteer for Villalobos for about 10 years, and being able to combine these two worlds has in all honesty been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my career because I knew I was really helping dogs and the people that save them by making sure they could perform rescues in any weather or terrain. During this time I also worked part time for a dog walking company which reminded me how much I love working with dogs, working in dog psychology, expanding my skill set and what my true passion really is. I enjoyed going to work and looked forward to it. So much that I decided to start my own Company that is focused on core values in the dog world that promote balanced, healthy dogs, responsible ownership, and the best relationship you can have with your Pawsitive K9.
I am the proud mama to two fur babies of my own, Willow and Barbie, both rescued bully mixes from Villalobos Rescue Center. Before they came into my life, I had a 130 pound Bull Mastiff rescue named Emma who changed my life and helped educate me on bully breeds and the stigma that can come with them. I am a huge lover of all dogs in all shapes, sizes, and breeds.
If you see us out and about on hikes please feel free to say “hi.” I offer individual walk and train sessions, pack walks (once the dogs have been acclimated to the pack), behavior consultation sessions, in home board and train packages and overnight care.
I am also certified in CPR and First Aid, ensuring that your fur babies are in great hands should an emergency arise.
I look forward to meeting you and your adorabull pups in this beautiful area we are lucky enough to call home!
Services & Rates
WALKS
Individual Walk and Train Session: $55
1-1.5 hours of fast-paced walking with mental stimulation and basic leash training. This is the first step to get your dog enrolled in our Pack Walk service option as we cover the basic fundamentals and teach the behavior we want from them when walking individually. We can then build on this to teach the behavior we want while walking with The Pack.
Please allow 30 min for transport as we walk on “On Leash Only” Trails and take advantage of our beautiful surroundings to provide many different learning experiences for your fur baby as well as cool shade in the summer months.
“Sniff and See and Take a Pee”: $35
This is a non training shorter walk (30-45 min) for busy dog parents that are away all day and want a trusted professional to take their fur babies out to do their business, get some steps in and smell the roses. This service is for dogs who are alone for longer periods of time than they should hold “it” for and that have good leash manners (we are happy to provide basic leash training if needed). This is more of a leisurely stroll to smell the daily news and do their business as opposed to the fast-paced walk covering a lot of ground with training that is provided during our “Individual Walk and Train” Service.
Pack Walks: $45
We will pick up your fur baby between 9-10 am and return them home between 1-2 pm. These walks will provide A LOT of exercise, as we will be covering over 5 miles per day. Your fur baby will be tired at the end of their day as they will be given a “job” and provided A LOT of mental stimulation and socialization. Pack Walks are structured so that the Pack works together on our adventures. Each dog has a separate and unique relationship with the Pack Leader, which is crucial for the dog in trusting the Pack Leader to protect it, making the correct decisions through positive reinforcement, and having full confidence in following the Pack Leader.
*All dogs must complete an introductory period with individual walk and train sessions that will establish the basic fundamentals. During this time we will assess if they would benefit from and enjoy the Pack Walk. It is important to note that the Pack Walk is not for all dogs temperaments and personalities. Some dogs need more space and have individual needs that must be met for success. Once we determine that your fur baby will benefit from a Pack Walk Setting we will schedule specific walks that will give the dog a chance to acclimate to the pack and the strenuous routine.
This may be too much physical activity for some dogs so we do offer half days for $30.
Note: enrollees are required to walk with the pack at least once a week in order to maintain the balance of the pack, keep up on the routine, and maintain expected behavior.
* ALL WALKS ARE ON-LEASH ONLY.
* FOR THEIR SAFETY, WE WILL NEVER ALLOW YOUR DOG TO BE OFF LEASH.
* ALL DOGS MUST BE UP TO DATE ON VACCINATIONS AND FLEA TREATMENT
* ALL DOG OVER SIX MONTHS OF AGE MUST BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SANTA CRUZ COUNTY LAW
Training and Behavior Consultation Sessions
Training Sessions
$75 – approximately 1 hour.
This service is great for younger dogs, dogs that need to brush up on basic fundamentals, or simply owners that are struggling to get the results they are hoping for.
Training sessions can range from basic obedience training to improving trouble areas you are experiencing in your personal pack at home.
It is very important for all pack members in the household to follow through on training techniques that are introduced in these sessions in order for the behavior to become permanent.
Behavior Consultation Sessions
$150 – approximately 2 hours.
This service is designed to work on implementing specific changes in your dog’s daily routine and environment using dog psychology techniques to help set them up for success. This service is designed to work on specific trouble areas such as begging, jumping up on people, not staying in a designated place when asked, barking, guarding, reacting when people come over, and is more intensely focused on frustrating and problematic situations you are experiencing in your home.
Behavior Consultation is a great option for people who are seeing warning signs in their dog’s behavior that they want to improve before it’s too late. In these sessions we work with all the pack members of your household to make sure everyone is on the same page so that great results are achieved and made permanent.
Overnight Care
$75 / night
$50 for additional dog(s)
Your fur-baby will be so much happier staying in their own home while you are away for travel or work. Rather than board at an unfamiliar, loud and hectic facility that stresses most dogs out, this option allows for your “Pawsitive K9” to stay in the comfort of their own home with familiar smells and surroundings as well as maintain their normal daily routine. Your mail will be brought in, you will have someone home with the lights on at night which deters potential burglars and helps puts your mind at ease so that you can focus on and enjoy your time away.
In Home Board and Train
Pawsitive K9’s offers specifically customized “Board And Train” packages. This service is personalized to address the exact needs of the client and the problematic areas they are having with their dogs in their daily lives. Instead of sending your dog off for training while you are away, have us implement a new structure and routine in the same conditions and surroundings it will be used in on a daily basis. As our customers have said, “It’s like doggie boot camp coming to you”. We follow up with personalized training sessions to ensure the changes made remain permanent and we are always available for fine tuning these skills down the road. Please contact us directly regarding pricing for this service as each package is personally customized for every client.
- Holiday rates are available, but we do book up fast so please make your reservations well in advance
- For services outside the City of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitola and Soquel rates will be an additional $10 due to the increased fuel and travel time.
Contact
Gallery
