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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1641842817211-MUFGP05MULUZ19R0XL83/IMG_6183.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/15a366f6-2c28-4836-a9c8-5de20f84129a/IMG_7179.JPG Home Teaching families how to positively relate with their canine companions to produce a balanced and more fulfilling relationship. Book Now ⟶ https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/about daily 0.75 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/62381cfc-7746-4cce-a165-81df53e134c1/IMG_0160.JPG About - Make it stand out Kind, generous, patient, empathetic, loving and brilliant. Thank you Kya for your many amazing life lessons! https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-03-17 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/our-process daily 0.75 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1641842817211-MUFGP05MULUZ19R0XL83/IMG_6183.jpg Our Process - Is Balanced Canines Right for You? My goal is to teach dog parents how to thoughtfully relate with their canine companions in a way that is positive, confident and understanding which produces balanced, well mannered canines as well as proud and fulfilled pet parents. If you are looking for a trainer that takes your dog for a certain period of time and hands them back "trained", then I am not your trainer. I am a skilled teacher who works with both you and your dog one on one or in a group setting, to help you build the knowledge, skills and confidence you will need to sustain the type of positive relationship with your pet that you desire long after our training sessions are over. My process always follows the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Adverse) guidelines and focuses on teaching dog and puppy parents how to use patience, consistency, clarity, honesty, and respect to connect and relate with their dogs. In the words of my friend and Dog Relator Max Bitterman, "1. your dog thinks & operates like the best people you know & 2. your dog is socially brilliant." It is from this point of view that I approach my work in teaching you how to move forward with your canine family member. I believe that training a dog should be fun, painless and enjoyable for both the human and dog and something that strengthens their special bond. This is why I NEVER use shock or e-collars, prong collars, metal choke chains, fear or intimidation to teach the puppy or dog anything. Through being thoughtful about setting up training/learning situations to be as stress free and positive as possible, it allows both dog and human to be successful as well as truly learn and grow together. Throughout our sessions, I teach humans how to better understand their dog’s body language and needs and to take stock in their own energy and what message they are relating to their dog or puppy both verbally and non-verbally in order to frame their interactions to promote connection and balance. I am a relationship based dog trainer with a CPDT-KA certification as well as Family Dog Private Trainer (Check out the video below about our special private sessions for families with children), a Catch Canine Trainers Academy Mentor, and a AKC CGC Evaluator. Currently I offer private sessions for everything from: I just got a new puppy and have no idea what I am doing, I have had a dog in the past, but need some help with _____, I have a family and children and don’t know what I have gotten myself into… and HELP, my dog does _____ …. I also offer group classes, so be sure to check our events page for updates on when those class offerings are and how to register, OR click “Join Now” at the top of the page to get added to our e-mail list and be updated when new classes are released. https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/join daily 0.75 2022-01-15 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2024-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/b1e29309-bc16-41b1-91c2-dcdc9cd65fa8/Izzy.jpg Testimonials - “Our Labrador Retriever, Izzy, had a very negative experience at a training facility. We asked Nicole at Balanced Canines to help tame her aggression and dominance. With Nicole’s extensive knowledge and experience, she was able to train us and teach Izzy. Our Izzy is now a well behaved, obedient, lovable member of our family. Nicole at Balanced Canines is truly “the Dog Whisperer.” —Tom and Deb Hertzog https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/09e7abcc-2b19-4bc0-8763-ea970aceb795/tempImageOJ2Ucz.jpg Testimonials - “We got Ruby when she was 7 weeks old. Ruby was a fantastic puppy, a dream really! She never had an accident in the house, was a very calm and gentle puppy, etc…Well, after a month that quickly turned and she became a “normal” puppy with her nipping and scratching. This became a huge problem with our girls, age 7 at the time, as they didn’t know how to show Ruby they were in charge of her, so Ruby would not listen to them. Very seldom did she even listen to me as Michael very quickly became her “master” and she would only listen to him. Michael was at his wits ends with Ruby and we were trying so many things we had been advised to do by our vet to help this matter. When she was 4 months old Michael was seriously considering finding her a new home already as she was so out of control and we could tell she was definitely a dominant dog. Our family was not good with this scenario clearly! I called my friend Nicole from Balanced Canines, who I knew was fantastic with dogs and knew lots about training them. My husband and I were going to be out of town on a vacation for 9 days. I begged her on Ruby’s life to take her for those 9 days, work with her, save her and us!! Needless to say, we got a completely different Ruby back!! Just after 9 days she started to listen, the girls could spend time playing with their puppy without being completely destroyed and so much more. We still had work to do as our work wasn’t done but it was a great start and Ruby was able to stay with us! Ruby is now 2.5yrs old and still with us full of love and girls laying all over her. ❤️”. — Stacey K. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/b22854fb-f556-49d1-98d6-434a5b9a605d/Bounder.jpg Testimonials - “Nicole from Balanced Canines was a phenomenal trainer and helped me immensely to change myself and my dog’s behavior improved more than I thought possible. Even though I had a class elsewhere on managing a reactive dog, Nicole taught me so much more about dog behavior in a short time and my dog made fast progress in becoming a balanced dog. I highly recommend Nicole for any type of training that a person might want for their dog.” — Patricia B. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/165f273a-c475-42d8-a0ce-4b7bb36b66ce/Luna.jpg Testimonials - “Your classes are the best money I’ve ever spent on a dog, hands down! Thank you for what you do! I can’t believe that I have a puppy that’s not even 5 months old listening better than my well behaved 11 year old dog.” — Chelee Messer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/e58d7a00-6ac4-4b5f-be34-590a2f4efa94/20240414_130301.jpg Testimonials “I just wanted to reach out and express my sincere thanks for teaching the really real relaxation. We took the class with our older dog Argus at the class you taught for Alex Vet Clinic employees. We acquired another dog about a month ago and started training her with it as well. She picked upon it so fast and it's made family outings much more relaxed.” — Rebecca Juhl https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/puppy-partners daily 0.75 2025-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/757a99d3-e9ec-42ac-b2a4-0b4f4baee8da/ALEXANDRIAVET-11.jpg Puppy Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/559baf7b-9002-47ab-a9ec-4d9f6e9d8a87/apdlogo.jpg Puppy Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/f0a677f1-492e-4212-a148-bc873542744c/Nordic+Logo_Primary_Full+Color.jpg Puppy Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680442755756-Q6T72X3YN6YG89A9RZOU/unsplash-image-gYEbMqRv6S8.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680442779324-BLQ4J8PAL7U8U5NXIDN1/unsplash-image-n2vcWTUutIA.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680444233612-T2P1H8HVDZQHHEEEZQNS/unsplash-image-AoqgGAqrLpU.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680384284131-W5A9MA53UQDDTVRPNCM4/unsplash-image-ocZ-_Y7-Ptg.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680384236703-0T2NYWRVZSGEL6M3Q4G0/unsplash-image-9WLS3foIgjg.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1689456120825-QVM8MFZ9XVE754L6JLRB/image-asset.jpeg https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/terms-and-conditions daily 0.75 2023-04-01 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2023-04-01 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/booksequipment daily 0.75 2025-09-05 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/class-registration daily 0.75 2022-01-13 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/puppy-partners-application daily 0.75 2023-04-02 https://www.balancedcaninesmn.com/puppy-partners-application/p/puppy-partners-application monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61dc726dec45f102b6fa1353/1680458722223-F7KXCSU32DBTL53KI22E/Full%2BColor%2BLogo-02.jpg Puppy Partners Application - Puppy Partners Application