K9 Connector
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Who is K9 Connector?

Hi, my name is DeLisa Lee. I am the lead trainer of K9 Connector. I have lived with dogs for most of my life. I trained all of our family pets and extended family pets. We adopted Max in May 2016. It had been a while since I trained a brand-new puppy so I updated my skills by researching the latest best practices for effective and humane dog training. I studied the philosophies and techniques of nationally and internationally recognized trainers of service dogs, police dogs, show dogs, agility dogs, working dogs, hunting dogs, and of course, pet dogs. I drew on my 20 years as a corporate trainer and applied those skills to dog training. 

Max has been my study partner, and he provides the best evidence of how effective my training approach can be. By the time he was 10 months old, I had declined multiple requests to train other people's dogs. I finally said yes after Max's first birthday, and the rest is history.

The K9Connector Roadmap

Our K9C Training Roadmap is a comprehensive 12-step framework designed to empower dog owners with a structured approach to teaching any behavior. This proven methodology addresses the intricacies of effective training, covering essential nuances such as optimal feedback timing, recognizing subtle canine cues, troubleshooting common challenges, using the right training method, and adapting to individual learning styles.

By following the K9C Training Roadmap, you'll gain confidence and clarity in your training approach, navigate potential setbacks with ease, and foster a strong, rewarding bond with your dog. Whether teaching basic obedience or complex tricks, this flexible framework provides a universal solution, unlocking your dog's full potential.

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10/05/2024 - Notes about hidden elements. Until the following areas are updated, they need to be hidden.

MyK9, How It Works, Courses, Pricing

Live Online Training
Join our Nextdoor Group

In this video, Max demonstrates the OUT command. OUT means disengage so when you give your dog the OUT command, your dog should drop whatever is in his mouth. If he's eating, he should stop eating. If he's holding a toy, like a tug toy, he should drop the toy. This command is not only impressive to watch, but it's practical too.


Visit the Videos page to see more Max videos.

Contact DeLisa

[HIDDEN] Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the FAQs below and if you'd like to discuss training for your dog, feel free to contact me.

What is your approach to dog training?

I am a balanced dog trainer which means my approach to behavior modification includes reward based techniques and humane, aversive consequences to let the dog know that their decisions and behaviors will lead directly to pleasant or unpleasant results. I specialize in canine communication, and obedience and tricks training.


At the end of each training session, I give my clients homework which includes practicing what we covered in the lesson and video recording your progress. Upon review of your videos, I will provide you with feedback so you can make adjustments and improvements accordingly.

To stay or not to stay?

Not.... because there is no stay!


Modern dog trainers have eliminated the STAY command. And I gotta say, removing STAY from your command list greatly increases the effectiveness of your communication with your dog.


How does it work? You teach your dog the concept of sustainability. This means, instead of teaching your dog to stay, you teach him that every command is sustainable and is to be followed until the next command. Can you do this without using the word "stay"? Absolutely! Here's how I recently explained it to a prior-service client. I asked, "When you were in basic training and you were called to attention, how long did you stay in that position? How did you know it was okay to move?" He said, "I knew it was okay to move when I was given another command." I replied, "Exactly. That's sustainability!"


A soldier learns to hold a command because he reads it in a book or is told by his Drill Instructor. It's different with dogs because not only can they not read, but they don't understand English (so it doesn't matter what words you use). However, teaching this concept to a dog is easier than you might think! All you have to do is release him before he breaks the command. It's that simple. When you consistently release your dog from a command before he breaks the command, he will learn to wait to be released from the command.


In the video below, you can see sustainability in action. Be advised, I am not teaching Max to wait for the release in this video. He already knows it. I made this video so you can see how much more powerful and versatile the release command is compared to the STAY command.

GOOD + FREE - STAY = DURATION


Who is your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who not only wants to see their dog's behavior change, but they want to be the primary facilitator of the change. If you're looking for a place where you can just drop off your dog and pick him up in two weeks (and he's all better), I am not the right trainer for you. 


I enjoy working with people who want to learn about dog training methods such as luring, shaping, targeting, and capturing... and who want to understand how and when to use them.


Be advised, I am highly selective when it comes to choosing dog training clients. Likewise, you should be very selective in choosing a trainer. You'll interview me... I'll interview you... we'll have a great conversation! And by the end of it, we'll decide if we're a good fit for each other.


Feel free to submit the Contact DeLisa form to get started.

Do you make house-calls?

No, I don't make house calls. My focus is on empowering dog owners like you through online training. I provide comprehensive guidance through my Learning Management System and live web conferencing sessions. Online training has become a standard and successful approach in the dog training industry, ensuring you achieve lasting results.

Do you offer public classes?

Not in person. I do, however, offer free online sessions that are open to the public on a regular basis.

Do you address serious behavior problems?

That depends... How do you define a serious behavior problem? 


Some dog owners consider jumping on people to be a serious behavior problem. Generally speaking, I don't agree. Jumping on people is certainly an undesirable behavior, but that doesn't make it a behavior problem; nor is it a lack of obedience problem. It’s a training problem - and yes, I can help.


In most cases, the following undesirable behaviors can be resolved with proper training.

  • Jumping
  • Pulling on the leash
  • Not coming when called
  • Ankle biting
  • Accidents in the house
  • Chewing non-toy items


So what serious behavior problems do I not address? Aggression toward people and animals. For help with these and other serious behavior problems, you should consult with your vet and a trained K9 Behaviorist.

How do you support your clients?

As a professional trainer, I am no stranger to online learning systems. I take full advantage of the internet to provide you with lesson plans, training videos, step-by-step directions, chat, video conferencing, feedback, and more!

What kind of treats do you use for training?

The answer to this question is not one size fits all. The food reward can be as unique as the dog. Most dogs are food motivated, but there are exceptions. Some dogs are more interested in toys than food. Assuming the dog is food motivated, chicken and hotdogs tend to go over well. Whatever you choose, make sure the reward is small, soft, and does not create crumbs when your dog is eating it. 


With Max, I got lucky. After feeding him store bought treats for a few months, I discovered he will work for regular dog food. That's when I decided to overlap his meals with training. For a treat, I'll add a little chicken or hotdogs. He rarely eats from a bowl though. In fact, he ate all of his meals directly from my hand until he was 2 years old. When I needed to add prescription canned food to his diet, I taught him to eat from a tablespoon because his food was now sticky and yucky to touch.


In Liberty's videos, the reward is her regular dog food as well, and the occasional high value chicken or hotdogs.


The key is to pay attention to your dog and he will tell you what he values.

Will you train my dog?

I don't train your dog directly. Instead, I empower you to become your dog's best trainer. My goal is to teach you how dogs learn and process information, giving you the tools to modify your dog's behavior effectively. Through our work together, you'll gain the confidence and skills to train your dog independently, achieving lifelong positive changes. In just a few short months, you'll be equipped to teach your dog anything, and that's the ultimate reward.

How long will it take to train my dog?

That's up to you...

  1. Do you already have a good relationship with your dog?
  2. Can you spend 5-10 minutes a day, two or three times a day to train your dog?
  3. Can you be consistent in-between training sessions and not unravel your work?
  4. Will your dog have one primary trainer in your home?
  5. Are you willing to learn and apply best practices to your dog's training?
  6. Are you willing to submit weekly videos of your progress to K9 Connector for feedback?
  7. Is everyone in your home committed to your dog's success?


If you answered yes to all of the above and you do your homework, you and your dog will learn TONS and you will see great results in our 6-week program.

How do we get started?

I'm glad to see you made it this far in the FAQs! If you'd like to schedule a quick chat, contact us.

Contact DeLisa
How It Works (HIDDEN)
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K9 Connector | PO Box 72362 | Durham NC 27722 | www.k9connector.com

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