Meet Sugar

A female German Shepherd born in June 2025 who began her training at K9 Academy with a long list of challenges and an incredible amount of potential. When she first arrived, she wasn’t yet housebroken, knew only three basic commands, and struggled with severe attachment-based separation anxiety. Her anxiety was so intense that it often led to self-harming behaviors such as chewing her tail and feet, gnawing on the bars of her metal kennel, and chewing on electrical chords - creating dangerous situations for both herself and her environment.

Car rides were especially overwhelming for her, frequently triggering panic, frantic howling, and uncontrolled bowel movements.

But Sugar is a testament to what patience, consistency, and relationship-based training can truly accomplish.

Over the past two months, Sugar has learned 20 commands and is actively working on 8 more. She has made remarkable progress in every area of her training:

  • Fully housebroken

  • Calm and comfortable in her kennel

  • Separation anxiety resolved with no self-harm behaviors

  • Car ride panic eliminated—she now travels quietly and predictably

  • Reliable obedience and emotional stability

  • Strong foundational and advanced task work

Today, Sugar proudly works as a psychiatric service animal, trained to perform tasks that provide essential daily support and she continues to learn more every day. Her current tasks include but are not limited to:

  • Anxiety attack prevention through early alert and grounding behaviors

  • Interruption of escalating symptoms, intrusive thoughts, or dissociation

  • Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) to reduce anxiety, regulate emotional overload, and provide calming sensory input

Sugar’s transformation reflects not only her intelligence and resilience but also the power of positive, relationship-centered training. She is one of K9 Academy’s greatest success stories—and a reminder that with the right guidance and support, every dog can grow into the very best version of themselves.

  • Bring Medication

  • Service Animal

  • Kennel Upgrade

  • Lay

  • "Too Small" Kennel Demonstration

  • Sit

  • Puppy Photo

  • Bed Upgrade

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