Elite K9 Athlete
Program
Helping dog trainers, handlers, and owners create highly conditioned dogs that excel at home, on the training field, at work, and in competition.
Are you ready to...
Improve your dog’s strength, speed, agility, and endurance but aren’t sure how to safely make it happen?
Discover effective ways to build stamina and endurance in your sport or working dog?
Apply strategies to your training program that will help your dog reach a higher level of performance in work and competition?
Feel confident knowing you’re doing everything possible to minimize the risk of injury while helping your dog (and even others!) have a long, happy, and productive life?
If you said yes to any of these questions, I invite you to join us in the Elite K9 Athlete Program!
This comprehensive, online canine fitness program will give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills to design customized fitness programs for the sport dog, working dog, and active family pet. The Elite K9 Athlete Program is also the first step for those individuals who would like to become a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS) and use their knowledge of fitness to help others.
How Bacci's injury led to a K9 athlete movement
My name is Erica Boling. Back in 2010, I was heartbroken when my Belgian Malinois Bacci developed an iliopsoas groin injury. We had just started competing in French Ring, and this injury could have led to an early retirement!
Veterinarians and I both missed his subtle signs of soreness and pain. When he was finally diagnosed, right after our first competition, we started a year-long journey to rehabilitation.
On that journey, I realized Bacci was giving me clear signs all along the way that he was hurting. If I had caught the signs earlier and given him the proper support, he could have healed within just a few weeks. The problem was… I wasn’t educated and didn’t know what to look for!
That’s when I began my journey learning all that I could about how to keep our canine athletes fit and injury free. And this is what inspired my vision to create Northeast K9 Conditioning and help spread knowledge and awareness of canine fitness.
I became dedicated to learning as much as I could about canine fitness to help my own dogs and others avoid a similar fate. I then set out on a mission to educate as many people as possible so that they can help their dogs live long, happy, and productive lives. Our mission to help improve the lives of others (and avoid injury!) is why I collaborated with a team of other canine professionals to develop the Elite K9 Athlete Program.
Benefits You'll Receive By Joining Us
Enhanced Fitness
& Performance
Identify and implement exercises that improve your dog's strength, power, stamina, speed, cardio, endurance, flexibility and body awareness.
Decreased Risk
of Injuries
Gain expertise in assessing fitness needs and designing customized programs that improve performance while minimizing the chance of injury.
Customized
Fitness Programs
Discover how to design and implement customized fitness programs based on the unique needs of sport and working dogs.
Advanced
Fitness Training
Discover when and how to safely challenge your dog during training and when to allow time for rest and recovery.
Enhanced Knowledge & Awareness
Develop a "critical eye" for evaluating a dog's strengths and weaknesses and identify how structure can positively or negatively impact performance.
Expanded Credibility as a Fitness Expert
Stand out as a leader in the canine fitness world, enhance your credibility, and help others by continuing your education and becoming a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS).
A Proven Program
The Elite K9 Athlete Program is much more than an online course. It’s a comprehensive, online coaching and mentoring program that provides you with education and support across an entire year. The online format allows you to study on your own time and at your own pace.
If you have no prior training in canine fitness, you are still invited to join us! All members of the Elite K9 Athlete Program receive free access to Canine Conditioning 101 to ensure that they have the foundational knowledge that is needed before moving into more advanced fitness content.
In the Elite K9 Athlete Program, you’ll learn how to create powerfully effective canine conditioning programs using our K9 Get Fit 6-Step Process to Program Design. By the end of the program, you will also be able to...
Identify your dog’s individual strengths and weaknesses and identify ways to improve strength, flexibility, agility, speed, power, and cardiovascular endurance.
Identify what’s missing in your current training program so that you can begin to make changes that will improve your dog’s fitness and performance
Recognize subtle signs of soreness and pain that most owners and handlers miss
Design and implement customized canine fitness programs for dogs of all life stages
We take a science-based, multi-pronged approach to learning that ensures you have a highly effective, personalized learning experience unlike any other fitness program. Through our proven, online program, you will gain canine fitness expertise in the following ways:
LIVE GROUP COACHING CALLS
Live, online group calls provide guidance and support to ensure you have an exceptional course experience. You will have opportunities to engage one-on-one with your instructors, guest speakers, other students, and program alumnae to expand your knowledge. This is a truly interactive and engaging online experience that's designed to meet your individual needs.
PRIVATE COACHING & MENTORING
You will have opportunities throughout the program to work with dogs, apply what you're learning, and then receive personalized feedback through private, one-on-one coaching. During these personalized coaching sessions, you will receive customized feedback from one of our certified canine fitness coaches, get answers to your questions, and continue to advance your canine fitness knowledge and skills.
TWO EXCLUSIVE ONLINE COMMUNITIES
When you enroll in the Elite K9 Athlete Program, you will receive 12-months access to two robust Facebook groups. There you will find an exclusive and supportive, online community of elite canine fitness leaders, trainers, sport competitors, and canine business owners. Here you can connect with our coaches, ask questions, gain access to additional resources, network with other canine fitness professionals, and connect with other likeminded individuals. This is a great way to stay motivated and inspired and meet other canine fitness enthusiasts during your time in the program and after you graduate.
ADDITIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS
Canine Conditioning 101 Course
Massage for the Canine Athlete Lesson
Finding the Anatomy of the Dog Tutorial
Canine Sport Nutrition Lectures with Nutritional Experts
Are you ready to join us?
Unprecedented Endorsement
Our vision of partnering with higher educational institutions was realized in the end 2020 when we partnered with Colorado State University Pueblo.
This means the curriculum and syllabi for our programs have gone through an extensive review process by numerous canine professionals, program and training directors, and university professors in order to receive a “stamp of approval” from organizations and institutional partners that are leaders in education and the dog world.
What enabled this marked achievement was a combination of our development team that included decades of experience in program design and education along with individuals who had expertise in veterinary science, canine nutrition, and decades of hands-on experience in the sport and working dog world.
As a result, the Elite K9 Athlete Program has been approved for CEUs from Colorado State University Pueblo and multiple professional organizations such as the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).
We are also recognized for the work that we do through the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). Our expertise in the field of canine fitness is also acknowledged through our regular contribution to Working Dog Magazine and USPCA’s Canine Courier magazine. Our work has also been highlighted in other places such as IACP’s The Canine Professional Journal and the HITS K-9 podcast.
Elite K9 Athlete Program Modules
Using video lecture, demonstration, templates, worksheets, and exercises, our Northeast K9 Conditioning team will help you acquire the confidence, knowledge, and skills that you need to positively impact your life and the lives of dogs for years to come. Program modules include the following:
MODULE #1: What it takes to be an elite athlete
Using video lecture, demonstration, templates, worksheets, and exercises, our Northeast K9 Conditioning team will help you acquire the confidence, knowledge, and skills that you need to positively impact your life and the lives of dogs for years to come. Program modules include the following:
MODULE #2: Create your elite athlete
Identify essential information that should be collected prior to starting a canine conditioning program and use this information to assess a dog’s fitness needs; Identify a dog’s individual strengths and weaknesses and how this information informs program design.
MODULE #3: How to reach peak performance
Identify the effects of exercise on the elite canine athlete’s body and understand their unique exercise needs; Identify common injuries of the canine athlete and how to prevent them; Apply principles of exercise science and functional anatomy to design effective conditioning programs
MODULE #4: 6-step process to program design
Apply the 6 Step Process of Program Design to canine fitness; Identify ways to assess a dog’s strength, flexibility, balance, body awareness, cardiovascular endurance, and working performance.
MODULE #5: Advanced Program Design for the K9 Athlete
Discover how to train for speed and power while minimizing the risk of injury; Discover how to safely implement circuit training and high intensity interval training for the canine athlete
What You Get
12-month access to the Elite K9 Athlete online course & resources
Bi-weekly group coaching calls for 12 months
On-demand video training & exercise database
Access to two private Elite K9 communities
Downloadable templates, fitness plans, workbooks & guest materials
“JumpStart” 1-on-1 orientation coaching call
Three private virtual coaching sessions
CEUs & Certificates of Completion
Certificate of Completion issued by Colorado State University Pueblo & Northeast K9 Conditioning
Eligibility to apply for the Elite K9 Athlete Certification Practicum
FREE BONUS: Canine Conditioning 101 Course
FREE BONUS: Massage for the Canine Athlete Lesson
FREE BONUS: Finding the Anatomy of the Dog Tutorial & Canine Biomechanics
FREE BONUS: Canine Sport Nutrition Lectures with Nutritional Experts
Your Investment
Our canine fitness programs range from $197 to $3500. Our more comprehensive programs that include a full year of 1-on-1 coaching and mentoring start at $1297. Your total investment will depend on your goals, your interests, and the degree you want to apply the canine fitness best practices. Once you submit your application, our admissions team will review your information and reach out with suggested next steps. This may be a one-on-one consultation with one of our canine program specialists or a recommended next step curriculum via email. We are here to help you decide on the perfect next step based on your goals and budget.
What’s Your Return on Investment?
For dog owners, your knowledge of canine fitness will help you avoid expensive injuries, promote optimum health, and ensure you have a happy, healthy dog for years to come.
For dog trainers and other canine professionals, you’ll be able to deliver uncommon value to your clients, solidify your competitive advantage, and be confident in the fitness advice you are offering your clients.
What Our Graduates Say
Ivan Balabanov
Ot Vitosha Malinois
"Anyone who is involved (seriously) in dog sports is aware how easy it is for a dog athlete to get injured and how abruptly an amazing career can come to an end. Learning how to prevent injuries is crucial if you want to be successful. Every time I get the opportunity, I invite Erica to give presentations and share her work at my workshops. She's amazing!"
Francoise Massart
Marvel K9 Dog Training Academy
"This is a must take program for all individuals interested in maintaining a healthy canine. Both working and pet dog owners/handlers will obtain a vast amount of knowledge and techniques that will allow them to properly maintain peak condition for their dogs at all life stages. I highly recommend Erica’s programs. Learning from her will equip you with the opportunity to provide your dog with an even healthier life."
Paul V. Anthony
A&B Canine Training
"Thank you as always Dr. Erica Boling for helping me with workout ideas yesterday. As many of you know Fin and I have been chosen as alternates to represent the USA and the World Cup in France. I know that Fin will have to be in the best shape of his life to compete at such a high level so I contacted Erica who I believe is one of the best in the country at not only getting your dog in peak condition but also keeping them there. No matter if your dog is a pet or elite K9 athlete, Erica is the one to see!"
Your Next Steps
If what you’ve learned sparks your interest, submit your application today! Our admissions team will review your information and reach out with suggested next steps. This may be a 1-on-1 consultation with one of our K9 specialists or recommendations sent via email. We're here to help you decide on the perfect next step based on your goals and budget!
Step 1:
Submit Your Application Online
Step 2:
Look For Your "Next Steps" Email
Step 3:
Decide on the "Next Steps" For You
Frequently Asked Questions
After successfully completing the Elite K9 Athlete Program and demonstrating understanding of what you learned, you will have the opportunity to apply to the Elite K9 Athlete Practicum. Upon acceptance into the Practicum, you will receive additional training and support as you complete a series of hands-on activities and case studies. Once you have successfully completed your Practicum experience, you will become a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS) and receive your diploma.
After you successfully complete the Elite K9 Athlete Program, you can apply to participate in a Practicum experience. During the Practicum, you will complete a series of hands-on activities and case studies so that you can deepen your confidence and skills when designing fitness programs. You will also receive additional online training, gain access to a library of resources, and receive monthly group coaching sessions to enhance your learning. You will discover how to design and implement fitness workshops and courses for various types of dog owners and handlers. You will also enhance your skills in marketing and selling programs to grow your business, club, or organization.
Yes! What you learn will apply to all dogs. Think of it this way... Could a sports trainer who works with Olympic athletes also create fitness programs for soccer moms? Of course!
There are limitations to what you can do with a puppy, but you can definitely start teaching foundation behaviors while they are young! It's better to teach them the right way from the beginning rather than try to reteach skills down the road. For some of the hands-on activities, you can also work with an older dog owned by a friend, colleague or family member.
The program is designed to go at your own pace. You will have 12-months access to the online video trainings and bi-weekly group coaching calls. After 12-months, you will be invited to join our Alumni Program. For a nominal monthly fee, you will have ongoing access to all the online content, resources, bi-weekly group coaching calls and more!
Yes! You receive CEUs, official transcripts, and a certificate of completion from Colorado State University, Pueblo upon completing the program. We are recognized by the International Association of Canine Professionals and Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers for CEUs. We also provide educational opportunities for members of the United State Police Canine Association.
Need Clarification Before You Begin?
Reach out with your questions and get personalized guidance from Erica.
Meeting the needs of the canine athlete.
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