Mirror Image K9

A week before I picked up my pup, I found Millie’s podcast and listened to 13 straight hours during a roadtrip. I learned an incredible amount of information and developed a whole new perspective on dog companionship. I have been training my Dutch shepherd with MIK9 since he was 13 weeks old and now at a year old, and through Millie’s guidance and her team’s dedication, he is a well rounded best friend with incredible manners. I know we would not be where we are today without the team at Mirror Image and I’m so excited for what comes next and seeing him grow even further with all of the goals and training we are planning to accomplish.

The entire Mirror Image team is amazing. They have helped us successfully bring a rescue dog into our household as well as work on some anxiety issues with our other dog. Their day camp program is the best, and I won’t take my dogs anywhere else. The facility is clean, and I know my dogs are in good hands while they are there. Everyone is extremely welcoming, and helpful. I’m so thankful to have found MIK9!

Mirror Image K9 has been hands down the best discovery for our dog/family. We adopted our dog through the Best Chance program and felt so supported during the whole process of fostering and adopting. We then chose to continue learning with the collar connect program with Brandon. Collar connect is the best decision we made. Our ability to communicate and relationship with our dog has increased and improved ten fold. We have used Brandon for boarding since, and have been to large group classes, day camp, and pack walks. We live 45 minutes from MIK9 yet would never consider going anywhere else! Our dog is sooooo excited to see the trainers every time and we have a blast learning alongside him. Including photos of two (of many!) essential skills our Thumper has learned with MIK9: 1. The ability to chill with a house full of dinner guests despite being an energetic and people-loving pup 2. Waiting until given a release command despite a toy and treat sitting right in front of him as a previously resource guarding dog

I recently came across a video produced by Mirror Image K9, and I must express my deep concerns regarding the training methods used. The approach shown in the video was not only highly forceful but also dangerous for both the dog and the trainer. The dog was visibly stressed, fearful, and reactive, yet the trainer continued to use physical pressure and intimidation to “correct” the behavior. This is not how effective dog training works. Resource guarding, as demonstrated in the video, is a behavior rooted in fear and anxiety. When handled with force, this behavior often escalates or results in a dog shutting down emotionally. Unfortunately, the methods employed by Mirror Image K9 fail to address the root cause of the behavior and instead rely on dominance-based techniques, which modern science has shown to be harmful and counterproductive. In the long run, these extreme, coercive tactics may lead to trauma for the dog, creating more behavioral problems than they solve. As someone who values humane and ethical training, I find these methods not only outdated but deeply troubling. I strongly urge Mirror Image K9 to reconsider their approach and educate themselves on humane, evidence-based training practices that build trust, rather than fear. Dogs deserve to feel safe, respected, and understood during the learning process. There are much better ways to guide them through behavioral challenges—methods that foster cooperation and trust rather than creating an atmosphere of fear and dominance. EDIT: If you are "extremely open to other’s opinions" as you claim, then why do you scrub your social media of any comments that question your methods?