Calm dogs are built through clarity, consistency, and trust.
Training should make everyday life easier, not more stressful.
Every dog learns differently, and training should reflect that.
We help families understand their dogs and build better lives together.
Training Built for Real Life With Your Dog
North Star Family K-9 was built to help families create calmer, more predictable lives with their dogs. We focus on understanding behavior, setting clear expectations, and teaching owners how to communicate in ways their dogs actually understand.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all programs or quick fixes. Every dog has a unique temperament, history, and environment, and training works best when those factors are respected. Our approach is structured, practical, and designed to carry over into real life, not just a training session.
The goal is simple: confident owners, calmer dogs, and a better relationship built on trust and consistency.
Training Built for Lasting Results
Effective training isn’t about rushing progress. It’s about doing the right things, in the right order, with consistency and support. Our focus is on creating calm, reliable behavior that carries over into everyday life at home and out in the world.
We measure success by how confident owners feel, how clearly dogs understand expectations, and how well the training holds up over time.
Our process
Clear steps. Real progress. No guesswork.
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Assessment & Strategy
We start by learning about your dog, your household, and the challenges you’re facing. From there, we create a training strategy that makes sense for your dog and your daily routine.
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2.
Training & Coaching
Training happens with clear communication and hands-on guidance. We work with your dog and show you how to reinforce behaviors so progress continues between sessions.
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3.
Support & Follow-Through
Real change happens over time. We stay involved to answer questions, adjust the plan if needed, and help you apply training in real-life situations.
Experienced Training, Built Around Real Life
Every dog is different, and so is every household. We’ve worked with dogs of all ages, breeds, and backgrounds, helping families navigate everything from basic obedience to complex behavior challenges.
Our focus is always the same: clear communication, thoughtful structure, and training that actually carries over into everyday life.
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Founders & Staff
Hank
FounderI have been a dog owner and enthusiast for years, and I have worked with dogs long before Nicole and I met. Over the past 17 years together (and 14 years married), we have trained and lived with dogs as a true part of our family, not just pets that exist around our schedule. That journey taught us what actually works when the goal is real life integration: clear communication, consistent structure, and training you can repeat every day. Our mission at North Star Family K-9 is to help you build that kind of relationship with your dog, and to help you avoid the same missteps we made early on so your dog can live a full, happy life.
Nicole
FounderI have owned and worked with dogs for many years, including before Hank and I ever met. For the last 17 years we have trained dogs together and shaped our home and routines around fully integrating our dogs into our family and daily life. Along the way we learned that life gets better for humans and canines when the relationship is built on consistent communication, structure, and training that fits into normal routines. That is why our mission at North Star Family K-9 is to help you create the same kind of family relationship with your pup, while helping you sidestep the common pitfalls we learned the hard way, so your dog can live a full, happy life.
Bella
The First One (2005-2019)Bella was Hank's first dog. He loved her immediately but did not have any prior experience owning a dog. As a result, the first two years of their life together presented some challenges. She suffered from separation anxiety and often ran away and would not come when called. After getting connected with trainers experienced with working-line GSDs, he realized how important consistent routine and structure were in a dog's life. He learned it was not enough just to love her. Most importantly, he learned that training, structure and leadership strengthened their relationship! Hank and Nicole met shortly after he had started training with Bella. Nicole had her own previous experience with working line shepherds. Together, they ensured that they provided Bella with a consistent, daily structure to give her a happy life. In return, she was our constant companion and loyal, happy family member for 14 years. Though there have been other dogs, no dog will ever replace her emotional intuition and loyal nature.
Susse
The Tough One (2007-2021)``Susse`` means sweet in German. She may look like she was sweet, but truth be told, she was a very reactive dog. She loved humans but was very dog-aggressive from 4 months old until she took her last breath. We went to multiple trainers to try to ``cure her``. What we learned was that her Eastern European working lines meant she had a very high drive and that her reactivity was just part of who she was. Genetics matter. It could never be ``trained`` out of her. Instead, we would have to learn to manage her behaviors with structure and leadership. We learned to harness her high-energy drives and teach her replacement behaviors when she was in a heightened state. With proper training and patience, she could interact effectively with new dogs in controlled situations. She taught us so much. Her gift to us is that we learned that we have to meet a dog wherever they are and work with their natural tendencies and drives to make sure that they and other dogs stay safe and happy.
Rumi
The Handsome OneHe's handsome and he knows it. He is a three-year old long-haired German Shepard Dog. He is from show lines. This means he is fairly low drive and biddable. He is a great co-trainer for our board-and-train dogs that need to learn how to establish boundaries with other dogs. He is a titled Canine Good Citizen, AKC Trick Dog and Credentialed Therapy Dog through Pet Partners. He is very eager to please his handler and can be easily called off when his love becomes a little too overwhelming.
JoJo
The Athletic OneJoJo is a one-year old plush coat bi-color German Sheperd from high-drive working lines. She came to our family for the purpose of getting into IGP. This is a competetive sport that tests a dog's tracking, obedience and protection skills. JoJo is showing a lot of promise. Hank is learning from some of the best IGP trainers in the country and world. When she is not in work mode, JoJo is our reminder that dogs need jobs, mental stimulation and strong leadership as much as they physical exercise.
Ryder
The Funny OneHe may look a little intimidating at first glance, but he has the most stable temperament of any dog Hank and NIcole have ever owned. He is a three-year-old Rottweiler that we rescued. He is easygoing and always happy. He loves toys and hugs more than anything except for maybe food. He loves doing competetive obedience and is working towards AKC obedience titles.. He is non-reactive and very eager to please. He often serves as a demo dog for human clients be able to practice their handling skills