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About Us
Local. Inclusivity. Community.
By k9HS - Canine High School

Hello Humans!
Thank you for your interest in Canine High School Long Beach, now available anytime, anywhere through our on-demand service k9HS Online!
We offer local school programs in the city of Long Beach that include the family unit, human participation is key to developing strong bonds with your puppy. Our training programs are designed to help new dog parents understand the unique needs of their puppies, and provide the necessary tools to raise a happy and healthy dog. Our trusted team will provide your puppy with the foundation they need for many happy years with you.
Every one of our school programs is based on behavioral learning concepts, which is how both humans and dogs learn. And we use those learning methods to achieve results in a benevolent, reward-based system that is force-free. Your dog will not suffer leash jerks, yelling, or any other type of outdated and unnecessary punishment while under our care. We promote force-free training methods to ensure your pup enjoys learning and the training experience is a positive one. We believe in scientific evidence-based learning and we don't want to keep it a secret - we want to offer you the support and education that you need so that you can teach your dog and build a close, trusting bond together!.
We are passionate about helping dog parents build strong and lasting relationships with their puppies. We’re Long Beach’s go-to puppy training school for good reason - our team of professional, certified dog trainers use the latest and most effective, ethical and educated techniques to help you and your dog reach your full potential. Let us help you guide your furry friend towards being the well-behaved, happy pup you know they can be.
At Canine High School Long Beach and k9HS Online, we take pride in providing accessible and ethical dog training, tutoring and online courses.
Local
We are a proud minority owned Local Small Business, our team of dog trainers has been working with dogs at a professional level for decades. Canine High School was built in Long Beach for our local community and the dogs that live as part of our families. Our team is a family, and we are committed to paying fair living wages to our team. We have created a diverse, inclusive and positive work environment for our team which is reflected in the puppies and dogs under our care, as well as in their parents.

Inclusivity
We value diversity and inclusion that is representative of our beautiful city. Canine High School is part of the Safe Spaces Alliance and supports their dedication to curating LGBTQ+ welcoming and safe spaces.
Community
We feel a strong sense of responsibility to our community; our combined education and experience are valuable assets that we are passionate about sharing. Each member of our team has individually volunteered locally and internationally (some for decades). We have supported local dog rescue groups like Long Beach Spay and Neuter Foundation and shelters like the spcaLA in Long Beach by donating our services and time to these organizations that change and save the lives of many dogs.
Please take the time to read our Reviews, Mission & philosophy, and as always, we are always here if you need to speak to human!
5-Star Reviews
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By k9HS - Canine High School

Our Philosophy
Force-free. Humane. Educated.
By Carlos F Morales - CDBC | CPDT-KA

What is Canine High School’s Training Philosophy?
At Canine High School, we believe that building relationships with dogs is the foundation for effective training. We treat our student dogs and their humans, as individuals, it is important to us to factor in family dynamics, environment, breed, age and temperament when designing training plans.
Treating every student as an individual is part of our methodology, we approach each dog and their human by using Relationship-Based Training to meet each dog’s personal and basic needs before training. Throughout the entirety of our School programs we endorse and utilize multiple Training Models (Methods) including Scientific Training that is based on the most current scientific evidence. We prioritize our own education by holding certifications including the CPDT-KA from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and by attending seminars and participating in continuing education. We endorse and utilize Model-Rival Or Mirror Training in our Teaching Dog program where puppies learn by imitating gentle, kind and well behaved adult dogs that visit our Puppy School program.
Canine High School does not subscribe to pack theory or theories of dominance and fear for dog training. We refrain from aversive and/or punitive punishment techniques and tools such as e-collars, prong-collars, etc. We find these methods to be inefficient at treating the cause, they just address the symptom through fear and pain. Inhumane training is no longer considered training by the training community. It is our stance that on moral grounds, pain and punitive punishment is reprehensible. We do however understand that there is a lot of misinformation present in the media about dog training and confusion about what the acceptable methods and tools of training are. Therefore our focus is on education rather than judgment. We strive to provide every human that comes in contact with us with the necessary tools to be able to train their dog with the most effective science evidence-based force-free methods.
Our force-free, Positive Reinforcement Training (R+) techniques promote well-adjusted, confident, and polite pups without the negative side effects of fear or physical punishment. We are LIMA compliant and use the Humane Hierarchy on every case that we approach. Please scroll down to read about LIMA and the Humane Hierarchy and why they are important when choosing a dog trainer. Our Teacher Trainers are friends and mentors, not alphas trying to establish dominance over your dog. We are buddies they can trust and respect!
Carlos F Morales - CDBC | CPDT-KA
Carlos is head trainer at Canine High School in Long Beach CA, a force-free Puppy School and Dog School. He is responsible for creating the School's Dog Training System, Curriculum and Philosophy. In addition to educating his canine students and their human parents, he runs a teaching school that offers apprenticeship and internship programs for aspiring professional dog trainers. He is a Certified Mentor Trainer for several dog training schools and holds certifications with the IAABC and the CCPDT. He lives in Long Beach CA in a little house by the beach with his human, his three dogs GoGo, Kiba, Choji and a sassy cat, Habibti.
"Offering pups the ability to consent, use agency and make choices while they learn"
What is LIMA?
“LIMA” is an acronym for “least intrusive, minimally aversive.” LIMA describes a trainer or behavior consultant who uses the least intrusive, minimally aversive strategy out of a set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in achieving a training or behavior change objective. LIMA adherence also requires consultants to be adequately educated and skilled in order to ensure that the least intrusive and aversive procedure is used. LIMA-compliant training methods are important because they are humane and effective. They also help to build trust and confidence between dogs and their owners. This allows the opportunity for the dog to be motivated, to learn, to make choices and to develop confidence and trust without the fear and trauma of punishment as a first resort.
Although we are LIMA Compliant, Canine High School does not endorse or utilize Aversive Punishment Training, even at its most minimal level. We use force-free methods and adhere to the Humane Hierarchy in all cases, from basic to advanced.
Check out our Online Course about LIMA:
What is the Humane Hierarchy?
Glad you asked! It is the application of the Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention policy.
Humane Hierarchy Order of Priorities:
1 Wellness: Emotional, Nutritional & Physical
2 Puppy proof: Antecedent Arrangements
3 Reward: Positive Reinforcement
4 Teach: Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors
5 Remove: Extinction, Negative Reinforcement & Negative Punishment
6 Correct: Positive Punishment
Check out our Online Course about the Humane Hiearchy:
Contact Us
questions. answers. admissions.
By k9HS - Canine High School

Our local Long Beach team is insured, bonded and certified in pet first aid & CPR by the American Red Cross. We are a convenient mobile service for Long Beach and the neighboring communities of Signal Hill, Naples Island, Seal Beach, Belmont Shore, Rossmor and Los Alamitos. If you are outside of our service area, please visit k9HS Online, dog training and tutoring on-demand is accessible from anywhere, anytime!

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Our Mission
Consent. Agency. Choice.
By Carlos F Morales - CDBC | CPDT-KA

What is Canine High School’s Mission?
Canine High School believes in offering all of our students, including puppies, adolescents, and adult dogs, the respect, free will, and dignity they deserve. consent, agency & choice are essential for creating a safe and positive learning environment for dogs. They help dogs to feel respected and empowered, which leads to better training outcomes. It is not sufficient to just restrict and modify behavior, but when changes or restrictions must be made, we focus on teaching alternative behaviors to offer the dog relief in the form of enrichment and balance.
At the same time we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information about dog training and to educate our community on the humane treatment of animals while using force-free dog training techniques and scientific evidence-based methods. In today’s world we are bombarded with advice and contradictory information about how to train our dogs online, on TV, everywhere. It can be overwhelming, so our mission is to make the jargon and science of dog training easily accessible and easy to understand, and to teach you the most effective, educated, and ethical options available. We want everyone in our community to be able to practice and maintain what we teach easily.
Our team specializes in practical real-world solutions for all levels of training, from puppy training and enrichment, to socialization and aggression. Our programs are designed to be fun and engaging for both dogs and their owners. We designed them in a step-by-step format that takes a puppy from Elementary School all the way to High School, and includes options for all types of dogs like Athletics and Vocational education. Each school program is paired with AKC Certification and Title exam preparation within each school curriculum, including the popular AKC CGC Certification.
We want you to walk away with a tangible and attainable achievement that will open doors for you and your dog in the future. Everything that you will learn in our programs with your puppy, will bond you further and will set your puppy up for success as an adult. We know your mission is to have that well-adjusted, polite, confident dog that you can bring to dinner on 2nd Street, shopping at the mall, for a beach day or a walk through Downtown. Our mission is to help you achieve your goals for your dog!
Carlos F Morales - CDBC | CPDT-KA
Carlos is head trainer at Canine High School in Long Beach CA, a force-free Puppy School and Dog School. He is responsible for creating the School's Dog Training System, Curriculum and Philosophy. In addition to educating his canine students and their human parents, he runs a teaching school that offers apprenticeship and internship programs for aspiring professional dog trainers. He is a Certified Mentor Trainer for several dog training schools and holds certifications with the IAABC and the CCPDT. He lives in Long Beach CA in a little house by the beach with his human, his three dogs GoGo, Kiba, Choji and a sassy cat, Habibti.
"Our mission is to make the jargon and science of dog training easily accessible"
What is Conscious Dog Parenting?
Conscious parenting understands that both dog parents and dogs are living beings with feelings and emotions.
As dog parents we have baggage, we bring with us our own childhood and how we were raised to think about and treat dogs. We bring to our dogs the beliefs we’ve been taught and the beliefs we wish to practice. We have good days, we have bad days. We are flawed. Our dogs are flawed too. They have good days and bad days. They pick up on energy in a room and they know when someone is upset with them. They react to things, sometimes badly and as dog parents we can help them learn and navigate a better response.
The conscious dog parent concept embraces the opportunity for relationship and life tool building for dogs. Conscious dog parents focus on building relationships with their dogs, and they teach their dogs how to give consent, have agency over their own lives, and make choices for themselves. Conscious dog parents allow natural social processing for dogs except when it affects their dog’s health or well-being, then they step in by holding force-free limits to establish the dog’s own healthy boundaries.
Before any action, conscious dog parents pause to see if they are reacting from fear, or making a choice based on being present. And will prioritize the use of force-free training methods that are based on positive reinforcement and mutual respect.
Consent is mutual respect
Whether we look at this concept from a moral or ethological perspective, consenting to be touched, picked up, or most importantly, to having social interactions is key for a dog’s ability to process that experience and interaction. When we recognize a boundary for our dog and yield, we offer them the opportunity to make choices and feel safe. Dogs communicate their consent through their body language. It is important to learn how to read a dog's body language so that you can respect their boundaries
What happens when consent is not given?
When a dog does not consent to an interaction, behaviorally speaking, they are not able to regulate their emotions and form a positive association to that experience or interaction. This is when phobias, aversions, fears and reactions are developed. Repeated exposure to high-stress situations can reinforce phobias, aversions, fears, and reactions, and the dog may learn to expect these emotions
Agency is free will for dogs to make their own decisions
Agency allows a dog to do the necessary social processing to make decisions on the experience or interaction. When a dog thinks: ‘This dog is scary, do I find a safe place or bark to ward them off’? - and before the dog can make a decision, we interrupt their process with commands or soothing words and take away their ability to emotionally regulate themselves from the situation or experience.
Dogs may need more time than we do to process their emotions. Creating a safe space for them to self-regulate emotionally helps them to become more confident and adaptable. Allowing dogs to make their own decisions is important for their emotional well-being. It helps them to feel confident and in control of their own lives
Choice is essential for Dignity and Learning
Choice is essential for learning obedience and strengthening the bond between human and dog. Training can be about giving a dog the opportunity to choose to do what is asked, rather than forcing or intimidating them. When a dog makes a choice on their own that has a positive outcome, they are more likely to repeat that choice in the future. When a dog repeatedly chooses to do what is asked, they remember this choice and feel good about themselves. This facilitates learning.
Our Team
Educated. Ethical. Effective.
By k9HS - Canine High School

What Training Models (Methods) does Canine High School use?
It is important to choose a training method that is endorsed by reputable trainers and organizations because it ensures that the method is humane, effective, and based on scientific research. There are a lot of different philosophies, styles and techniques, and each trainer has a different level of education, experience and ability. Here is a list of techniques that Canine High School endorses and utilizes, as well as a description including other techniques that we do not endorse or utilize:
k9HS Endorsed & Utilized! Scientific Training
This is a very broad style that often uses behavioral learning concepts, mainly Operant Conditioning which relies more on reinforcement and less on punishment. It is very much dependent on scientific research that is also used in other fields and evolving studies and theories so trainers have to stay up-to-date on the most current science. The methods are often effective but can be difficult to teach or explain to clients.
k9HS Endorsed & Utilized! Positive Reinforcement Training (R+)
This method includes rewarding good behavior when a dog performs that behavior. Clicker training is often used within this style. Bad behavior does not get a reward or acknowledgement. If correction needs to happen, it comes in the form of removal of rewards. This method is great for puppies and for learning commands, but you need to be very patient to correct unwanted behaviors with this style.
k9HS Endorsed & Utilized! Model-Rival Or Mirror Training
This is a style that uses behavioral learning concepts, mainly Observational Learning. A dog will learn by observing a human or another dog and then mimicking the behavior. This method operates at a similar level of success as positive reinforcement and operant conditioning. Many trainers may find it more natural and preferable, especially for puppies.
k9HS Endorsed & Utilized! Relationship-Based Training
This style combines several different training methods, but focuses on an individual approach for both dog and human. The relationship between dog and human is most important. Striving to meet the needs of the dog and the trainer, create communication, and to strengthen their bond. An understanding of the dog's body language, what rewards most motivate their dog, and how to meet their dog’s basic needs before each training session begins. Positive reinforcement at the forefront. And managing the dog’s environment to set the dog up for success is key.
k9HS Does NOT Endorse or Utilize! Balanced training
This method pursues obedience. This style is corrections-based, though it uses praise to reward good behaviors. It also employs pain punishment and tools to address unwanted behaviors. Electronic Training - This method uses an electric collar that delivers a shock when a dog is not performing a desired task. It was originally used for training at a distance when a leash couldn’t be used. There are many problems with this training method. One is that it relies on punishment for bad behavior instead of reward, a dog learns what they shouldn’t do, rather than what they should do. Another is that dogs are often traumatized by the use of the shock collar.
k9HS Does NOT Endorse or Utilize! Alpha Dog Or Dominance
This style relies on a dog’s instinctual pack mentality to create a relationship of submission and dominance. The theory suggests that dogs see their families as their packs and follow a social hierarchy, as observed in captive wolf packs. Some methods used in this style include very beneficial skills like understanding dog body language and setting boundaries and limitations. Some others suggest pinning and harsh correction techniques as well as contentious relationships between people and their dogs.
k9HS Does NOT Endorse or Utilize! Aversive Punishment Training
This is a controversial training method focused on pain and punishment. Humane training is accessible and in practice. Inhumane training is no longer considered training by the training community. On moral grounds, pain and punishment is reprehensible. Aversives include Electronic Training, and pain tools like prong, choke collars, and pain from physical abuse of any type. Similarly, intimidation, threats or using fear as a motivator is deemed aversive. Exposure to increased and sustained or repeated high stress situations is also considered abusive as it puts dogs past their stress threshold, which produces biochemical cascades that are non-therapeutic, counterproductive to learning, and can have longer lasting fear-response repercussions.
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