Northern Neck Kennel Club

03/23/2026

Congratulations Team Dash (Far Right) on earning your DCAT!!

03/16/2026

There are openings in the Beyond Basic Obedience Class! If your dog is ready, please inquire. Description: The Beyond Basic Obedience course enhances the skills acquired in Basic Obedience by incorporating advanced training elements such as off-leash exercises, skill reinforcement, distance commands, distraction management, and extended duration tasks. Participation in this class requires prior completion of both Basic Obedience and Canine Good Citizens programs. Dog must be a year old or have prior approval of the instructor. Contact Gloria at [email protected] to check for class availability. Class starts on March 31, 2026, and runs for six weeks, 1:45pm-2:45pm, Fricke Pavilion, 790 Devils Bottom Road, Lancaster, VA.

03/05/2026

Congratulations to the latest CGC & CGCA students!! 🥳🤩Pictured Team Lexi, Team Gabe, Team Rufus, Team Maria. Not pictured, Team Buddy, Team Mystery Team Percy & Livy).

03/01/2026

Northern Neck Kennel Club Class Schedule March-May 2026 Classes will begin the week of March 30, 2026:

Monday, March 30: Agility for Fun, for 6 weeks: 9:00-10:00 am Please contact Kim Bolster, [email protected], for more information. Agility for Fun with Weave Poles, for 6 weeks, 10:30 am–11:30 pm Please contact Kim Bolster, [email protected], for more information.

Monday, March 30: Introduction to Obedience, for 6 weeks, 7:00-8:00 pm Please contact Caroline Sullivan, [email protected], for more information.

Tuesday, March 31: Novice Rally Obedience, for 6 weeks, 9:30-10:30 am Please contact Peny Gallogly, [email protected], for more information.

Tuesday, March 31: Beyond Basic Obedience, for 6 weeks, 1:45-2:45 pm Please contact Gloria Daniels, [email protected], for more information.

Canine Good Citizen Advanced, for 6 weeks, 3:00-4:00 pm Please contact Gloria Daniels, [email protected], for more information.

Wednesday, April 1: Puppy Kindergarten/STAR Puppy, for 6 weeks, 2:30-3:30 pm Please contact Margie Brown, [email protected], for more information.

02/28/2026

On Thursday, February 25th, 2026, the following students completed the NNKC Basic Obedience class:
* Dave & Linda Ryan with Major
* Mary Jane Hinkins and Luna

Congratulations Everyone!! We are so proud of you!!!

02/25/2026

Congratulations to the recent S.T.A.R. graduates 🥳🤩

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

Let's Talk Activity Training
(Springfield Veterinary Center)

Just like with humans, exercise significantly benefits a dog’s life and health. Activity helps manage weight, can alleviate stress, prevent illnesses, as well as benefit their mental health and behavior. The amount of exercise and activity level depends on age, breed, and energy level.
High-energy or working breeds like border collies need much more exercise than small lap dogs or lower-energy breeds like basset hounds. For healthy, physically able dogs, shoot for 30-60 minutes of slow and controlled exercise a day.
Keep in mind that not every exercise may be appropriate for every dog. For example, a short-nosed dog like a Pug is not suited for strenuous exercise or long-distance running!
If you have any questions, give us a call and we would be happy to ensure that your dog does not have any conditions which would constrain exercise.
Switch up your exercise routine with these ideas:

Agility
You do not need to go to a facility to participate in agility, set up your own agility course in your back yard. Use household items like garbage cans to create obstacles and set up hurdles for them to leap over.

High Energy Activities
If your dog has a high energy level, consider an activity that allows for more exertion than a walk. If your dog has the stamina and physical ability to do this comfortably, try jogging, sprinting up hill, ball chasing, frisbee or playing with other dogs.

Walks
The most standard form of exercise you provide your dog. This burns calories while providing a much-needed energy release and mental stimulation. Remember a walk is also a great opportunity to further bond with your dog and strengthen a trusting relationship.

Small Space
If you live in an apartment or smaller space, or if it is just too cold to go outside, there are plenty of ways to keep exercise a normal part of your dog's routine! Try hallway fetch, tug of war or walk through the parking garage. Add some training to these activities and remember to reward for good behavior.

Mental Games
Mental exercise is just as energy exhausting as physical activity! Try hide and seek with treats or favorite toys. Hunting for these will keep your dog busy and burn some energy along the way. All those Amazon packages could come in handy, use leftover boxes as hiding spots for treats and let your dog sniff their way to their reward.

Training
Training is always an optimal way to challenge your dog with new tricks or brushing up on what they may already know.

02/19/2026

K9 Manhunt & ScentWork Scotland

The 24-Hour Silence Experiment
Two weeks ago I asked a few of my customers to try something slightly radical:
Stop talking to your dog for 24 hours.
No narration.
No constant cues.
No “who’s a good boy?”
Just silence, aside from genuine safety needs.
And here’s what most of you discovered…
Your dog was calmer.
Not shut down. Not sad. Just calmer.
Because voice carries energy. Dogs don’t understand English the way we imagine, they read tone, pitch, tension, rhythm. Constant chatter keeps the nervous system ticking over. Remove the verbal clutter and you reduce stimulation.
Many of you noticed:
• More resting
• Less pacing
• Fewer attention-seeking nudges
• Better lead flow
• More eye contact
When you stopped talking, your dog started watching.
They shifted to their natural language, spatial awareness. Shoulders, hips, movement speed, direction of travel. And funnily enough… it worked better.
Some of you got an extinction burst at first:
Nudge → paw → bark → dramatic sigh.
That’s not emotional damage. That’s a behaviour losing its automatic reward.
The biggest surprise?
Some of you felt uncomfortable. A bit guilty. A bit mean.
Which tells us something important:
We often talk to regulate ourselves, not the dog.
And here’s the kicker, when you did use a cue, it worked better.
Because it wasn’t diluted by repetition.
“Come” means more when it isn’t said 43 times a day.
This experiment isn’t about never speaking to your dog. It’s about deliberate communication.
Say less.
Mean more.
Use your body.
Keep cues clean.
Remove emotional leakage.
Leadership isn’t louder.
It’s clearer.
And sometimes the most powerful thing you can say…
…is absolutely nothing.

02/16/2026

Congrats to Team Sola (Peny) and Team Delta (Carol). Both won Best in Breed at the Maryland Kennel Club in Friendship, MD this weekend! 🥳

02/14/2026

🤷🤷‍♀️

02/11/2026

FAST CAT EVENT
Location: GLOUCESTER KENNEL CLUB
10360 Woods Cross Road, Gloucester, VA 23061
IMPORTANT: DO NOT TURN ON OWLS NEST ROAD!

Event Date:

Saturday March 21, 2026

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Sunday March 22, 2026

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​Registration for March 21 and 22
Opens 8:00 AM Friday February 06, 2026
Closes 8:00 PM Friday March 13, 2026