Elite K9 Athlete Program

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 lead me to create my business Northeast K9 Conditioning.

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 developed 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 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:

ONLINE MODULES & LESSONS

Using video lecture, demonstration, downloadable templates, worksheets, action guides, and video recorded exercises, our Northeast K9 Conditioning team will help you acquire the confidence and knowledge needed to safely design and implement canine fitness programs for your own dog and others. You’ll also have access to our large video library that offers hundreds of hours of instruction and bonus lessons on just about any canine fitness topic that you can imagine!

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 our Fall 2021 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

Upon successful completion of the program, you will

Receive Certificates of Completion from Northeast K9 Conditioning and Colorado State University Pueblo.
Acquire a total of 6 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) from Colorado State University Pueblo.
Receive a special invitation to join our Alumni Program for ongoing support, continuing education, and access to special guest speakers and content updates to the program.
Be eligible to apply to the Elite K9 Athlete Practicum. Successful completion of the Practicum experience leads to becoming a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS)

BONUSES

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?

APPLY NOW

Unprecedented Endorsement

My 5-year vision of partnering with higher educational institutions was realized in the end 2020. 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 my doctoral work, decades of experience in program design and education, and a 10-year track record of working with dog owners, trainers, and working dog handlers through my business Northeast K9 Conditioning.

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 acknolwedged 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.

CERTIFICATION

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

As a graduate of the Elite K9 Athlete Program, you will have the option to stand out as a leader in the canine fitness world, enhance your credibility, and attract new clients by becoming a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS). Our certification was designed for those individuals who want to demonstrate to others and/or to themselves that they have mastered a deep understanding of canine fitness.

By becoming a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist*, you’ll be in the position to design fitness programs for a wide variety of dogs. You’ll have the knowledge and skills to teach canine fitness to others. You will also acquire expertise in designing innovative, profitable programs that distinguish you from other canine professionals.

As a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist, you will have the knowledge and skills to:

Design customized fitness programs for healthy dogs at all life stages
Design safe, effective programs that meet the needs of pet dogs to the highest level of canine athletes
Promote, market, and sell canine fitness courses, seminars, and workshops to a variety of audiences
Teach canine fitness in both one-on-one and group settings
Inspire others to improve their dogs’ health and fitness while generating more income

To become a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS), you must enroll in and successfully complete both the Elite K9 Athlete Program and the Elite K9 Athlete Practicum. Prior to being accepted into the Practicum, you must submit your Elite K9 Athlete coursework for review and participate in at least one private coaching session with one of our faculty members or certified canine fitness coaches.

* There is an additional fee for the added certification.

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

Recognize common sports and jobs that are performed by canine athletes and identify the unique mental and physical demands placed on their bodies; Understand what is needed to design a conditioning program that meets the unique mental, physical, and psychological needs of sport and working dogs.

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

YOUR INVESTMENT

Our canine fitness programs range from $200 to $5000. 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 YOU GET

Access toThe Elite K9 Athlete comprehensive, online course and all program resources for 12 full months
12-months of bi-weekly group calls & coaching support
On-demand training through our extensive video library, & exercise database
Exclusive access to two online communities for ongoing feedback, support & networking opportunities
Online resources, templates, sample fitness plans, guest speaker handouts, workbooks & more
"JumpStart" one-on-one orientation coaching call
3 private virtual coaching sessions to meet the unique needs of you and your dog
Continuing education units (CEUs) and Certificates of Completion from Colorado State University Pueblo and Northeast K9 Conditioning, LLC upon program completion
Eligibility to apply to the Elite K9 Athlete Certification Practicum upon program completion

FREE BONUS Canine Conditioning 101 Course

FREE BONUS Massage for the Canine Athlete Lesson

FREE BONUS Finding the Anatomy of the Dog Tutorial

FREE BONUS Canine Sport Nutrition Lectures with Nutritional Experts

APPLY NOW

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 workhops. 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!

APPLY NOW