Train Now For a Well Behaved Dog by Spring!

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A Kabler School For Dogs training course is an investment that pays rewards every day!

Winter is the perfect time to begin training! By starting your training journey now your dog will be well behaved and off leash trained by Spring! Set you and your dog up for an amazing Spring of exciting outings! Our courses are fun for both you and your dog and provide pro level results. Whether you have difficult problem behaviors that disrupt your daily life or just want a high level of obedience training we will help you achieve your training goals. After all, we have been helping dogs and their owners for over 30 years!

Imagine your dog walking on a loose leash, passing other dogs and distractions with ease! Walking your dog will feel joyful and you will experience a oneness with your dog that transcends words. Outings to breweries and cafes will be joyful with your well mannered dog laying at your side. The feeling inside knowing that your dog will always return to you when called is hard to describe. It is a sense of confidence in your connection with your dog.

At Kabler School For Dogs our training staff is thoughtful, caring, and highly skilled at instructing both you and your dog in achieving fantastic results. We make sure that your dog is seeing tangible progress each day. Training is an investment that lasts a lifetime. You will be thrilled as your friends and family notice the giant difference training the Kabler way will make! Envision your dogs behavioral issues resolved, being able to walk politely past other dogs, going to breweries, and giving your dog safe off leash freedom on hikes. These are the dreams that our team makes possible every day.

We offer a free evaluation at our training campuses located in Asheville and Columbia. Schedule yours today so we can meet you and your dog. There is no obligation to enroll, so you have everything to gain by coming in for a visit. We can’t wait to meet you and your best friend!

Join our dog community! We are here to train and help! Call (828) 337-5793 today or click here to schedule your dogs FREE evaluation!

Advanced off leash practice with Leo, Lilly, and Summer.

Family Dogs Trained the Kabler Way Since 1995!

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A day in the life at Kabler!

Dog training tradition is what Asheville and Columbia families consider Kabler School For Dogs. Dog owners rely and trust the Kabler School to provide top level instruction and training for all breeds! We truly care about each dog enrolled in our school and love watching training success happen every day.

The Kabler training method has been honed for 30 years. At our school learning is fun and challenging at the same time! We give clear homework instructions that our students practice at home between training days at school. You and your dog will thrive with excellent training and motivated instruction.

At Kabler School For Dogs we raise puppies the right way and believe early exposure and puppy based training go a long way to raising the perfect adult dog. We have helped raise thousands of puppies through our Puppy Preschool course. Our puppy classes include confidence building, puppy obedience, house training and more!

One of the things we pride ourselves on is our ability to help owners solve challenging behavioral problems. Our courses will guide owners and their dogs from troubled waters to safe harbor. Owners are thrilled with the tangible progress and results we achieve!

Our team invites you to come and see us for a free evaluation and campus visit! Come and see what 30 years of training dogs looks like.

You are not alone! Join our dog training family. Call (828) 337-5793 today for more info or click here to schedule your dogs FREE evaluation!

 

Storm Kabler Wins Gold at Competition!

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David & Storm have been having an amazing year of competition!

2025 has been a year of successful trialing at club and National events. Storm took 7th at Nationals and multiple podium finishes. The team wrapped up an amazing year at Fire Pines Ringsports Mondioring comepetition in October. David and Storm entered into the Mondio Ring 1 level for 2 days of trialing and the field was creatively dressed in a ‘board game’ theme. The team had been practicing diligently and, as luck would have it, had a strong showing with 2 first place wins! David has been training Storm since a puppy to compete in the sport of Mondio and this past year has been amazing for demonstrating Storms skills on the field in front of the judges watchful and critical eyes. To find out more about Mondio visit: The United States Mondio Ring Association Website.

Storm jumping the hurdle under his David’s watchful eye.

Mondioring, or World Ring, is an international sport that includes high level obedience, obstacles and jumps, and police K9 exercises that are designed to challenge the dog and handler under a variety of distractions and circumstances. Established in the late 1980s, it combines elements from different European dog sports to create a single sport. Each Mondio trial has a theme with scenarios and distractions on the field to ensure that trials provide a unique experience. 
Core components and elements of Mondio include:
  • Obedience: Challenging exercises like heeling, positions, and retrieving while under pressure and with distractions, such as food scattered on the ground.
  • Jumps: This includes jumps over obstacles like a hurdle, a palisade wall jump, and a long jump.
  • Protection: The dog demonstrates its ability to protect the handler through exercises such as a face attack, a flee attack, area search, and guarding an object.
  • International competition: It was designed to allow competitors from different national dog sports to compete against each other on a level playing field.
  • Unpredictable scenarios: Each trial has a unique theme and the setup is created by the judge, meaning the order of exercises and the specific distractions will change every time.
  • High difficulty: The sport is known for its complexity, requiring a strong, stable, and highly trained dog with excellent mental stability and impulse control.
  • Levels: Mondioring has three levels, with a progression of increasing difficulty in the number and complexity of the exercises.
  • No tools: Dogs compete without any training tools, not even a flat collar, emphasizing the foundation of trust and clarity built between the handler and dog.

We are excited about what 2026 will bring David and Storm and the entire Kabler School For Dogs training family! If you are interested in David’s unique approach to training please schedule a free consultation so we can meet you and your dog!

We are here to train and help! Come see what makes us different! Call (828) 337-5793 today or click here to schedule your dogs FREE evaluation!

Storm guarding the decoy at Fire Pines Ringsport competition.

Do’s & Dont’s of Early Puppy Exposure

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Early Exposure to people, places, and things is on our checklist at Kabler’s Puppy Preschool!

Raising a puppy is a commitment. New owners are always excited about providing an amazing home for their new best friends. Getting on a schedule, house training and early obedience are on most new owners checklists. One thing I have noticed is that early environmental exposure is missing from owners puppy checklists. Especially since Covid, many new dog owners are taking an overly cautious approach to puppy raising and isolating their pups until after full vaccination. 16 weeks is the age when a puppies critical socialization is wrapping up. And unfortunately, the fast lane to raising a fearful and anxious dog is to avoid early exposure to the world. Giving your new puppy safe experiences, at these early very important developmental stages, allows your pup to grow with mental confidence.

I have always recommended new pups meet 100 new people by the time they are 16 weeks old. This includes delivery people, friends, family, and… strangers. I like to sit somewhere in public like a coffee shop patio and allow folks who would like to say hi to my pup to meet them and deliver a steady stream of treats. I encourage them to touch my pups ears, paws, tail, and tummy.

I also believe puppies need early environmental exposure to buisy streets, slick floors like in a gymnasium, loud trucks, elevators, stairs; basically anything they will see in their lifetime. I will attempt to expose them to people, places, and things between 8 to 16 weeks of age. I will continue this socialization in earnest until 6 months of age.

Do begin socialization early. Although we enroll pups up to 6 months in Puppy Preschool the optimal age to join class is 10 weeks of age.

Do take your puppy to friends and family homes for visits. Allow your puppy to explore their home and meet new people. Show them their back yard and allow them to meet their dogs and see cats with a steady stream of treat rewards.

Do take your puppy to public places where not a lot of other dogs go to meet people and see the world. I like dog friendly coffee shops, outdoor shopping malls, hardware stores, and downtown areas.

Do skip breakfast on days when you have socialization plans with your pup that day. Feed them their meal while exposing them to the world. Providing this feeding while seeing things for the first time ensures very positive experiences in my young pups mind.

Do keep these early exposure experiences to no more than 20-30 minutes at first.

Do attend our Puppy Preschool starting at 10 weeks. We will teach you how to provide early exposure to environments in a safe and easy way. Our Puppy Preschool runs at 45 to 60 minutes and provides a structured and safe early exposure environment.

Don’t take your pup to pet stores, dog parks, or anywhere where lots of dogs frequent. Do not allow your puppy to sniff grass areas outside of a veterinary clinic.

Don’t overload your puppy with extreme environments like outdoor concerts, ball games, and very crowded areas. Start in small doses at first and slowly build your pups confidence to handle m,ore and more. Sure signs of an overwhelmed pup are not taking treats and falling asleep in a loud or stimulating environment.

Don’t allow your puppy to become frightened by loud noises or thunder storms. Provide a safe place during storms and fireworks with a tv playing or sound machine. I will bring my puppy out for treats so they can hear fireworks in the distance while they are preoccupied with the treats and then put them back in the safe room. Think short 5-10 minute intervals.

Don’t forget your pups well stocked treat pouch, a must have for all puppy outings. Stock it with kibble and high value rewards like beef liver too!

By following these Do’s & Dont’s you will raise a very confident puppy. Remember start slow with short 10 minute early exposure outings. Let us know if we at Kabler School For Dogs can help! I have helped raise thousands of pups over the past 30 years and my trainers are here to teach you and your pup optimal ways of learning and growing with your new best friend.   – David

Join our puppy community! We are here to train and help! Call (828) 337-5793 today or click here to schedule your dogs FREE evaluation!

11 week old Belgian Malinois Fury accepting treats while experiencing early exposure with an excited group of children.

You Are Not Alone. Our Team Is Here To Help.

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Enroll in a Kabler training course and join our dog training community!

Whether you are experiencing behavioral challenges with an adult dog or raising a headstrong pup we want you to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! It can feel very lonely when you are trying your best but not seeing the results hoped for. We have worked with thousands of dog owners over the years and helped them find a successful training path. Our training team is skilled and here to help. Kabler dog training courses are a gateway to our community of dog owners who have graduated from our courses. Group classes are always included for graduates to keep our canine students (and humans!) involved in continuing education– this ensures lifelong training success!

Many local dog owners have found themselves in the exact same situation you are experiencing with your dog. Do not worry! You have found the training school that has helped thousands of dog owners just like you over the years.  You’ve found the training community you have been looking for! Our courses always begin with a thorough evaluation before enrollment. By meeting you and your dog 1 on 1 we can gain a better understanding of who your dog is and what your training goals are. We discuss enrollment in a course that is custom tailored to your dogs personality and training needs.

Find connection and community at our group walks and classes!

Our trainers are true canine coaches and will give you clear and easy to understand training exercises and homework assignments. Our courses train both the dog and the human! We have courses for dogs of all breeds and temperaments, including private lesson day training courses as well as Board & Train options. All of our courses include access to our advanced group training classes and dog training community. Contact us today for information on enrollment at our Asheville, NC and Columbia, SC training campuses.

You are not alone! Call (828) 337-5793 today or click here to schedule your dogs FREE evaluation!

Kabler Monthly Column in Stroll Magazine!

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David’s monthly article will be featured in Stroll magazine!

David Kabler, Jr’s advice about dogs is highly sought after and now we are excited to announce that he will be writing a monthly informative article in Stroll Magazine. Each month David will share tips and information on topics like socializing puppies, protecting dogs during Summer heat, training and more! Stroll is Biltmore Forest and The Ramble’s local source for information, news, and topics of interest.

Find out more about our unique perspective on dogs at a Free Training Evaluation at our Columbia, SC or our Asheville, NC training campuses!

Stand Out From The Pack!

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Our Puppy and adult training courses are unique and customized to your dog!

If you and your family are considering professional dog training in Asheville, NC or Columbia, SC, Kabler School For Dogs is here to help! There has never been more training schools to choose from and we understand that you want the very best for your dog. We know that your decision in choosing the right school for your pup is very important. There is a reason Kabler School For Dogs has been training since 1995. Our courses consistently get 5 star ratings from our graduates. At Kabler School our courses are based on years of success in training dogs of all breeds.

Sign up today for a Free Training Evaluation at either our Columbia, SC or our Asheville, NC training campuses!

Our training philosophy is rooted in how dogs learn and communicate. We approach each dog and handler team as individuals and tailor our approach to adjust to different temperaments and learning styles. It is important to build a strong foundation of skills using a positive reward based approach. We will be teaching voice commands, hand signals, and leash commands that allow for silent communication between you and your best friend. As your dogs abilities increase we will spice up the training sessions by increasing the difficulty. Yes, training takes tons of patience and focus, but the results of a Kabler Training Course will give you and your dog the gift of freedom!

Practicing the Go Place command during training practice!

The first step of choosing the right school should always begin with a free evaluation and campus visit. At Kabler School For Dogs we want to meet both you and your dog so we can evaluate your training goals and needs. It is important for your pup to have a positive experience and visit the school before training starts! When clients come to us for their initial school visit we like to evaluate your dogs train-ability, current skills, behavioral concerns and temperament. We are interested in who your dog is and what motivates them.

Clients are very interested in all of our different courses that we offer. We have an excellent Puppy Preschool course for pups 10 weeks-6 months old. Early training and socialization is what creates a well adjusted adult dog. For dogs 6 months and older we offer Private/Day Train or Residency Board & Train courses. We will help you choose the right course for your dog. Training is an investment that will be there for you and your dog in the years to come. Yes, our courses are an investment, but they provide rock solid tangible results that are well worth the energy put in!

Sign up today for a Free Training Evaluation at either our Columbia, SC or our Asheville, NC training campuses!

Our school was founded in 1995 and we have trained thousands of canine best friends over the years. We can help you with your dog! We have a unique approach that is fun for both dog and human. We provide tangible training results that will stun your family and friends!

 

Training the Unique Canine Personality

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Lovingly teaching your dog is what we do best at Kabler!

Raising a spirited dog with maximum personality and high level obedience is possible through the Kabler School For Dogs training courses. We believe in age appropriate training that increases in reliability and performance as your dog grows older. Kabler Puppy Preschool and Dog Training Courses introduce concepts and skills when your dog is mentally ready. Our age based courses allow us to train alongside your dogs natural drives, inclinations, and developmental stages creating optimal results!

Play is an important part of each dogs training day at Kabler!

Our Puppy Preschool will help you raise your pup from 10 weeks to 5 months of age. This course covers puppy obedience skills, developmental training exercises, socialization (to environment, people, and other dogs), how to steer your pup away from problem behaviors, puppy tricks and games like retrieve and tug. Puppy confidence building is very important to develop and we will show you how! Our Puppy Preschool includes both private and group classes.

At 6 months and older we begin our Primary Obedience and Advanced Primary Obedience Courses. Our goal is to solidify all the puppy training skills that we’ve been practicing. We work up to proper heeling and loose leash heeling around tough distractions, a 1 hour down and stay, off leash recalls from distraction, a 2 hour go place command, and lots more! By waiting to do this adult level training until 6-8 months we allow the pups developing brain to catch up with their growing body!

All of our courses are a hybrid between private lesson training and group class work. We use optimal and age appropriate training techniques that allow your dog to have fun and that actually enhance your dogs ability to express their natural personality and unique character! We work on all the skills like off leash recall, heeling, down stay at a distance, go place at a distance and more! You and your best friend will conquer all manner of distractions and environments achieving an ultra high level of reliability and performance!

Sign up today for a Free Training Consultation at either our Columbia, SC or our Asheville, NC training campuses!

Our school was founded in 1995 and we have trained thousands of canine best friends over the years. We can help you with your dog! We have a unique approach that is fun for both dog and human. We provide tangible training results that will stun your family and friends!

Kabler Training is Healing for Daisy

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Daisy practicing a down stay request.

Miniature Schnauzer Daisy practicing a down stay request.

When I first met Miniature Schnauzer Daisy she was a frightened and severely anxious dog. She would bark at common noises in the home with intense excitability to the point of nipping. Her leash reactivity towards other dogs manifested in protective energy that could easily slip into aggression. Her veterinarian had prescribed anti-anxiety meds, with limited success. When I evaluated Daisy, I knew I could help her. She had incredible food drive, was super smart, with a quick wit, that gave her enthusiastic training energy. I enrolled this precious girl and her guardians in my confidence building course. We began working on changing her ideas about the world, and establishing solid obedience, mixed with fun games. By the end of our course, Daisy was a transformed dog– her anxious energy had been successfully channeled into her obedience and she had moved into alignment with her human guardians. After her training program was completed Daisy’s guardians worked with their veterinarian to wean her off her anxiety medication– she is now drug free! It’s been a rewarding training journey making such a dramatic change in Daisy.

-David

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Daisy can now accept the presence of other dogs without aggression.

Today we finished our classes with Mr. Kabler. I can’t begin to tell you how our family life has changed. Our Daisy is a wonderful 5 year old Miniature Schnauzer. Most people didn’t see her that way. They shied away from her and felt she was harmful. She barked as if she would attack although she has never been aggressive. I admit I was a little wary of her around my grandchildren.

Mr. Kabler met with us and evaluated Daisy. He told us she wasn’t vicious, she was just excitable. This made us feel so much better. Daisy acted out in fear not aggression. He felt confident that he could help us and alleviate some of Daisy’s anxiety. Before working with Mr. Kabler, Daisy could not be around other dogs or people. Reasons were as discussed above. I could tell when we were on a walk that she wanted to play with another dog. It was so sad.  She would go up to a dog but then lose it and began to bark harshly. This in turn scared the other dog away. Daisy was very lonely. Another problem we had with Daisy was doorbells and the ringing of the telephone. She would bark, run in circles and nip at the person trying to answer it. It really was a hard time in our home. Daisy was put on anxiety meds twice a day to help calm her down, but we saw she was getting worse as time went on.

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Miniature Schnauzer Daisy practicing a down stay request.

We decided to listen to Mr. Kabler and signed up for classes. This was the best decision we have ever made.

Today Daisy is a very happy dog. Her anxiety level has drastically lessened. In time, perhaps meds can be reduced. She can now walk with us in the neighborhood and allow people to pet her. She also goes up to other dogs and sniffs them a few seconds and walks away without barking. We can also get to the phone without fear and actually get it before the caller hangs up!

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Daisy and Zoey can be a happy family after Kabler training.

I never would have believed others see Daisy as we do, a loving sweet and VERY smart dog!!

Because She has done so well with other dogs these days, we have a new addition to our family. A little Morkie called Zoey. Daisy helps us to train her. They have become best friends. This would not have been possible before Mr. Kabler worked his magic. Enclosed is a pic of Daisy with Zoey, her best friend. Again thank you Mr. Kabler.

-The Scott Family, Daisy & Zoey

Daisy out practicing her loose leash walk in the neighborhood.

Daisy out practicing her loose leash walk in the neighborhood.

Kabler Training Transforms Rescued Dogo Argentino

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Alastair

Rescued Dogo Alistair successfully worked through intense dog aggression in Kabler training.

When I first met Alistair and the Guthrie’s they were struggling to contain a dog that was highly aggressive towards other dogs and cats. He was a rescue and suffered an abusive puppyhood. After our consultation I knew that I could help this incredible and handsome boy that was loved so much. Over the course of my on leash program I was able to successfully teach him and his guardians using the Kabler approach to training. The complete transformation in Alistair’s behavior was an amazing experience for me. I just love receiving referral letters like this. Happy training! – David

I cannot recommend David Kabler enough.

When we adopted our 5-year-old, male Dogo Argentino, Alistair, he could not be anywhere near other dogs. Any dog within 50 yards would send our otherwise sweet, 100 lb. boy into a lunging, snarling fit.

We did our best on our own for two or three months until he burst through our front door and attacked a dog walking with its owner 30 yards away.

Rescued Dogo

Practicing a sit request with Dogo Alistair during a private session.

When we called David he assured us that he had experience with large, powerful, hard-headed breeds, and that he was confident he could help us. The best part was that David set very realistic expectations and never promised us anything. In the end the results were far beyond anything we could have ever expected.

Over the course of roughly 10 sessions, spanning three to four months, the transformation in Alistair was incredible. David helped us build a strong foundation of obedience and boundaries while giving us the knowledge and skills we needed to continue Alistair’s training. Instead of every walk being a game of “dodge the dogs” for fear of a chaotic meltdown, Alistair can hang out at the Wedge and play with his many new dog friends.

Regardless of the issues any dog is having, I would confidently recommend and trust David to help anyone through it.

Sincerely,
J. Guthrie & Family

It’s Been a Busy Fall Training Season

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Handsome German Shepherd Dog Eli practicing a Down & Stay request during an in home training session.

Gorgeous Doolin accepting a reward from her Guardian for a successful Down & Stay request.

At Kabler School For Dogs we have been having an awesome Fall training season. My apprentice Kim and I have been successfully finishing up with our Summer training cases. Tenshi and Jack both graduated through the Residency Training Course. Eli, a very aggressive German Shepherd, has been successfully de-conditioned in his response to strangers and his untethered obedience is coming along nicely. Kim’s training dog Iko and his Guardian are getting close to Tethered graduation. We are really excited about all of our graduates– and beginning training with lots of new Guardians and their canine companions. Kim and I would like to welcome all of our new clients to Kabler School For Dogs.

Obi is a gregarious Golden– The highest goal of obedience is to shape and grow the relationship between Guardian and Canine companion.

Kabler School For Dogs is proud to announce our Puppy Preschool Class. The training of the young pup is often overlooked by novice dog Guardians. These early weeks are actually critical to the healthy development of your best friend. Proper training and socialization from 8-20 weeks can successfully prevent serious behavioral issues later. Puppy Preschool also includes house training, crate training, redirecting play biting, reward based obedience, and fun games you can play with your new dog. New puppies are welcome each week– hope to see you and your new pup at class. To enroll call Kabler School For Dogs at (828) 337-5792.