Confident dogs. Reliable in the real world.
Dog training from a decoy and working dog specialist with over 17 years of hands-on experience. Whether your dog is a family pet or a high-level working dog, Don builds confident, well-balanced, reliable dogs and teaches you how to keep them that way.
Don Shaw,
owner of Ironside K9
With over 17 years of experience, Don works across basic obedience, advanced off-leash training, behavior modification, working dogs, personal protection and competitive canine sports.
As an experienced decoy and working dog specialist, he knows canine behavior, genetics, motivation and drive development inside out. His approach blends proven techniques, modern learning theory and hands-on experience to build confident, well-balanced, reliable dogs.
Don believes training belongs in everyday life, not just in a list of commands. He focuses on clear communication, building confidence and helping dogs succeed in the real world, including around distractions and in public. Family pets get the same dedication as high-level working dogs (doodles are his favorite).
Away from the field, Don spends his time with his wife, three daughters and their own pack of pups.
Internationally trained. Modern approach.
Ironside K9 brings a modern feel and real education to you and your dog. Our promise is three words, and you will feel each of them in every session.
Educate
You and your dog receive an endless amount of education, so you understand what is happening and why it works.
Lead
Proper guidance from someone who has trained dogs for more than 17 years, so you always know your next step.
Unite
Education and leadership come together so you and your dog live in harmony and build a lasting relationship.
One trainer. Every kind of dog.
Basic Obedience
Sit, down, place, loose-leash walking and calm greetings, taught with clear markers so your dog knows exactly what you want.
Off-Leash Training
Recall and reliability built step by step, from long-line foundations to controlled areas and then real-world settings.
Behavior Modification
Jumping, mouthiness, pulling, reactivity and anxiety, addressed at the source with structure, confidence and impulse control.
Working Dogs
Drive development and motivation guided by deep knowledge of genetics and behavior, from a trainer who works dogs every day.
Personal Protection
Protection work built on control, confidence and clear handling, so your dog is steady and you stay in charge.
Competitive Canine Sports
Sport foundations and decoy work from a certified PSA trial decoy and World Decoy Association Level 1 decoy.
Pick the length that fits your dog
Your dog lives and trains with Don while you get regular updates. Choose a 4, 6 or 8 week program, then come home to a go-home lesson that hands the skills over to you. Call for pricing and openings.
4-Week Board & Train
A strong obedience foundation, better manners and impulse control, and clear communication between you and your dog.
Goals
- Build a strong obedience foundation
- Improve manners and impulse control
- Address common problem behaviors
- Establish clear communication between dog and owner
- Begin generalizing training in real-world environments
Included
- Daily updates and progress reports
- Owner handling sessions on-site
- Go-home lesson with comprehensive instruction
- Customized homework plan for maintenance
Acclimation & Foundations
- Settling into the facility and daily routine
- Marker training: a clear communication system
- Intro to Sit, Down and Place
- Leash pressure introduction and crate training
- Impulse control: waiting at thresholds, calm feeding
Core Obedience & Structure
- Sit, Down and Place with duration and mild distractions
- Loose leash walking basics
- Recall foundations on a long line
- Early problem behaviors: jumping, mouthiness, pulling
- Calm greetings and handling tolerance
Distraction Proofing & Confidence
- Increasing duration and distractions
- Heel position introduced on leash
- Recall with higher distractions
- Controlled socialization with neutral dogs
- Real-world exposure in parks and public spaces
Real-World Application & Owner Transition
- Core obedience proofed in different environments
- Leash manners and calm behavior in public
- Owner handling sessions on-site
- Final progress evaluation
- Go-home lesson and customized homework plan
6-Week Board & Train
Reliable on-leash obedience, solid impulse control and a start on off-leash foundations, with owners prepared to maintain it all.
Goals
- Develop reliable on-leash obedience skills
- Build solid impulse control and calm behaviors
- Address problem behaviors: jumping, pulling, reactivity
- Introduce off-leash foundations, as appropriate
- Generalize training in real-world settings
- Prepare owners to confidently maintain training
Included
- Daily structured training sessions
- Exercise, enrichment and supervised socialization
- Regular progress updates with photos and videos
- Go-home lesson covering all commands and handling
- Follow-up private lessons for the life of the dog
Acclimation & Foundation Skills
- Settling into the training environment and daily routine
- Marker training for clear communication
- Intro to Sit, Down and Place
- Leash pressure work and basic leash walking
- Crate training and structured feeding
- Early impulse control: waiting at doors, calm greetings
Core Obedience & Distraction Work
- Building duration on Sit, Down and Place
- Refining loose leash walking
- Recall foundations on a long line
- Mild to moderate distractions
- Targeting pulling, jumping and reactivity
- Handling and grooming desensitization
- Confidence building in new environments
Proofing & Real-World Application
- Command reliability under higher distractions
- Heel position introduced and practiced
- Advanced recall: longer distance, higher distraction
- Off-leash foundations, if included in the program
- Field trips to parks, stores and public areas
- Owner handling sessions to prepare for home
8-Week Board & Train
Reliable on- and off-leash obedience, problem behaviors resolved, and thorough owner education for long-term success.
Goals
- Build reliable on- and off-leash obedience
- Address problem behaviors: jumping, pulling, reactivity
- Establish clear communication and structure
- Generalize training in real-world settings
- Provide owner education for long-term success
Included
- Daily structure, exercise and enrichment
- Daily progress updates with photos and videos
- Final video progress report
- One-on-one go-home lesson
- Follow-up lessons for the life of the dog
Foundation & Relationship Building
- Acclimation to the facility and daily routine
- Marker training: reward-based communication
- Luring and shaping Sit, Down and Place
- Name recognition and engagement exercises
- Leash pressure and leash manners
- Crate training and structured feeding
Core Obedience Skills
- Sit and Down with duration and mild distractions
- Place with increased time
- Loose leash walking around the property
- Recall training: long line work begins
- Mild environmental distractions: other dogs, noises
- Handling and grooming desensitization
- Calm greetings with people
Advanced Obedience & Distraction Proofing
- Formal heel command
- Sit, Down and Place under moderate distractions
- Recall proofing at longer distances
- Off-leash reliability in controlled areas
- Specific concerns such as reactivity and anxiety
- Supervised socialization with neutral dogs
- Field trips to parks and stores
Real-World Application & Transition
- Off-leash training in varied environments
- Public access practice, where appropriate
- Polishing obedience around high distractions
- Continued problem behavior resolution
- Owner handling practice sessions
- Go-home lesson and full transfer of skills
Real dogs. Real work.
Swipe to see more. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
Trained at the highest level
Patrol & Detection
AK9I, LLC 320 Hour Patrol/Detector Handler CourseAK9I, LLC NAPWADA Certified 520 Hour Patrol/Detector InstructorATF CertifiedCertified Patrol / Improvised Explosive Dog Detector TrainerCertified Patrol / Improvised Explosive Dog Detector HandlerOff-Leash Improvised Explosive Detector Dog HandlerHigh Intensity Tactical Training (Levels 1, 2, 3)Advanced Urban CombatDecoy & Sport
DNA K9 Decoy CertificationDemanet Decoy Academy (2025)PSA Trial Decoy (2025)World Decoy Association Level 1 (2026)NePoPo Silver (2023)NePoPo Gold I (2023)NePoPo Gold II (2023)NePoPo Gold III (2024)Family Dogs
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) EvaluatorQuestions, answered
What does board & train mean?
Your dog stays and trains with Don while you get regular progress updates, then you come in for a go-home lesson where he hands the skills over to you. Ironside K9 offers 4, 6 and 8 week programs.
Which board & train program is right for my dog?
The 4-week program builds a strong obedience foundation and manners. The 6-week program adds reliable on-leash skills and off-leash foundations, as appropriate. The 8-week program builds reliable on- and off-leash obedience. Call Don and he will tell you honestly which one fits.
Will I see how my dog is doing?
Yes. The 4-week program includes daily updates and progress reports, the 6-week program regular photo and video updates, and the 8-week program daily photo and video updates plus a final video progress report.
What happens at the go-home lesson?
Don goes through every command and how to handle your dog, so you can keep the training going at home. The 4-week program also includes a customized homework plan for maintenance.
Do you offer follow-up lessons?
The 6 and 8 week programs include follow-up lessons for the life of the dog.
What kinds of dogs do you train?
Family pets and high-level working dogs alike. Don works in basic obedience, off-leash training, behavior modification, working dogs, personal protection and competitive canine sports. Doodles are his favorite.
Can you help with problem behaviors?
Yes. The programs address jumping, mouthiness, pulling, reactivity and anxiety, using structure, confidence building and impulse control.
Where is Ironside K9 located?
Ironside K9 Training is based in Punta Gorda, Florida 33982. Call (248) 217-2932 to talk about your dog.
Ready to unite with your dog?
Call Don to talk about your dog, your goals and which program fits. He will tell you honestly what your dog needs.