German Shepherd standing beside a handler on a grassy training field, wearing a black harness with its mouth open

About · Castaic, California

The Trainer, the Method, and the Ranch

Hasley Canyon K9 Ranch offers dog training and boarding in a peaceful ranch setting in the Santa Clarita Valley. Our team combines individual attention, structured training, and room to rest to help dogs learn and owners feel more confident handling them.

10+Years Training Dogs
IGPObedience & Protection Sport Experience
AKCTitled
Emily crouching on green grass and hugging a black-and-tan shepherd with upright ears
Emily holding a small tan dog with upright ears in front of a wooden fenceEmily crouching on green grass and hugging a black-and-tan shepherd with upright ears

Emily's Story

It started with Jack.

Emily’s training journey began with Jack, a shelter dog found dehydrated and alone in the desert near Palmdale. After being transferred from the Palmdale shelter to the Agoura shelter, Jack met Emily. Their connection became the start of her work in dog training.

Together, Emily and Jack earned Canine Good Citizen and trick titles through the American Kennel Club. She later welcomed Geralt, who earned his Canine Good Citizen title and Protection Dog Certificate.

Over more than ten years, Emily has trained dogs across Arizona, Nevada, and Los Angeles County. Working with different trainers and companies helped her develop her own approach to reading behavior, communicating clearly, and adapting training to each dog.

Her experience includes family pets, sport dogs, working dogs, and rescues with bite histories. She looks closely at body language, history, and behavior during evaluations to understand what a dog needs and how to approach training.

Emily continues to learn from mentors and decoys through her work in dog sports and protection training. Every plan is built around the dog in front of her and adjusted as that dog progresses.

Our Training Principles

  • Teach behaviors clearly and reward progress before adding accountability.
  • Use fair, consistent communication the dog understands.
  • Explain training tools and show owners how to use them.
  • Give honest recommendations about whether a program is a good fit.

Training Philosophy

Balanced training with clear communication.

We use food, praise, play, and marker words to teach new behaviors and help dogs understand what earns a reward. Once a dog understands a behavior, appropriate corrections may be used to reinforce that learning.

The tools and approach depend on the dog’s temperament, training goals, and stage of learning. We explain what we recommend, why we recommend it, and how you will use it at home.

01

Prong collar

A collar used to communicate through leash pressure.

When recommended, it is fitted to the dog and introduced gradually so the dog learns how to respond to pressure and its release.

02

E-collar

A remote training collar with adjustable stimulation.

When appropriate, we introduce it gradually and pair it with familiar cues so the dog understands how to respond. It may be used for recall and other established behaviors.

03

Slip lead

A leash and collar combined in one tool.

We use it for leash handling and communication when appropriate for the dog and activity.

04

Marker words & food

A consistent marker word tells the dog exactly when it has done something right.

Paired with food, praise, or play, it helps the dog understand which behaviors earn a reward.

05

Crate

An individual resting space that can help a dog settle between activities.

We build comfort with the crate and include rest as part of a structured daily routine.

06

Long line

A longer leash, typically 15 to 30 feet.

It allows us to practice recall and distance work while maintaining control.

Tools support training; they do not replace clear teaching and consistent practice. We will discuss your preferences during the evaluation and explain which approaches fit your dog’s needs.

German Shepherd standing beside a handler on a grassy training field, wearing a black harness with its mouth open

Sport Background

Schutzhund and IGP: timing, clarity, and control.

Emily’s work with Jack and Geralt includes experience in Schutzhund and IGP, a sport involving tracking, obedience, and protection. That work emphasizes precise timing, clear communication, and control around distractions.

Those skills inform her approach to pet training, including leash manners, recall, and obedience in everyday settings. Protection training and behavior modification have different goals, and each dog is evaluated individually.

Titled

Sport training under real competitive standards.

Tracking

Scent work on real ranch terrain.

Obedience

Precision that holds under pressure.

Protection Work

Controlled work with a decoy that requires communication and disciplined handling.

The Ranch

Room to learn, exercise, and rest.

Located off Sloan Canyon Road in Castaic, the ranch offers open training space, varied terrain, and opportunities to practice around everyday activity. Dogs can learn, exercise, and rest within a structured routine.

Trainer standing with a leashed German Shepherd on a paved driveway overlooking rolling hillsEmily holding a small tan dog with upright ears in front of a wooden fence
01

Open ground

Our training field provides room for long-line recall, place work, and progression toward off-leash skills.

02

Varied terrain

Hills, brush, and gravel give dogs opportunities to work on different surfaces. Sessions are adjusted to the dog’s needs and the conditions.

03

Time for quiet rest

Individual rest periods give dogs time to settle and recover between training sessions.

04

Everyday distractions

Horses, wildlife, ranch equipment, and visiting vehicles provide opportunities to practice focus, with exposure matched to each dog’s comfort and training level.

05

A structured daily routine

Training, exercise, feeding, and rest help dogs practice habits that owners can continue at home.

06

Field trips beyond the ranch

Visits to parks, hardware stores, and sidewalks may be included in your dog’s program to practice skills away from the ranch.

30505 Sloan Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 91384 · visits by appointment, 9AM–5PM.

Emily holding a small tan dog with upright ears in front of a wooden fence

Castaic, CA · (213) 577-2731

Come see the ranch before you commit.

Free phone consult, an honest assessment, and a walk of the property. Serving Santa Clarita, Valencia, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, and Saugus.