Meet the Pack
Katarina
I’m Katarina Morales, the owner and head trainer of A Canine’s Way Dog Training. Throughout my whole life, I’ve always been involved with animals. From a young age, I worked with my family in numerous rescue groups, specifically rescues specializing in adopting out retired racing greyhounds. From there, I volunteered at the San Antonio Zoo and a local private primate sanctuary, and specialized in animal enrichment and conservation for numerous years. I then began my undergraduate career at UTSA with a major in Biology to hopefully pursue a veterinary degree after I was finished with my under graduate career.
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The world however, had other plans for me. My first year of university I was involved in a car accident that left me with permanent neurological damage, the effect of that was that I developed a seizure disorder. I had to withdraw from university, and begin to figure out what I would do with my life. After doing some research I discovered medical response service dogs and learned that a service dog could help me live my life normally again. I then found and adopted Rhea, and my dog training journey began.
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Seeing how much Rhea changed my life and helped me, and seeing a relationship unlike any other I’ve ever had between a dog and myself develop, I knew that others out there could have the same dynamic between themselves and their dogs. I began shadowing and working for numerous trainers local to me, as well as taking online courses and attending seminars led by some of the top canine professionals in the world, including Linda Kaim, Pat Stuart, and Nelson Hodges. Over the years I’ve learned a vast multitude of training skills, philosophies, and techniques. I’ve worked with puppies, pet dogs, service dogs, sports dogs, dogs with severe behavioral issues, and even dogs with neurological and physical disabilities. I believe that each dog is a unique individual, and therefore needs a unique approach to training.
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My passion has always been to help others by helping animals, and now I’ve truly found my calling. I’ve seen first hand the power a true relationship between a dog and their owner can have. My mission for A Canine’s Way is to help all walks of pet owners and handlers dive deeper and discover a whole new realm of their relationship with their dogs.
Rhea
Rhea is the dog that started this all. After my car accident, I was in need of a service dog to help with my new found medical issues. After searching for about a year, I found her and adopted her. I’ll never forget the day she walked into my home, she had an inquisitive attitude about her and her eyes melted my heart, I knew she was there to stay.
I had never had a true working dog before, so it was quite the journey for us. No matter what I did, Rhea was always there. She made me work for everything, and I learned from her what it truly means to have a relationship with a dog. When Rhea isn’t actively working as a service dog, we enjoy hikes, trick training, barn hunt, and dock diving together. Rhea also assists me in working with client dogs both at home and in lesson settings and is phenomenal at helping raise puppies. Rhea is one of my heart dogs, without her none of this would be possible.
Aslan
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Aslan is my right hand man. After beginning the search for a mobility dog to help me in ways that Rhea couldn’t, I received a call two weeks into my search. A Great Pyrenees was found as a stray with a litter of lab mix puppies, and something about this dog spoke to the rescue that found him. After being evaluated by a dear colleague and mentor of mine, I got the okay to come meet him. I drove an 8 hour round trip to go meet him, and even though I wasn’t supposed to come home with a second dog that day, that’s what happened.
Aslan has taught me patience, compassion, and commitment. It took us two years to get him to where he is today. He went from never being in a house before, never interacting with people, and being incredibly insecure to helping me in my every day life, going to events and shows, and meeting hundreds of people. Aslan is a favorite here at A Canine’s Way, everyone that meets him can’t help but fall in love with his gentle spirit. When Aslan isn’t working or assisting with clients dogs, you can find him swimming in rivers, chasing his sisters, and taking long naps. Aslan is my other heart dog, and there will never be another dog quite like him.
Kahlúa
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Kahlúa is the resident fire cracker and sport dog. This girl has energy for days, and all she could ever want in life is to train and work, she’s by far the most eager and intelligent dog I have ever owned. She's incredibly patient with me, and has allowed me to perfect all of my training techniques over the years. Kahlúa was my first personal dog that I raised from a puppy, and I’m so thankful for that. Thanks to her I learned all the ins and outs of raising a well balanced dog from a young age.
Kahlúa enjoys barn hunt, dock diving, and scent work, and whenever we aren’t training for competitions, you can find us at the park playing frisbee, running, or just having a good time together. Everyone that meets this girl can't help but love her crazy antics.
