ABOUT WANDERING K9

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The name is new. The commitment isn't.

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Wandering K9 is what Winnie's Wanders has grown into — a name that better reflects the work, the philosophy, and where this business is headed. If you found us under the old name, welcome back. If you're new, here's what you need to know.

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My name is Chalanda Mendez. I've been working with animals since before it was a career — horses, dogs, penguins, raptors, farm animals, you name it. I hold an A.A.S. in Animal Management from SUNY Jefferson and a B.S. in Equine Management from Mount Ida College, and I've been working specifically in dog care and training for over a decade.

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Balanced training is at the center of everything I do here. That means understanding how dogs actually learn, using the right tools for each individual animal, and being honest with owners about what their dog needs and what it will take to get there. No shortcuts, no gimmicks, no methods that just look good on video.

Wandering K9 is based in Salisbury, Massachusetts. I run this operation myself — small on purpose, because that's the only way to do it right. Every dog that comes through gets my attention, not a junior handler's.

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I go to seminars, stay current on training research, and genuinely love this work. That's not something I have to remind myself to say — it's just true.