Ruff World Training #2

Ruff World Training offers comprehensive programs including online and in-person coaching, private in-home training, day training, and board & train options. Their distinctive approach focuses on building the relationship between the dog and owner, utilizing behavioral science and modern tools. They integrate elements from service dog and sport dog training programs with contemporary K9 psychology to provide a practical vocabulary for effective communication.

Their training provides a range of verbal and non-verbal control options, setting clear expectations for a dog’s behavior in various real-world situations. The four pillars of their success are Relationship, Communication, Manners, and Impulse-Control. They teach dogs to adapt to different environments by setting clear expectations, communicating effectively, and providing practical training.

Their training approach includes: game plan expectations for lifestyle, introducing physical and visual communication, building relationship and confidence with play, introducing positions through lure and marker training, using the 4-beat method (name, lure, mark, reward), introducing advanced physical communication, developing good manners and desensitizing to stimuli, consistent enrichment, discipline & repetition, introducing off-leash training, increasing confidence & expectations, and generalizing manners and skills for any setting. They cover behavioral training (e.g., aggression, reactivity, anxiety) and communication skills (e.g., leash skills, obedience commands, potty training). Extra support includes in-home private training, pick-up and drop-off for Board & Train, online coaching, long-term media support, follow-up lessons, weekly updates/check-ins, and tools education.

Ruff World Training is a dog training business based in Vancouver, WA, in the Pacific Northwest of southern Washington. They are dedicated to transforming the lives of adolescent-aged dogs exhibiting undesirable behaviors, and all profits from their services go towards training and rehoming abandoned adolescent-aged dogs.

They offer high-quality online and in-person coaching, private in-home training sessions, day training, and board & train options. Their unique approach blends behavioral and obedience training, providing lasting solutions through discipline and structure. They also operate as a “for-profit” rescue, allowing them to independently match rescues with responsible dog parents who might not fit traditional nonprofit criteria.

Ruff World Training also provides a dedicated rescue service for prospective dog parents, guiding them through common adoption pitfalls, helping identify the right dog for their lifestyle, providing training for all their rescue dogs, and offering ongoing post-adoption support. Additionally, they offer a Youth Mentorship program for children in 7th grade and up, designed to develop skilled dog trainers through hands-on experience with real rescue dogs.

Their mission is to combat high euthanasia rates among adolescent dogs by setting both dogs and their parents up for success, ensuring dogs remain in their forever homes. The founder, Dylan Atkinson, aims to personally train and rehome 1000 abandoned dogs.

Accomplishments

Ruff World Training has successfully rehomed 29 dogs and trained 5 service dogs. The founder, Dylan Atkinson, is described as a Professional Behavioralist & Advanced Obedience Trainer.

Prior to founding Ruff World Training, Dylan Atkinson was a professional MMA fighter with a record of 16-6. He also coached a youth MMA team from 2011-2019, producing one youth IBJJF world champion. He founded Ruff World Training & The Abandonment Prevention Project in 2019 after 18 months of preparation and completing professional training courses. His personal goal is to train and rehome 1000 abandoned dogs.

How to Get Started!

To get started with Ruff World Training, prospective clients are encouraged to complete an online Evaluation Request form to request a reservation. For those interested in adopting a trained rescue, the process begins with a phone interview to understand their lifestyle and preferences. For the Youth Mentorship program, individuals can schedule a phone interview with a mentor to find out when the next program starts in their area.