Bad Bones, Good Dogs: Rockaway Trainer Lisa Greene Is on a Mission to Keep Morris County Dogs Home This Fall

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Lisa Greene does not believe in bad dogs. The founder of Bad Bones K9, a private dog training business based in Rockaway, built her company around one idea: most dogs are not bad, they just do not understand what their owners are asking them to do. Her slogan says it in four words. Bad Bones, Good Dogs.

Greene started Bad Bones K9 to keep dogs in their homes, out of shelters and off euthanasia lists by teaching owners to communicate clearly and handle their dogs with confidence. “Families give up on their dogs after becoming frustrated by unwanted behaviors we can fix, modify, or manage,” she told us. With shelters across the country running at capacity, she sees good training as the difference between a dog that stays home and one that gets surrendered. It is also why she offers several levels of training, so cost is not the reason an owner goes without help.

The Dog That Proves the Point

Greene points to Finn, a Corso mix who was on a euthanasia list for jumping on people. She worked with the couple fostering him, and one session was enough to show them the behavior could be fixed. His fosters kept up the training at home, gave him structure, and ended up adopting him. Finn is now living a great life. “Fixing unwanted behavior is possible and should not be a death sentence,” Greene said.

How Bad Bones K9 Trains

Greene describes her method as balanced, common sense training that first time owners can actually follow. She uses reward based systems along with corrections so a dog clearly understands what is and is not acceptable, and she leans into each breed’s natural drives so training stays fun for the dog and the owner. Her whole program comes down to four things: control, clarity, communication and respect.

Reactive dogs are the number one reason people call her. The most common mistakes she sees from Morris County owners are walking dogs on a harness instead of a proper training collar, which she says leaves owners without real control, and running a home with no rules and no crate. “Dogs are not born with an off switch,” she said. In her view, crate time gives a dog room to decompress and builds impulse control.

For families who feel like giving up, her message is that it gets better, but only with daily work. “Training is their language, it’s how we communicate with our dogs,” she said. Her advice for struggling owners is to start with play, because playing with your dog the right way builds the bond that shapes how they behave.

Training Options and Pricing

According to Bad Bones K9, private one hour lessons start at $125 and focus on basic obedience and leash skills. A five lesson package is $495 (normally $625) and covers engagement, obedience, leash skills, impulse control and owner confidence. The two week In Home Day Training Program starts at $1,495 and includes 10 days of focused training that proofs behaviors in the real world, which makes it the go to option for behavior modification. Virtual 45 minute lessons over FaceTime are $75.

Greene also offers in person dog selection starting at $75 for families choosing a dog from a shelter or a breeder, dog walking in Rockaway at $35 for a 30 minute session, and yard waste removal starting at $35. Every client starts with a free consultation and evaluation before booking any service. Bad Bones K9 is fully insured and Pet CPR certified. To book, call or text 862-219-9867.

Where She Takes Dogs This Fall

Cooler weather means more walks, and Greene’s favorite dog spot in Morris County is Horseshoe Lake in Roxbury. There is plenty of space to train and plenty going on around you, which is exactly the point. “Dog training is about slowly adding in distractions to proof learned behavior,” she said, and Horseshoe Lake is a great place to test what your dog has already learned at home. She is also a fan of Mutts on Main in Denville for food, treats, toys and dog events.

Meet Oakley, Looking for the Right Home

Greene is currently working with Oakley, a two year old pit mix from the Newark shelter who already has strong basic obedience. He has some resource guarding that they are working through, and he has made great progress. His owners are looking for an active person with experience handling strong dogs who can be the leader he needs. Oakley should be the only pet in the home and is best suited for a home without kids. He is neutered and listed for free adoption. Anyone interested can reach Bad Bones K9 at 862-219-9867.

Whether you have a reactive dog, a new puppy or a shelter dog you are thinking about bringing home, you can learn more and book a free consultation at badbonesk9.com.