BlackHeart K9 services is a professional Dog training service based out of north west Georgia. Boasting clientele across the Eastern United States as well as internationally, we are your experienced one stop shop for all your K9 training requirements.
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30 customer reviews
Asher
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Rob Fischer
Bailey's behavior towards our other peaceful dog Alfie had become increasingly hostile. So much so that my wife and I had each separately considered rehoming her - something we never thought we'd have to look at. My wife found Blackheart K9 and we decided to give it a shot. We love usually sweet Bailey, and did not want to give up on her, particularly if training could help.We had a consultation call with the owner who explained the process clearly and answered all of our questions. A day or two later, we had a video chat with Sarah who ended up being Bailey's main trainer. We asked more questions, expressed our concerns and were put at ease about the process. We decided to move forward with the complete training which we were told would take between 3 and 5 weeks, depending on Bailey's response.Sarah came to pick up Bailey at our home. She observed Bailey in our home, and answered more questions. Once that was done, Sarah was on her way home with our "problem" dog (along with 5 weeks of dog food).The first night without Bailey was pretty tough, but we felt she was in good hands. The next day we received photos of a visibly nervous but healthy dog. During the 5+ week training of Bailey, we received photos and videos of bailey every few days. The videos consisted of training routines and how bailey was responding to them. Through these videos, we did see a constant improvement which put as at ease. At first, both my wife and I were wanting to see more photos/videos, but once we saw the positive results, I think we both understood that time was better spent by Sarah training Bailey.5 weeks passed. We spoke with Sarah to make arrangements to Bring newly trained Bailey home. Sarah arrived with Bailey and we were reunited. Sarah spent about 90 minutes with us going over Bailey's new skillset and how to use the e-collar (more below on e-collars) in our front yard.Bailey's new commands consisted of:- Come/Recall- Sit- Down- Place- Heel- OFF- any unwanted behavior- BreakI am happy to report that Bailey is responding very well to the commands. On the first six commands above, Bailey is given one chance to respond to a verbal command, followed by an e-collar correction if not performed. "Break" is the command that "releases" Bailey from the structure imposed by the command(s) - she is free to do dog things with "break".My wife and I think Bailey's previous behavior may have been driven by a "lack of structure"; she needed more structure than we were providing her. Now that we have a framework that works well to provide this structure, she is responding well. We have had no hostile interactions between Bailey and her brother since she has been home.Previously, I had a very simplistic view of e-collars or "shock collars" thinking they were overly cruel. The collar employed has a setting from 0 to 100. We usually use a correction of around 5 (when needed). The collar probes (part that conveys the corrective signal to the dog) are to be placed on the side of the dog's neck. When a correction is used, a muscle contraction takes place. This is an "uncomfortable" feeling for the dog, but does not approach being cruel. I know this because I tested the collar on my thumb pad and forearm at various correction strengths. Although this did not hurt me and did contract muscles as advertised, I do not recommend this. I wanted to be sure we were not hurting our little dog. From our initial experience with e-collars, I have changed my mind on what they are and how valuable they can be for training. Both my wife and I have separate transmitters we keep close during the day should we need to employ correction.To summarize, we were a little desperate to find a solution for Bailey's unwanted behavior. Through the 5 week training at Blackheart K9, we have a more confident dog now who has a skillset we can use to provide her structure and correct unwanted behavior without a lot of drama. We're thankful for Sarah's efforts with Bailey as we have our sweet Lab back now. More...
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Connor Sweeny
Josh and his wife did a great job with our Gunner. Very informative and took good care of him when they had him.
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Nikita Dudek
Sarah was amazing!!! She walked us through everything she was working on with our German Shepard and was very thorough going over everything we needed to do once she was back home. We are so happy and already see huge improvements in her behavior. Sarah gave her the attention and tools necessary to make sure she was calmer in every environment. I can’t say enough good things about our experience. More...
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Demontrez White
We are extremely grateful for the service we received from Blackheart K9. From the patience shown while getting Rocko settled in, to the progress videos that kept us updated throughout the process, everything was greatly appreciated. It truly made us feel like what we paid for was an investment in Rocko’s future rather than just a service.We can already see a major difference in him, he’s much calmer and more well-behaved. We definitely plan to continue working with Rocko and keep his training consistent moving forward.Thank you all again for everything you’ve done. We will absolutely be recommending and referring others to you! More...
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Emily Carder
10 out of 10 experience! I recommend this place overwhelming, they have went above and beyond with my pup Benji! The training exceeded our expectations — we saw such a huge improvement in behavior, confidence, and listening skills in such a short time. They took the time to explain everything clearly and gave us helpful tips to continue reinforcing the training at home.We also loved getting updates and seeing how happy and comfortable our boy was during training. It gave us total peace of mind while he was away.If you’re looking for a trustworthy boarding and training program with people who genuinely care about animals, this is the place!❤️ More...
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Jenny Kleid
We are so happy with Daisy!!! Josh did an amazing job with our fiesty Rottweiler 💕❤️. She is listening, following commands and I can’t wait to see her improvements every day! I highly recommend Josh and Blackheart! More...
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Justin Malachi
I wanted to take a moment to share my experience with Black-heart K9 because it truly made a difference for my family.The trainer who worked with my 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, Othello, was Josh—and I can confidently say he is a top-tier trainer. Othello was a handful. He was very aggressive toward people and other animals and, at times, almost uncontrollable. When we lived in North Carolina, it was manageable because we had more space. But after moving to Atlanta for my medical program and transitioning to apartment living, it became clear that we needed help.Josh kept Othello for a little over six weeks in the board-and-train program, and honestly, the results exceeded every expectation we had. Saying Othello came back a different dog is an understatement. He is now calm, obedient, and much more responsive. We can walk him on busy streets without him lunging at people, and most importantly, we now feel comfortable walking Othello with our daughter.I was nervous at first. I wasn’t sure if the program would work, or if Othello would feel distant from me when he came back. I couldn’t have been more wrong. If anything, our bond is stronger now because we can actually enjoy him without the stress and unpredictability.Josh and the team kept us updated throughout the entire process, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. It was clear that Othello was being well cared for and trained with consistency and professionalism.If you’re on the fence about investing in a program like this, I highly recommend it. This company is legitimate, they care about your dog, and they deliver real results. For us, it wasn’t just training—it was a complete transformation. More...
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Carol Lackey
Vanessa Pettite was my dog’s trainer. He came home a well-trained puppy. He had been trained to potty indoors which didn’t work for me. That situation is resolved now. He is obedient, knows important commands and is such a joy for me. Vanessa kept me informed with texts, videos, and emails. She has also been available after training for a few questions I’ve had and the offer to come back and help as needed. Vanessa is great! I appreciate her so much for what she’s done for my baby. More...
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Cassidy Windsor
so so happy with sarah! she helped my 4yo staffy with some prey drive and fear-based aggression issues. she was great with my dog, great in communicating with me, and offered to always be in touch should we need help again. couldn’t have asked for a better trainer!!! More...
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Lauren M
We have been working with Blackheart k9 for almost a year. Owners Scott & his wife Allison have been life savers in training & boarding our aggressive dog. They have shown true patience, guidance and support through the many trials of dealing with an aggressive and reactive dog.We received very good communication and videos during initial board and train which is not always available for programs like this.We had seen 4 other trainers in the ATL area before them and none compare to the actual care and attentiveness they have shown to our dog Teddy. We don’t know what we would do without them !Recommend for all training needs. More...
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Mr Person148
Thank you for the great work with Biscuit! 🫡
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Joey
I had them train my 12 week old puppy. They told me they would crate train her and teach her basic obedience. Well 2 weeks and almost 2000 dollars later my puppy is no better then when she was dropped off. She jumps on everyone which they said they would break her off that. Her crate behavior is horrible and worst then before she left. She pees and poops everywhere and lays in even after she's been walked or left outside most of the day. The only way she will sit if u have food and she sees it. Her leash pulling is terrible she will choke herself till she almost throws up and i even got the leash they recommend to get. I have done everything that they told me to do with her. I am very dissatisfied with the training they provided for the money that I paid. In the future I will take her to a different trainer. More...
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Sade' “Ashley” Dodd
Love Vanessa, she trained my girls and they are so well behaved. Will highly recommend!!! This company is also awesome to work with. They provide great communication and customer service. More...
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jmh2137
After our lab/pit mix seriously injured our little dog, we knew we needed real help. Josh and Sarah live about 4 hours from us, but they still came all the way to our home to pick Loki up and brought him back after his 5‑week program. That level of effort really meant a lot.Before training, we were dealing with fights, stress, and constant tension between the dogs. Our little dog even needed surgery for a broken jaw, so things were really tough and honestly pretty heartbreaking.The change in Loki has been amazing. He listens, follows commands, and can actually go on calm walks now without the reactivity or dominance issues we were constantly trying to manage. The whole atmosphere in our home is so much more peaceful.What really stood out to me was how much Josh and Sarah genuinely cared. When Josh brought Loki home, I could immediately see the bond they built. Loki trusted him, and you could tell Josh had really put in the time and heart to help him.They didn’t just train Loki — they trained us too. And just a heads up: your dog will try to fall back into old habits when they get home. Staying consistent with everything Josh and Sarah teach you makes a huge difference.If you’re dealing with behavior issues, reactivity, or dogs not getting along, I highly recommend them. They’ve brought so much peace and stability back into our home, and we’re incredibly grateful. More...
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Sam Gordon
Ally and Alexxa trained my little girl, Loca. Miss Loca was kind of a "wild child" before. Anyone she came into contact with would get scratches on their forearms because of uncontrolled jumping. Ally and Alexxa corrected that and Loca learned EXACTLY how a young Lady should behave in Public. I carry her with me in my Jeep and she can enter stores and walk beside me, staying in her "box". I NEVER expected the results we got.Loca is SO well behaved now.If I ever get another fur kid they WILL be going to Blackheart K-9.I'm NOT a touchy-feely kinda guy, but I LOVE These Folks!!! More...
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Sarah Bundschuh
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Janet French
Josh and his wife did a wonderful job with Addie. He communicated throughout the training with pics, videos, and comments. He worked with us to make sure we understood how to give commands. Addie is doing great. Thanks Josh. More...
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Barbara Frano
I can't say enough about Josh and Blackheart K9. This is the second time Kai has gone through a 5 week program but the first time with Blackheart k9. What a difference I could instantly see in the videos the difference in Kai. Josh and Kai definitely understood each other. Every video showed progress. The first week home I hoped I could be as good for Kai as Josh was. I was well equipped with a few more tools and understanding of my 100lb dog I love so much but struggled with his listening and aggression. I know now Kai feeds on energy and this Christmas Kai stayed out with my sister over for a whole week that has never happened, staying in his place and not aggressively barking and running. We are committed to being better for Kai and with Josh and Blackheart k9 it is now possible. Thank you for working with him and us. More...
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Kennedy
Absolutely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐We cannot say enough good things about Josh and Sarah. We sent our husky and pitbull to them for a 5-week training program after dealing with frequent fights, defiance, and constant posturing between the dogs. It was stressful and honestly heartbreaking to manage.The transformation has been incredible. Our dogs now listen, respond to commands, and—most importantly—can walk together calmly without fighting or posturing. The structure, confidence, and balance Josh and Sarah instilled have completely changed the dynamic in our home.They were professional, knowledgeable, and clearly care deeply about the dogs they work with. They didn’t just “train” our dogs—they taught us how to maintain the progress and understand our dogs better.If you’re struggling with behavioral issues, reactivity, or multiple dogs that don’t get along, Josh and Sarah are absolutely worth it. We are beyond grateful for what they’ve done for our pups and our peace of mind. 🐾♥️ More...
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Monika
We could not be happier with the results! Sarah worked with our dogs for about 5–6 weeks, and the transformation we’ve seen in our dogs has been incredible. Before starting, our dogs had been involved in a few fights, and we were truly at our last straw trying to figure out how to safely keep them together. We felt overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.From the very beginning, Sarah was calm, knowledgeable, and reassuring. She took the time to really understand our dogs, explain their behavior, and give us clear, realistic steps to follow. She helped us work through anxiety, boundaries, confidence-building, and coexisting peacefully, and the progress has been real and consistent, not just during training sessions but in everyday life.What truly sets Sarah apart is her support and communication. She checked in often, reviewed videos, answered questions, and adjusted the plan as needed. You can tell she genuinely cares about both the dogs and the people behind them.Thanks to Sarah, our dogs are calmer, more relaxed, and successfully living together again, something that honestly felt impossible before we started. If you’re feeling stuck or desperate for help, we can’t recommend Sarah enough. More...
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Samantha Rhinerson
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I don't even know where to start. I called Scott for my incredibly lovable, derpy, too smart for his own good, and highly anxious three-year old GSD. I thought I did all the rights things - started training young, sent him away for board and trains with a different trainer, tried to put him in different scenarios to adjust to people, places, and things he wasn't familiar with, etc. But, it wasn't quite enough, my sweet boy grew to be highly anxious and was jumping and using his teeth to share his anxiety with others. I was at a loss - I didn't know what to do and I wasn't getting the support I needed.And then I found Scott. He spent hours on the phone with me to understand what was going on. Personally came and picked Grimm up and worked with him for two months. He called and texted me consistent updates - not "Grimm is doing well", but detailed updates telling me what they had accomplished and what they were doing next. Even with the positivity, I kept my hopes low. I was worried I had ruined my boy.Then Grimm came home. Again, Scott brought my boy all the way to me. We had a four hour turnover session in a public place and I got to meet a new dog. One who was confident in himself, relaxed in his surroundings, and comfortable with his people, but still had his derpy, lovable personality. Gone was the constant high drive whine, the head on a swivel, the vibrating, ready to jump at a moment's notice energy.To say that Scott has completely changed Grimm's life and mine is an understatement. I'm excited for this boy to be able to enjoy a fuller, bigger life. I'd trust Scott and his team with Grimm in any situation at any time. The true care, compassion, and commitment he put into Grimm is incredible and I know it will continue for his entire life. More...
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Stephanie Swanson
We sent our Blue Heeler/Blue Tick mix to Josh and his wife for 5 weeks, and I genuinely can not find words to express my gratitude to them. They kept me updated on Chip and progress, took care of him above and beyond. The day they came and picked him up, I was a nervous wreck and by the time he was loaded and gone I felt comfortable knowing he was in their hands. He is a much more well mannered, and less anxious boy now certainly, they helped me with tools to keep his reactive tendencies in check. Above and beyond doesn't even cover it honestly. They spent a few hours with us going over everything about chips training the day they dropped him off, provided us with a "cheat sheet" for his commands, and a video I can always look back on. They set the foundation for a very happy future for my pup and I, I couldn't suggest them more. More...
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Rachel Rumeau
Josh and his wife worked with my dog Layla and I could not be happier ! They consistently sent me updates while she was away and spent so much time with me reviewing everything she learned when they dropped her off . You can really tell that they really care about what they do and I know Layla was in great hands . She has learned so much and I’m excited to keep up with everything that she learned ! More...
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Lynne Reilly
We’re very thankful we were matched with Sarah, our Blackheart K9 Trainer. We first talked with Vanessa and she was very helpful and patient while we figured out timing and asked a lot of questions. Our trainer, Sarah, communicated with us before, during and after our dog’s five weeks of boarding and training. She sent videos regularly to show his progress and that also showed us how she worked with him in a firm and caring way. She understood his challenging behaviors and showed us the impossible was possible. Working with Sarah has been a game changer. From prepping us for his return to teaching us how to use his e collar and making us feel like we can always reach out to her, Sarah was exactly who we all needed. She even made our dog special cookies and celebrated his birthday since he was with her and not home. We have felt more confident in correcting his behavior by using the e collar and our dog has been calmer since returning home. Thank you Sarah and Blackheart K9! More...
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Brittany Kay
SARAH! She is the BEST! Our boy Harley needed some TLC with his training. His food aggression was getting bad and he was starting to challenge my husband with dominance issues so we had no choice but to send him away for an attitude adjustment. After 5 long weeks, we got Harley back today and I’m AMAZED. He is so enjoyable. We took him to Home Depot and he was such a good boy! The work and dedication she put into Harley really shows and I couldn’t be happier now that we are able to enjoy him. Thank you, Sarah. More...
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Megan
Sarah is fantastic!! I was at my breaking point with my 1.5 year old reactive dog and in need of a major reset. We did the four week board and train and when my pup came back with a whole new level of confidence. She no longer paces around with anxiety, is much more relaxed, and we can finally get back to walking in parks and going on field trips. Doing board and train with Sarah was the best thing I ever did for me and my pup! More...
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J V
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Stefania Mack
If you are considering hiring Blackheart K9 this is the only review you will need to read. I know how important they are.
I read a ton. Yet, I am rarely one to sit and write one. It is my sincere pleasure to write this and really map out my experience to help you choose Blackheart K9. Believe me, I know this is a very hard decision and a big investment, one to which you’re not sure when you start out what you will get. Rest assured Blackheart K9 is totally worth it. This is a safe place run by caring and knowledgeable people. They totally changed my dog in a month. He is more confident and happy. It was worth every penny.
So here is the story of my two year old 90lb male German Shepherd named Zeus. I was doing fine socializing and training him until covid hit. Locked away and a baseball injury later caused too long without interaction. By the time we returned to the baseball field, my dog who would sit there quietly accepting rubs from anyone was now nearly taking the fence down he was tied to so I could take pictures next to him. He wanted to kill anyone who came close. Boy’s who used to pet him couldn’t get close to him. Believe me they kept trying even though I was saying no. I didn’t take him back, it was that bad.
Scott told me “Your dog is not aggressive, he is scared. There is a big difference. I will need to focus on desensitizing him”. If anyone came near me, the house, or the car we were in he would turn into Cujo. I am serious when I say my car looks like a bear had a field day in it. My mailman and landscapers were sure he was going to go through our window as he would beat on it with all his might. No one could come over without me locking him away. He finally did something I feared and bit my cousin’s husband. He did not heed my advice to step away from the gate. He leaned in to hug him thinking Zeus would recognize him. Well, that was that. I knew I needed serious help. I’ve hired and spent a lot on trainers coming to my house, but it was obvious this method was not working. Plus, they just tell you what to do and basically they are teaching you not the dog.
I did a ton of research. I was looking for a person that trained either police dogs or military dogs. More so, I was looking for a place I could trust to have my fur baby. I found a few and wow the prices were high and in speaking to them I just knew they weren’t right. Too many promises, not enough knowledge. You may feel a bit shocked at pricing, but Scott’s prices were on the lower end for a 3-5 week boarding/training.
My first conversation with Scott, he was upfront about what to expect. It is not that he does not give guarantee of his methods, but he understands how to set your expectations. It is not like your dog will never be scared again in its life. He obviously knows his trade and how to set achievable goals. He’s trained working dogs and over 1000+ home fur babies. He’s even moving into training sheep herding dogs with real sheep! I knew he was the real deal. What became the unexpected added bonus was his wife Ally. I started talking with her before Zeus was picked up. She was warm and kind. Her empathy made me feel less nervous. She has some serious background too. An EMT from Australia who grew up on a cattle ranch. I fell in love with both immediately and better yet so did my dog. They sent videos, pics, and called when good things happened. They are honest about the challenges. Let's be fair, my dog had never seen a mannequin before. They hands down are honest and kind people you can trust. I love who they are and what they want to achieve with the company. Scott is very goal oriented. A successful military man, with a passion for excellence.
I’ll give an amazing example. We were close to delivery and they needed to move it one day later. It is not every day you get a picture of a baby cow. She wrote “we need to save this sweet baby cow who just lost its mother delivering it. ” Happy to report they were successful in getting it to their house and keeping it alive.
The process is as follows. They pick up your dog in a very large professional van, with super secure locked in dog cages. Even though I knew I had the right people, I still cried all day when Scott picked up Zeus. I won’t lie, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I just kept telling myself he was going off to K9 college and this was necessary to possibly save a life.
The first week is earning trust of the dog. No matter the size of your dog, all are dangerous when scared. I don’t blame them, it's not right out the gate go go go. He knows when a dog is ready to accept training and earns not wearing a muzzle if agressive. Once the dog is comfortable it’s go time. He works in a big yard teaching things like 'place' on a raised dog bed and 'break' (when they can get off). Then it is on like donkey kong. Visits to Cabellas, Home Depot, Lowes, Parks, etc… Lot’s of training in real world places that will trigger all kinds of fear. When Scott feels your pup is ready he will set up meeting you at the closest place like this. He spent three hours showing me and explaining what I have to do. My dog was in Home Depot with no muzzle and people walking by us without a problem. I was stunned. He jumped on shelves, piles of rocks when told to go to place and sat there. Scott will also train you how to use the e-collar. I’d used one before but I really do like the one he gave me so much better. My dog has long hair and the attachment for it made all the difference.
My dog came home totally different two weeks ago. He isn’t perfect, but it is night and day difference. I can tell he is so much happier with the world. I practice 'place' at home on a couch and make him sit there. I do this everyday so when visitors enter the house he will sit on that couch until less excited and given the break command. I used to dread taking him in the car (which is one of his favorite things to do). He now travels quietly and if he starts to think about acting up I use the e-collar with one tap on low and he doesn't bark at whatever is about to trigger him. I haven’t had to use it in the last three days. I get to keep telling him how great he is doing as we pass runners, people walking their dogs and bicyclists. All used to send him over the edge. Now what I dread the most is the fast food line. We are still working on this, but for the first time I feel we will get to the point where I don't have to hand money/talk through a tiny crack in the window with him going ballistic in the back. So happy to know over time this will too go away.
This reminds me, one of things I really liked is Scott is there if you slack on training. He will come work with your dog if needed. But with this baseline he handed me, I now find joy getting my stubborn giant lug to follow my commands. Because he is so much less stubborn. Lots of love and praise going on.
There are few magical things in this world. Your mess of a dog coming home following commands and ok with the world is one of them. Thank you Scott and Ally for taking such good care of him. You are great human beings who I know will succeed because you focus on not only bettering people's pets but yourselves. Plus the love you give the creatures of this earth is evidence you were born to do this. Wish you much luck. Ever thankful. Big hugs and kisses from Zeus.
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Geoff Lovegrove
Excellent experience with dog trainer Ally. Ally came to our house, punctual, brought her training equipment to show us what is required. Ally was fantastic, she engaged quickly with our border collie, settled her, taught sit, lay, heel, and place (holding position on her bed). Stopped our dog from jumping up on us all the time. Ally worked with us so we understood our dog better and we could work with her. Ally helped us through the commands for our dog and got our kids involved. We have a much better experience in our backyard with our dog now. Cannot rate Ally high enough, she was superb! More...
Dog Training
Puppy Board & Train
Available for puppies that have had their 3rd round of vaccinations up to 20 weeks of age.
Aggression and Anxiety Management
Board & Train program tailored to dogs with reactivity, aggression and anxiety issues.
Obedience Board & Train
Board & Train program dogs of any breed over 5 1/2 months of age. This program is focused on practical obedience commands, trained in real life situations, and busy environments.
Private Lessons Packages
Private Lessons available for
-Puppies
-Obedience
-Behavioral Management
In home and at varying public locations, depending on your goals.