Aloha K-9 Academy (AKA)

We have 2 rescues. Odie, a Bull Mastiff Mix, who came to us 3 years ago and Hammie, a mini dachshund who was living with a homeless person and came to us in September. Hammie had separation issues and he and Odie were aggressive toward each other and it was very dangerous for Hammie, being so much smaller. Odie had his own issues - leash aggression, for one.
Sebastian spent 5 sessions working with them both and did an amazing job. They are now living quite harmoniously and I have my peace of mind back. He is a miracle worker! Odie needs a few additional trainings one in one with Sebastian to deal with leash aggression. So thankful we found him! More...

At the recommendation of our friend, I reached out to Sebastian to train my 6 month old Labrador and Newfoundland mix puppy named Moka. The goal was to achieve basic and advanced obedience, on and off leash.
With an abundance of patience, care, kindness, and love, Sebastian taught Moka commands like Sit, Down, Place, Stay, Come, Heel, Leave it, No, and Off...
At the completion of training with Sebastian, Moka is behaving like a service dog, following given commands flawlessly!
The final test was to walk off leash in the heart of Sarasota downtown, among crowded streets with people, cars, dogs, and numerous other distractions. I couldn't be happier with the results!
There is no other trainer I would recommend to work with your dog. I haven't only gained a perfect dog, but a friend as well!

Sincerely,
Alexander More...

Aloha K-9 Academy (Sebastian) saved Winston! Winston was adopted by my daughter from the Sarasota Humane Society. He was found wondering the streets. My daughter fell in love with him instantly and brought him home the same day. Within two weeks Winston became protective, aggressive and saw himself as the alpha. He refused to go into his crate, and destroyed window blinds and porch screens twice. We didn’t want to send him back to the shelter and finding him another home would not solve these issues. I knew in my heart that if we didn’t find him help he would end up back on the streets or used possibly as a bait dog. Thank you to my daughter’s boss, Liz for recommending Aloha K-9 Academy (Sebastian). During Winston’s assessment with Sebastian, Winston was very aggressive and would even bite. Thankfully, Sebastian agreed to take Winston under his wing. After an intense 6 weeks and not without incident due to Winston; Winston is a totally different dog. It is an amazing transformation. He is not aggressive, he willingly goes into his crate, no more excessive barking, no more destruction and he listens to my daughter’s commands. She is actually able to leave him in his crate and go to work or food shopping. My daughter and Winston are truly HAPPY! If Winston can be saved they can all be saved. “No Dogs left behind”! More...

We reached out to Aloha K-9 after seeing the results of my sisters aggressive dog.

My boy, August, has always had an aggressive reaction out of fear. I was a bit naive and thought that as long as he could live with us, all would be ok. During this time, I was the only human he trusted. After 5 years of being with us and some progress with my boyfriend he began to go backwards and his behavior became more intense, quickly. We worked with our vet, we worked with a behaviorist, we tried medication, basic obedience and everything. It got to a point of me potentially losing my dog.

We decided to do a board and train. Due to August shutting down and not trusting the new people in his life, Sebastian let me know he would need an extra week because he did not want to make August think of him in a negative way by moving too fast. I really respected and appreciated the way he thought of my dogs mental well being and did not just jump right into it. August was there for 3 weeks.

Since August has been home, he has been doing great. He is very responsive to me when it comes to his impulsive behaviors. During our first private session, I did not know what to expect from August when Sebastian came to our home. Not only did he let Sebastian come into the home while maintaining “place” but Sebastian came into our home carrying packages. Something that could have easily been a trigger for him before. We still have some work to do but that is expected and I know they will be there to help us along the way.

I am excited to be working with Aloha K9 with another one of my dogs. His “issues” are different from August and he is not aggressive but instead he shakes and hides. I had adopted him with the hopes of becoming a therapy dog to use with my clients. Maybe that can be a dream again,
time will tell. We truly appreciate what these guys have done for us and my sister and would use them over and over again. More...

George would bark not stop when we had company over for dinner. Got to the point we stopped having people to the house. Hired Sebastian to help with this situation. George has had 3 sessions and he has stopped barking at people. Sebastian is an excellent trainer, and I would highly recommend him. More...

We've completed 6 training sessions so far with Sebastian and couldn't be more impressed. We have a head strong, 8 month old golden retriever and Sebastian has already helped immensely, not only with his negative behaviors but with our understanding of why they are happening and how to fix them. We are BIG fans of Aloha K-9 Academy!! There is truly no one that we trust more with training our pup! More...

We hired Sebastian to do obedience and advanced obedience with my two-year-old English mastiff. Sebastian has exceeded my expectations! Not only is my pup learning I am learning so much too. Aloha team is professional, genuine, and so knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve and connect with your pup. I can’t wait to continue our training with them. More...

Literally could not say enough great things about this business. Sebastian did a fantastic job with the aggression training with my pup. So well that we had him obedience train my golden retriever. Super convenient because he can come to your home to train, whether or not you’re there. Very knowledgeable and just a overall great person. Easiest five stars I’ve ever given. More...

Sebastian and I started this company 3 years ago with the vision in mind to help dogs and their owners reconnect while maintaining good discipline and communication between them. At the time it was just a dream but with hard work and Sebastians knowledge it quickly became reality! Sebastian is an amazing dog trainer and will always do everything he can to help you and your dog. SRQ couldn’t ask for a better company/person to have their back with their dogs! I’ve seen every dog start to finish and most are unrecognizable after he is involved! IGY6 Aloha! More...

I had the pleasure of working with Sebastian and Rod with two of my reactive dogs. They were so helpful and insightful, teaching me to communicate with my dogs. It’s been about six months since we last worked together, but I am constantly utilizing the tools and techniques that I was shown to maintain a happy healthy relationship with my dogs, and while keeping them conditioned and safe.. my go to trainer I recommend to everybody! More...

Hello,
I am not accustom to writing reviews but have had such a positive experience with Sebastian of Aloha K-9 Academy we feel it is important to write this review. It is rare you meet someone who has all three characteristics - energy, intelligence, and integrity. Our new golden retriever puppy was into everything and we needed help teaching her how to generally behave, interact with other dogs, and approach children and adults as well as not chew everything in our house. I am amazed to see Lucky advance in all these areas beyond our expectations. She is now 8 months old and sits, stays, walks on command and our love for her grows every day. Many aspects of her training involve not eating something harmful to her and that has been a big relief….Sebastian offers a variety of different training services and is always punctual and accomplishes any particular issue that needs to be addressed with our golden retriever. The product he delivers, which is a train per/family member that obeys your directions. A superior product at a fair, competitive price. We will continue training service until our goals have been accomplished…
We rate all Sebastian does at a five star plus and are very happy. He is a part of our lives with lucky and even taught her how to interact with children…..
Sebastian is the absolute best…..!
Fred and Teresa More...

Sebastian and Rod are caring, knowledgeable, reliable and professional dog and their owners trainers. Our rescued American Pit Bull Terrier loved, trusted and respected them throughout our training journey. My family and I, as his handlers gained confidence due to their teaching direction and methods. More...

I have so much respect and appreciation for Aloha K9 Academy. My Doberman ‘Duga’ has anxiety when she leaves the house. Just getting past the mailbox was a problem when we started training with Sebastian and Rod. In the meantime, she’s made great progress and we can even hang out at the Farmers Market with her , staying calm . I am convinced this is the best trainer on this coast . Thank you for getting my beautiful dog in an emotional better place than before the training began!! 🙏🏽 More...

It has been almost 2 years since Zoey did a board and train with Aloha. What a fun 2 years it has been! I have been able to take Zoey with me on so many adventures because I know she will behave. Thank you Sebastian for giving Zoey the great foundation that she needed to live her best life. More...

My dog Paisley was not very trusting of newcomers in our home, especially men. She also would jump on people when they would walk through the door and pull a lot on walks. Rod and Sebastian really helped her and now she’s so much more trusting of men and is able to exhibit self control when people walk through the door! No more jumping on people or growling at men. Her walking also drastically improved after working with Sebastian and Rod. I would definitely recommend! More...

I adopted a 5 year old very agressive German Shepherd Lucy, that no stranger could approach unharm!
I was shock to see Sebastian proffecional aproch to Lucy and her instant respect and submition to his approach! It was incredible to see him fearlessly take over her craziness and hash her out of control barking in minuts! In the first session they where walking side by side like she was his own dog! Sebastian is gifted with incredible understanding and connection with the animal world, I think he actually can communicate with a dog without words! I highly recommend all his services, you will be amazed, and highly inriched yourself as you learn from him! Absolutely worth meeting Sebastian and discovering the mind of your dog with his help! Thank you Sebastian for your selfless service to our country, the President and our family! Blessings! More...

Awesome customer service, down to earth great with dogs.

I personally served with Sebastian at Andrews Air Force Base, where we both did presidential K9 under two different presidents. He’s the best! For sure! and money well spent. K9 leads the way!

Take it from another trainer, USE HIM! More...

Sebastian did an excellent job training our Vizsla. He had him for 2 wks and it was an amazing transformation. Highly recommended him!!

Have known the owner for a decade now! (Just about) one the best people I know that has a serious arsenal of knowledge and a desire to help people! This is THE spot for dog training.

Working with these trainers has been an absolute dream. Sebastian has 100% addressed every single aspect when it comes to the goals we have set for our dog. We have a 1 1/2 year old cane corso(Biggie), and we have been working with Sebastion since Biggie was only a few months old. I’ve never seen a stranger love a random dog so much. He has taught our dog not only respect and discipline, but love and trust. I feel safe at all times at home with my child, because our guardian is being trained by Sebastion and his team. He is incredibly flexible and listens to any concerns or questions we may have. Always looking forward to more sessions with them!! More...

Not only is Raven completely in LOVE with Sebastian but she is also a new dog. She is half malinois and half thai ridgeback so training was essential for her breed and drive. Sebastian has always over-delivered and is our go to for advice, follow up sessions and more. Wouldn’t trust my girl with anyone else. More...

I have a black mouth curr and a Catahoula and my black mouth LeeRoy is very sweet but very stubborn, if he can get his way he will lol and Sebastian has really help with both of my dogs so much. I do have a background with dog training but I’ve learned so much much then I could imagine from Sebastian and his brother! I would recommend Aloha K-9 Academy to everyone and anyone and I can’t wait to have Leeroy and myself learn more. I was hesitant to get into this but I’m so happy I did and so is Leeroy! More...

We loved working with the Aloha K-9 trainers. Our dog Wrigley learned all the commands, how to heal on a leash, and place after a few sessions. They were reliable and able to accommodate our schedule. Highly recommend. More...

Aka was absolutely the best. Me being a veteran myself. I loved working with them. They came to my house and turned my German Shepherd pup into a obedient beast. Their simple obedience class was a lot more than you would expect. We learned sit, lay down and leave it. I thought that was going to be it. Then they taught us stay heel and started off leash training. That was with their basic obedience class. Amazing people and amazing teachers. I have recommended them to everyone that owns a dog. Aka even kept my pup while I went on vacation at their own home and did more training. Definitely recommend them to everyone. NOT YOUR NORMAL DOG TRAINERS. Thanks again. More...

Interned with these guys for a few months.. Absolute professionals and actually really care about the dogs and enjoy what they do so it shows in their work! Highly recommend!

AKA saved my relationship with my dog! I had been through a couple of other trainings, and nothing was getting through. My dog was a tough cookie, but I couldn’t be happier with the little dude he has grown into. I am so happy with the results provided by AKA because they kept my Ace with me - all of the hard times were worth it once I learned the right tools to use! I cannot thank AKA enough for saving me from making the hardest decision of my life & giving me the best friend I knew was inside of this (former) unruly dog! 15/10 recommend! More...

Thank you, Sebastian!! I can’t express how happy and thankful I am for all the work you did with Grady. He was such a little monster before training and caused a lot of unwanted stress. Before training, he was beyond stubborn, didn’t listen at all, and was way too dominate. Thanks to you, he is a completely different dog. This was my first experience with a dog trainer (I interviewed several companies) , and I’ll 100% use you again and recommend you to everyone I know. The best part of the experience is knowing that Grady is happier now that he has direction and order. Thank you so much! Best dog trainer in SRQ! More...

Couldn’t think of a more qualified or experienced trainer in the area!! Highly recommend

Aloha K9- Sebastian especially, took my untrained puppy through basic obedience training, advanced off leash training, and then into bite and protection training.
There is no limit to what Sebastian and Aloha k9 can do with your dog....
I was immediately impressed with Aloha's process. They did an assessment of my Boerboel puppy and go to work right away training him the basics AND empowering us with the knowledge to train him correctly. Sebastian is great at explaining techniques and ideas to owners.
Aloha showed us how to use tools to further our training, including the e-collar and other training techniques. The result is we now have a 12 month old puppy who can walk off leash through Home Depot or a public space with my wife and I, on our side.

For bite and protection work; there simply is no other k9 trainer around the area specialized to this level of advanced dog handling and training. Sebastian possesses an invaluable understanding of the military's techniques and tricks to protection train k9s... for this type of training, you simply cannot get better than Aloha k9.
Highly recommend them for all dog owners, -whatever your goals are. They can do it all More...

Sebastion is absolutely the best! He trained(s) our Cane Corso Biggie for quite some time. He helped us with basic obedience all the way up to protection training. Biggie has come a very long way in the process and we will continue to train with Sebastion, and other dogs in the future. He is very professional and has been very flexible for us. Definitely #1 for whatever your training needs are! More...

Very professional with everything they do. Great at everything they do and loved every session I had with my dog Maverick while bite training with AKA.

Sebastián was professional, educational, always on time and easy to work with. He provided our entire family and our puppy exceptional basic obedience training. He is knowledgeable about the specific breed dog and taught us how to train him appropriately. The E-collar work he did with us was a GAME changer for our training and our dog. We completed obedience and some beginning bite work/protection work as well. Because of Sebastian's work I feel confident and safe while raising our puppy. The work and knowledge is worth every dollar we spent. More...

Sebastian and Rod were amazing. My Maggie, a Jack Russell Terrier, was stained on the e-collar and also trained to not growl at people while walking around stores like Home Depot, etc. Give them a call if you have any problems with your dog. You won’t be disappointed!!!! More...