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Trainer Becky has completely changed around my anxious/aggressive dog Riley. She now has trained him and my newest baby Pepper. She treats my dogs how she would treat her own. They even sleep in her bed with her because they sleep with me!! Becky gave me photos and videos every day for check ups on how my two pups were doing. Becky is like family now!! I would recommend Becky and Off Leash K9 Training to anyone!

I am an experienced dog guardian/owner, but it has been some time since I have had to get back to basics with a young pup and start building a happy, resilient, confident dog. Matt helped me rediscover how to do that. There are a million videos on how to do ...whatever, but none of those folks come to your house. I needed help in specific environments: fence reactivity, going to the farmers market, walking a strong dog with a high prey drive (there is a whole team of rabbits in field next door). Matt's superpower - for me - is he is able to meet me where I am, in the situation I need help with. It's not conceptual, but real. He came to me house; he met me at the farmers market, and we walked and walked and wove in and around people and other dogs and did not leave until I felt comfortable navigating my inquisitive pup through the throngs. As always, dog training is human training. Matt is confident, consistent, authoritative, observant and helped me see where I was not being any of those things, really! Strongly recommend his services.

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.

Scotty is such a help and really knows dogs! I would highly recommend him! Great family as well

The staff is thorough and patient. Rocket, my ill tempered Pomeranian usually starts his visit to a new place by finding the nicest piece of furniture to mark. He likes to follow that feat up with biting or barking at the first new face in the room. The staff at Elite Southwest calmly observed his naughty behavior during assessment and quickly came up with a training plan Rocket started as a flunky in the course but now easily has a passing grade! I don't feel that he has to be in his puppy stroller everywhere we go. He is getting more exercise and now I fell comfortable out and about. Great service!