I've had the chance to see firsthand how much Melanie genuinely cares about every dog she works…read morewith. This isn't just a job for her--it's something she's truly passionate about. She takes the time to understand each dog's personality instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Her patience, knowledge, and calm demeanor help dogs build confidence, not just learn commands. She also does an amazing job communicating with owners so they understand the "why" behind the training and can continue the progress at home. If you're looking for someone who truly loves what they do and will treat your dog like family, I couldn't recommend Ryker Dog Training more. Five stars without hesitation.

We recently enrolled our dog in the Ruff Edges Program and I want to share our experience for other…read moredog owners who may be considering this program. For dogs dealing with fear and anxiety, they use extremely intense correction methods. We were initially open to these tools, but things went downhill very quickly. Day one involved towel rolls being thrown at our dog, loud air-canister interruptions, and immediate use of a prong collar. Rather than working at our dog's pace, trainer Mel dragged him along on the prong collar until he submitted. This is not an exaggeration, he was physically dragged while thrashing and panicking. It was shocking and honestly heartbreaking to witness. Right after this forced submission, she handed him to my fiancé, and shortly after our dog jumped up and bit him on the arm. For context: he is five years old and has never bitten anyone in his life. It was devastating. Dogs give plenty of warning signs before a bite (growling, lip raises, body posture) but all of those signals were suppressed as he was forced into submission. In his mind, the only option left was to bite to escape the fear. After the bite we were told, "Oh yeah, that can happen sometimes," and that if it happens again we should "hang him by the prong collar until he sees Jesus." Honestly, we should have walked out immediately, but we trusted the 'professional' and assumed this program was designed for dogs like ours, so it must work. The bite happened again at the next session, totaling three bites under Mel's supervision. We never "hung" our dog by the prong because that is abuse, plain and simple. Meanwhile, his anxiety skyrocketed. He began howling, shaking, and crying at any attempt to get in the car. He even bolted out the front door to avoid going, behaviors we had never seen before this program. By week three, our dog was losing trust in us. He stopped cuddling (which is completely unlike him), avoided closeness, and generally shut down. Heartbreaking, to say the least. After experiencing this firsthand, I truly believe these methods do nothing but force a dog into submission (when they "work") and when they don't, they create dangerous behavioral fallout. The techniques used here are unnecessarily harsh, rooted in impatience, and a blatant lack of respect for the animal. They claim the program is tailored to your dog, but when the methods failed, the only advice was to correct harder: hang him, use an e-collar, throw the towel harder. No alternatives, no adjustments, no real understanding of his behavior. That is not tailoring, that is pushing until the dog breaks. In researching modern training science, I've learned there is simply no justification for these outdated methods. They ignore what we now know about canine behavior and emotional wellbeing. These techniques appeal to owners who want fast control, not true behavior change. I love my dog. After this experience, I'm choosing the slow road, the one that builds trust, not fear. I don't want a dog who obeys because his spirit is broken. I want a companion. If you're considering the Ruff Edges Program, please understand the risks and research these methods thoroughly. I wish we had, and I regret staying as long as we did. "The dominance remedy is so out of proportion that entire schools of training are based on the premise that if you can just exert adequate dominance over the dog, everything else will fall into place. Not only does it mean that incredible amounts of abuse are going to be perpetrated against any given dog, probably exacerbating problems like unreliable recalls and biting, but the real issues, like well-executed conditioning and the provision of an adequate environment, are going to go unaddressed, resulting in a still-untrained dog, perpetuating the pointless dominance program." -- Excerpt from The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson.

Nate at Dogspring is very knowledgeable, calm, patient, and most importantly, a genuine dog lover…read more He is firm, yet compassionate in his approach. He truly wants both the dog and owner to succeed. It is located on beautiful piece of property perfect for training. I highly recommend Dogsrpring for all breeds and ages! Thank you Nate!

Nate has changed our lives. Our two dogs did Board & Train with him for three weeks and came back…read moremore confident and well-behaved than I imagined being possible. He established a foundation for us that'll enable us to help the dogs grow and be happy for years to come. Thank you to Nate and his family!

These guys are awesome! Been working with Louie for 6 weeks now, such a great guy and a puppy…read moretrainer. He knows his stuff for sure, not just him but this place is filled with knowledgeable, great people that will make sure you're puppies are well taken care of and they're always on top of keeping me posted of everything that's happening. I highly recommend Ohana K9 to everyone that has a puppy! They got my pups on point, everyone that sees my how my puppies behaves, are always very impressed by how good and obedient they are. Next up will be the off leash training with them! Very soon! Here's a pic of one of our pups, she graduated today. Our other baby is still in training.

My 11-month-old dog, Bingo, wrapped up his adult 6-week board and train program at Ohana K9 Academy…read moretoday, and I have nothing but great things to say about my experience. My dog is not just a pet, he is part of our family, so the thought of him being away from me Monday through Friday with strangers and only home on the weekends was absolutely nerve-wracking. The staff and owner, Bo, made this a great experience for both me and my dog. They explained every step of the process, shared daily updates and pictures, and provided excellent care for him while he was there. Bingo learned so much during this training program and has made tremendous improvements. I am more than satisfied with the services provided by Ohana K9 Academy. It was by far one of the best investments I could have made for my dog. I was so impressed that I have already recommended them to friends and family. I plan on scheduling more advanced training sessions for him in the near future, and I already have some daycare and boarding days scheduled. If you are considering training for your dog, check them out. You will not regret it!

Just finished a class with Scott. He is a fantastic trainer. My wife and learned a lot!! He made…read moreit enjoyable and learning was in bite size pieces. We had time to practice at home and come for more the next lesson. Now we are enjoying Riley more and going out with her is so much better. She doesn't pull on the leash, get distracted, sits when we stop, people are able to stop and pet her, she behaves with other dogs around .... I can go on and on but suffice to say, highly recommend!!

I came to Peacemaker Dog Training because I was having overprotection issues w/my dog. Plus he was…read morenot good on a leash, & he would bark/lunge at other dogs. Scott gave me the tools I needed to train my dog, & now he walks great on a leash & doesn't bark or lunge. I actually enjoy walking my dog now. Scott covered so much more in his classes than any other trainer I've been too. He's very patient, & wants you to succeed w/your dog. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for dog training.

I rescued a feisty yet adorable teacup chihuahua last year. So as a responsible and excited new…read morepet owner, I decided to get her some training so she'd behave. Amanda has been amazing with my dog! In only a couple of lessons, Kiwi has learned to sit, leave it, stay and tools to calm her down on walks when she sees bigger scarier dogs that she barks at. Amanda is a dog owner herself and highly skilled with zoology and biology degrees as well as advanced dog training certification. She's also very sweet to my dog. She is patient, kind, and uses positive reinforcement to teach my dog new skills. For an hour, my dog is challenged and rewarded for her good behavior. She loves it. And she loves the yummy treats that Amanda brings. She uses all natural treats, too, so they're good for her! After our lessons, Amanda writes out an email summarizing what we worked on and how to continue these lessons on our own to practice. It's a great guide to follow and to refer back to. When I've had other questions about her behavior or misbehavior, I can email Amanda and she always sends me a detailed response. She's just been great to work with! And the training has really helped my dog to improve. I'm just so pleased that I can't recommend her enough!

Viviana implements her knowledge and love for dogs in her training. She is patient and willing to…read morework with inexperience dog owners. Please understand that she gives you tools to work with your dog, you have to put work in in order to be successful. Viviana is also great with kids, she does a great job at helping them understand their pet's behavior as well as teaching them how to handle unwanted/unacceptable behaviors.

We were very impressed with Loving Dog Training. Viviana does an excellent job and is very…read moreknowledgeable & professional in her training. She explains what techniques work for unwanted behavior & provides the reason. She also gets the kids involved. Our Rockie loved seeing Viviana everytime & of course he was the perfect student around her If we get another dog we will definitely give Viviana a call. We highly recommend Loving Dog Training!

I started my boy Pouka here as a puppy and my experience has been absolutely incredible. Pouka gets…read moreso excited every time he goes in for training, and Aiyana has been wonderful explaining every part of the process and working with him. Learning how to safely utilize different tools has been a major help, as well as learning to understand my dog's behavior. I highly recommend Major K9.

Obedience regressed, ears injured, and training relied only on ecollar pressure…read more I sent my 6-7 month old Doberman to Aiyana for a 4-week board and train program. My goals were to refine her obedience, stop leash pulling, and build confidence. Unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. Positives * My dog did gain a little more patience and became more confident around dogs at a distance. * These improvements are appreciated, but they do not justify the cost of a full board and train program. Concerns * Breed Bias: Aiyana often commented negatively about Dobermans, saying things like "This is why I wouldn't own a Doberman." For someone advertising all-breed training, this was unprofessional and discouraging. * Ear Care: Since my puppy is still posting her ears, I asked to take her home on weekends to do it myself. Aiyana declined until week 3, when I found her ear had been wrapped so tightly it cut into the skin. On another occasion, her ear was bleeding and the glue was completely dried out. When I gave feedback, instead of handling it professionally, she became defensive and refused to continue ear posting on any other dog as if she is doing a favor. * Training Regression: Instead of improving, my dog regressed. She used to know the difference between sit and down, but came back ignoring sit and defaulting to down. Leash pulling was not addressed -- I was simply told to "use a prong collar," even though she had walked nicely without one before. * Reliance on Ecollar: I have no issue with ecollars when used properly, but this training relied almost entirely on constant pressure. Without the collar, my dog would not listen at all to her. That is not effective or sustainable training. * Shocking Statement: At one point, Aiyana even told me, "I cannot do anything if a dog acts a certain way with someone else." Hearing that from someone calling herself a professional trainer was unacceptable. * Professionalism: She frequently reminded me that she had given me a discount, as if that excused the lack of progress. Sessions were delayed and if I arrived a little late due to her schedule changes she would blame me (we also have work and things to take care of and the road time, i am 40min away from her, i also never had the problem to go back to her anytime that worked), and I never received a proper recap or hand-off at the end as after i communicated about her ears she said she is uncomfortable working with us now . Final Thoughts While there were minor improvements in patience and confidence, the main goals of obedience and leash training were not achieved. My dog returned with ear injuries, regression in commands, and unreliable training that relied entirely on tools instead of teaching. I gave her time till even after the board and train being finished to wait for our recap session because maybe just maybe something would change . Which wasn't given because i gave my concern on my dog being hurt and her material not being taken care of . I wasn't blaming her -- just asking for more attentiveness. This program did not meet the level of professionalism, communication, or results I expected from a board and train. For anyone considering training services, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere for a trainer who provides consistent progress, safe handling, and clear communication.

Sandra did an amazing job training my dog, Max. Max is very reactive and anxious, and I've already…read moreseen a lot of improvement in his behavior and confidence since working with Sandra. She is patient, knowledgeable, and truly cares about the dogs she works with. I'm very happy with the progress Max has made and would definitely recommend Sandra and AgapeDogs to my family and friends!

I came to Sandra for help with my reactive doggo, Zuko, and she was such an amazing trainer/teacher…read moreand support to us!! The package we went with included a book, harness and leash that has helped us tremendously when working with Zuko. She also provided us with a plethora of information on how to deal with having a reactive doggo. Ever since we have had her services, Zuko has shown so much improvement and it feels great to have the knowledge we now do to make sure that Zuko is happy and comfortable :) Thank you Sandra!!!