I can't say enough good things about Island Dog Obedience. We have a little pug named Gigi who we…read moreadore--but she definitely kept us on our toes. Running away, jumping, even pooping right in front of us... it got to the point where it just wasn't fun anymore. That's when we called Island Dog Obedience. Kristi was incredible from the start. She came to our home to meet Gigi, and soon after, Gigi was off to Kaneohe for training. It was hard being without her, and we wondered if anything would really change. Then came the daily photos--Gigi playing with other dogs, calmly sitting on her cot, and responding beautifully to Kristi's commands. It was amazing to see. When Gigi came home, we were hopeful but unsure. She greeted us with joyful zoomies, then quickly settled down and listened. We couldn't believe it--she was a completely different dog! Gigi is now the best little pug, and it's all thanks to Kristi. She was amazing, and at our house for over 2 hours making sure we understand how the e collar worked. It was a great day for all of us. with so much love and aloha, Jeri & Jerry Lynch

If you're reading the reviews trying to decide, let me save you some time -- you're in the right…read moreplace. Island Dog Obedience is AMAZING. Kristi is truly one of a kind My boyfriend and I came to her desperate for help with our new pup, Kona, who struggled with severe anxiety. He was scared of pretty much everything -- people, new environments, being separated from us -- and we were also dealing with barking, basic obedience, and some unwanted behaviors. After just 4 sessions, the transformation has been unbelievable. Today was our final session, and I honestly wish I had a video of how Kona used to be so people could truly understand how far he's come. At the beginning, he wouldn't even go up to Kristi and was extremely hesitant and fearful whenever she took the leash. Now? He confidently walks up to her on his own terms -- calm, trusting, and self-assured. That alone speaks volumes. Kristi didn't just train Kona -- she guided us on how to train him the right way. She's patient, knowledgeable, supportive, and truly cares about both the dog and the owners. She sets you up for success, but it's important to note that the progress comes from continuing the work at home too -- and her guidance made that possible for us. We are beyond grateful for Kristi and everything she's done for our pup. If you're dealing with anxiety, fear, or behavioral issues and want real results, Island Dog Obedience is 100% worth it. I cannot recommend her enough!

Xavier at K9 Coach LLC is an incredible hands on trainer who is extremely knowledgeable and…read moreprofessional when it comes to dog training. He has been training my dog since four months old. What I love best about Xavier is how not only does he closely work with your dog to teach them important skills, but he too teaches the human these important skills and how to follow through with them at home with consistency. We have come so far through all of his basic commands, gentle walking, tracking and now we are working on open recall. He helps fit different collars and leashes on our dogs so they work appropriately during training. He is also extremely informative in how to approach situations outside of training and how to correct them. There is no one else on the island I would trust to train our guy.

Xavier worked with my Shetland Sheepdog for basic obedience and confidence after a negative…read moreencounter with another dog. He was able to tailor a program to meet my dogs needs as a currently competing show dog and set a foundation for a well rounded future. Xavier is attentive to not only his four legged clients but also their human companions providing direct and encouraging feedback on how to support your pup achieving behavior milestones and consistency. I was instructed on corrections, proper tools for training, behavior rewards, and off leash/outside of training time best practices. Communication for scheduling, classes, private lessons, and checking in is easy to do. Prices are appropriate and reasonable for the high level of professionalism and expertise that Xavier has. I have also utilized them for boarding my dog during a family emergency, where accommodation was made for us not only last minute, but with the kindness you'd expect from close friends and family! My dog was cared for extremely well and made the quick separation at an early age such a positive experience that he was able to make transitions into new environments more easily following his stay with Xavier. Xavier understands dogs and their behaviors in a way that allows him to connect with the dogs he's working with long term to maximize your dogs performance of good behaviors and obedience. My sheltie is more confident, consistent, and happier since going through his program and I am excited to continue working with Xavier!

Our senior Yorkie, Shoyu, needed boarding while our family was away over a weekend and had never…read moreboarded before so I was worried. Shoyu has reactivity towards dogs and has a tendency to try make an escape which made finding a trustworthy sitter difficult, but Jenna & Tricia did a great job reassuring me that Shoyu would be loved and cuddled while she was with them :) Shoyu spent the weekend pampered with their family and running around their house like she owned the place, with text & photo updates from Alakai K9. Shoyu also has specialized eye medication for a condition which they dutifully applied every day. They even gave her a bath since it had rained and she got wet - I would recommend their services to board your pup!

Look no further. You've found the trainer that will help you and your dog!…read more Kona went to board and train with Jenna and her family and came back a whole different dog. We used to not be able to walk past other dogs, hang out at the dog park or even greet visitors at our house because of her nervousness and anxiety. Kona has blossomed to a confident and secure dog (with training for me of course) and we happily go out on adventures to practice our training and live the best life. Mahalo Jenna and fam! We are so thankful!!

Almost two years ago, I became the sole owner of a 100-pound dog with severe fear aggression. It…read morewas a scary and isolating experience, and many people in my life were telling me that I needed to put my dog down. Thank goodness for Sean, Kaimana, and Ginny at A Pet Perspective. They provided the tools, guidance, support, and hands-on training that I couldn't find anywhere else. They've been there every step of the way, whether through scheduled training sessions or emergency texts when I needed help most. It hasn't been an easy journey with my dog. At times, progress came in small increments, but it was always moving us in the right direction. Looking back now, it has absolutely been worth it. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, both my dog and I are in a much better place today. I wholeheartedly recommend A Pet Perspective to anyone struggling with behavioral challenges or looking for a training team that truly cares about both the dog and the owner. Their support has been life-changing, and I will always be grateful for everything they've done for us.

Warning Terrible Experience, Stay Away…read more I'm writing this because I genuinely don't want anyone else to go through what I did. About a month ago, I scheduled a consultation with Sean after waiting patiently because he had a newborn and asked me to wait. I agreed, hoping to get real help with just two simple issues walking my dog by my knee and stopping him from picking food off the countertop. I paid a $100 deposit, and the total for the "consultation" was $400. When Sean finally came, the session lasted no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes, even though it was supposed to be a 2-hour consultation. Instead of actually helping or showing any training techniques, he spent half the time trying to sell me another $1,600 program and pushing me to sign paperwork. At the end of the session, I walked away with nothing no advice, no training, no improvement, nothing that could help my dog. Just a huge sense of being scammed. I sent him emails and text messages explaining my frustration and asking for follow-up, but he never replied. No response. No care. No responsibility. Honestly, it feels like he just comes to your house, takes your money, and disappears. There are a million people on the island, and this kind of "business" model is just wrong taking advantage of people who love their dogs and are trying to do the right thing. Completely unprofessional, unfair, and disappointing. He clearly cares only about getting paid, not about helping you or your dog.

I really don't want to give Marie a less than stellar review because for the most part I really…read morelike Marie and I think her intentions are good. I think there are some issues that were costly to me that might help you avoid the same. I'll start with the cons and end with the pros: Marie is all about the money and herself, first and foremost. You're not entering into a partnership. She's the boss. She can bend her rules, ask you to be flexible with scheduling and rescheduling but you can not. There is a language barrier that became more obvious over time. English is not Marie's native tongue. She also doesnt hear well (I dont either) so masking isnt an option. Lack of clarity in communication was a huge issue. Pros: Marie is positive, all positive, and uses Skinner's operant conditioning as her model. Lots of treats and rewards and ignoring the negatives. She understands dogs and their language. I saw great improvement in my dogs and their reactivity and regression in their potty habits while working with her. That improvement was in the first 3-5 sessions though. After that it was practice of the same with nothing new. I would not recommend buying a package. I quit the training with prepaid training sessions left. Ive worked with excellent trainers so maybe I'm spoiled. There's a lot of good stuff on the internet that's free, like Doggy Dan. In spite of it all, Im grateful for Marie and our time together and the improved relationships with my dogs and their more relaxed way of life since I'm more relaxed.

I would give ProDog Hawaii 10 stars if I could! Marie has changed our lives for the better...we…read morewent from constant stress and tension to being able to relax and enjoy time with our dog. I was in search of a force free dog trainer after our 8 year old rescue dog had regressed after an event and had become fearful of pretty much everything and she became reactive towards my husband. I remembered a friend had worked with Marie years prior and she was highly recommended so I emailed through the website and received a very speedy, thorough and nice reply from Marie and quickly decided I wanted to work with her. We've also been working remotely with a Veterinary Behaviorist in San Francisco along with our local vet. Although we had not gotten her stabilized on medications, we started training right away. There were months of trying different medications and different doses, and our dog having bad side effects. We had Zoom sessions with Marie throughout this time and she was so helpful and supportive with giving us ideas and suggestions of what to try to get her from being in a frozen state of fear and building her trust and confidence. I just wanted my scared girl to stop hiding and be able to relax on the couch like she used to do. Marie has been so accommodating with our schedule (there were weeks I would postpone and reschedule due to our rescue girl not feeling well). Marie encouraged us to video our training and she would analyze the videos and she has taught me so much about our dogs body language. We have been working with Marie for about 4 months and have seen great improvement. She is off all behaviorial medications and rarely hides. She is much more tolerant of noises and is now eager and more engaged when we train. She is happier and more playful than she's ever been. We never would have gotten this far without Marie's guidance. She truly cares about her clients. She is so knowledgeable and is amazing at what she does. Thank you Marie for helping us build a better relationship with our sweet girl and helping her to gain more confidence!

My dog was very undisciplined and would constantly trying to dictate terms; very adamant, stubborn…read more After training with a Eric, he is a different dog. What I envisioned, and more, but was incapable of achieving myself. After a short three week stay with Eric and the gang, he consistently complies with the basic commands like sit, down, stay, heel; has stopped trying to jump on, bark at people/other dogs, paces with me while walking, doesn't stray when off leash and comes running when called. Aside from the dog training, Eric trained us to ensure Zeus' development is nurtured breaking everything down into layman's terms, easily understood, and basically trained us for success. Extremely happy with the results and would recommend Eric without hesitation. I had to wait a few months for an opening so if you are considering it, I would recommend booking right away. Thank you guys!!!

Eric Sacks is currently under criminal investigation for dog abuse…read more Sometimes I wake up with nightmares because of the way Eric and his employees injured my dog. I sent my dog away for three weeks in January after assurances that he would be well taken care of. My dog was supposed to work on his separation anxiety and crying. Eric and his team cut and burned my dogs neck (see vet analysis) with a shock collar for three weeks, and didn't give him his medicine as instructed. He didn't take him to the vet after he hurt his neck, either. Furthermore, he refuses to give us a full refund, which shows that he cares more about money than the animals he is trusted with. I am posting this as informative information to others. The photos show my dog's neck after the veterinarian cleaned his wounds out. He was prescribed painkillers and antibiotics for two weeks. I wish I never sent my dog there. I wish I never trusted Eric. He should not be caring for animals. Update in response to Eric: Eric is a liar, and took advantage of my emotions when I was processing that my dog was hurt by him. He isn't even quoting the right amounts of money he owes me ($2,250.72), and is violating his confidentiality agreement with the mediation center. A business owner should refund all money to the owners, including vet costs. My dog's training did not improve, nor have I ever said that it did. He still cries from separation anxiety when he is alone. Eric's services did not do us any good and he is weak and incapable of owning up to his mistakes. Furthermore, I sent my dog to Eric with instructions for giving my dog medicine. Eric is clearly disorganized and neglectful of this. The veterinary bills show that there IS thermal damage. Anyone with a brain knows that thermal damage means burns. Get over yourself. I HAVE NOT CREATED ANY FAKE ACCOUNTS NOR ASKED ANYBODY TO LEAVE A BAD REVIEW. I only shared my own story on my own social media accounts. People do what they want on their own free will. Many people love my dog, and it is their constitutional right to free speech to vocalize their own perspectives on their own free will, especially about matters of public concern - including dog abuse. At Eric's request, I tried to settle our dispute privately, which is why I did not post in January. I wanted to, but gave this horrible trainer the benefit of the doubt in being a good business owner and handling this appropriately. Now I am sharing the truth. There is no slander. Only truth.

10/10 recommend Elle. She is absolutely phenomenal. She treats your dog like it is her own and is…read morevery gentle. Her knowledge and expertise on every breed is impressive. We have been working together for a few months and I can already see a huge difference in my doodle. The video below speaks for itself. My doodle was 9 months old when I took this video. Levi does great on a leash now with little to no pulling, he looks at me for commands, and doesn't bark as much. She can work on anything your family needs or wants. She will tailor the sessions to accomplish your goals. You won't be disappointed if you hire her!!

From the owner: Connecting Smart Owners and Smart Dogs - Discover Akamai Dog Training!…read more Welcome to Akamai Dog Training, the ultimate destination where the brilliance of both owners and dogs comes to life! Our name, inspired by the Hawaiian term for "smart," perfectly captures our mission: fostering an unbreakable bond between smart owners and their equally intelligent furry companions. At Akamai, we believe that training isn't just for dogs – it's for forging a lifelong partnership built on trust, communication, and shared accomplishments. What Sets Akamai Dog Training Apart? A Two-Way Learning Experience: At Akamai, we believe that effective training involves teaching both ends of the leash. Our programs go beyond teaching dogs; they empower owners with the knowledge and techniques they need to communicate effectively, build trust, and forge a lasting connection. It's a journey of shared growth and progress. Tailored Programs for All: No matter your dog's age or skill level, our programs cater to diverse needs. From essential manners to advanced challenges, we tailor our training to ensure both you and your dog achieve the best possible results together. Ready to embark on a journey of mutual discovery and companionship? Join the Akamai Dog Training community and experience the power of unity between smart owners and their brilliant dogs. From the vibrant streets of Honolulu to the serene beaches on the North Shore, our training goes beyond the ordinary to create an extraordinary bond.