Viki helped us with obedience training when we adopted our first dog back in 2021, so when we adopted our second dog in 2025, we knew exactly who to turn to. Despite everything we learned with our first dog, we quickly realized we weren't fully equipped to handle some of our new dog's quirks. She was a flight risk (would run away any chance she got), fearful, not a fan of other dogs, and didn't know any basic commands. We decided to enroll her in a 5-week board and train program with Viki, and it was one of the best decisions we could have made. Throughout the program, Viki regularly posted Instagram updates and was always responsive to my questions, which gave us so much peace of mind. What I appreciated most was how Viki helped us truly understand Pumpkin and her behavior. We initially thought Pumpkin was dog-aggressive, but Viki helped us see that she simply prefers her personal space and will correct dogs that are too intrusive. Viki then showed us how to properly handle these situations so we could confidentially support Pumpkin in real life settings. Pumpkin came home a better version of herself - more confident, focused, and calm despite distractions. I can now leave my door open and trust that she won't rush out unless I give her permission. Walks are no longer stressful; she doesn't freeze in fear, and she stays composed even when other dogs lunge. We're incredibly grateful for Viki's guidance and support. read more

Disciplined K9 - Pumpkin (right) and her training buddy on graduation day - Pet Training Near Me

Disciplined K9 was an absolute pleasure to work with. Their training program was exactly what our dog Arlo needed -- and just as importantly, what we needed as his owners. The communication throughout the process was excellent, and the team's honesty and attention to detail were a breath of fresh air. Arlo made great progress, and we feel much more confident as pet parents thanks to the guidance and support we received. We'll definitely continue working with them for follow-up training and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Disciplined K9 to anyone looking for effective, professional dog training that truly works! read more

Disciplined K9 - Staying down and disciplined - Pet Training Near Me

This is a long post. If you're struggling with your dog or just want a better bond, please read. Our Samoyed was super crazy. We worked with several trainers before, but none of them could really help. He's not food-motivated at all, and one trainer even told us that if he doesn't take treats, he can't be trained. We also tried a board and train program with another trainer and had a pretty bad experience. It was a whole mess. We couldn't even take him for a walk in our own neighborhood. Viki was the first trainer who truly helped us and our dog. She's incredibly knowledgeable and professional. She taught us how to rebuild our relationship with our dog, understand his behavior, and reset everything from the ground up. Now we can take our sweet boy everywhere. We even felt confident enough to adopt another puppy who's also training with Viki now. She has completely changed our lives, I highly recommend Disciplined K9. read more

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Disciplined K9 is amazing! I trust Viki 100% with my Rottweiler, Zena. Viki strikes the perfect balance between being firm and loving. She provides you with the tools and knowledge to keep both you and your dog safe. It's clear from the start that she knows her stuff--she understands breed-specific behavior and is deeply passionate about what she does. Not only has Zena learned how to be respectful and well-mannered around other dogs, but I've also gained the confidence to advocate for her when needed. Viki taught me that socialization doesn't have to happen at a dog park--pack walks and structured exercises make a huge difference! Zena also boards with Viki, which I love because I know she's staying in a consistent, structured environment. Honestly, I think she'd live there if she could! Viki even went the extra mile to take Zena to the vet to help her feel more comfortable being handled. That kind of thoughtful exposure has made a big difference--not just for Zena, but for me as her handler and for the people who care for her. If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares about your dog and gives you the skills to create a safe, respectful relationship, Viki's your person! read more

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i am the owner of a 31/2 year old Doberman who had four previous trainers, with limited results. One day on a walk, my Greta triggered while walking through a busy intersection and pulled me off my feet. she was highly leash reactive and showing behavioral issues as well. i selected a Doberman on purpose because i not only wanted a companion, i wanted a protector. i wanted to respect that part of her, because twice she has backed off individuals with bad intent, once quite serious - i live in an urban area-- but i did not know how to handle her prey drive that came with that. Enter Viki, who came highly recommended by Greta's daycare handler. another dog in her group with leash reactivity trained with Viki with fantastic results. In july I reached out to Viki. she was so flexible and willing to work with Greta and i where we were. i was unable to film a trigger for Viki for safety reasons, and Viki modified our initial consultation to include a walk where she could see firsthand what Greta was like on a walk. i knew she was the trainer we had been looking for, even at that earlier time. For the next seven months, Viki shared with me patiently, and step by step, the tools that i would need to walk safely with Greta and keep her safely under control. she even allowed Greta to meet all three of her dogs and even one that she was boarding so Greta could become calm around unfamiliar dogs. this was invaluable for me and for her. shortly before our graduation, a man in an auto shop stopped me to talk to me about Greta. he said, " I have been watching you walk by my auto shop for a long time now. i used to own Dobermans. your Doberman used to lunge and bark at everything. you have a different dog now! thank God for Viki! indeed, i do have a different dog now. not only do i have a very different dog on our walks, Viki set up a home protocol at the beginning of our training and Greta is wonderful around the house now as well. Greta and i now have a healthy relationship where she respects my authority, and i have learned how to show her exactly what i expect from her and back it up. Even though we will always continue to build on this and train for the good of it, i kind of feel like i have the dream dog i have always wanted. got behaviour problems with your dog? Viki will have the solution. May God richly bless you, Viki. read more

Disciplined K9 - THANK YOU VIKI! - Pet Training Near Me

From the first day that we reached out to Viki for a consultation to after a 5-week board and train program, Viki has been a tremendous help in shaping our training and lifestyle with our fearful dog, Lucky. Being first-time dog owners, we really didn't have a lot of experience with dog training and didn't understand why our fearful dog wasn't being receptive towards training tips we found online. Viki helped us understand Lucky and gave us the tools we needed to better communicate with her and to give her the life she deserved. With Viki's help, we learned how to advocate for our dog and protect her in ways that we never thought of doing. At first, Lucky was very anxious and refused to eat for a couple days. Viki reassured me that this was a typical behavior of a fearful dog. In just a couple of days, Lucky opened up to Viki and was very receptive towards her and the training. Lucky lacked confidence and was very untrusting of us because of situations that we exposed her to (e.g., dog parks, pushy and reactive dogs, lack of structure in the home, etc.) Viki helped to rebuild Lucky's confidence and trust in us by exposing her to neutral and well-behaved dogs and providing expectations for her when she becomes anxious (e.g., holding the place command). Lucky was also deathly afraid of fireworks and with exposure training, she is now able to tolerate them better and recover from her fear much more quickly. With Viki's e-collar training, Lucky's recall has improved tremendously which has allowed us to give her off leash freedom and be the explorer she likes to be. Lucky also walks so much better on a leash and actually pays attention to us in environments that have a lot of distractions. It's also gotten much easier to trim her nails! These are just a handful of examples of how Viki's training has improved our relationship with Lucky and Lucky's quality of life. During the 5-week board and train, Viki posted Instagram updates a couple times a week, and was responsive to any questions that we had during the training process. Even after the board and train, Viki is still in contact with us via social media and available when we have questions or need advice. Viki has her own dogs as well, and one of them in particular, Camila, was Lucky's favorite dog and role model during training. I'm very picky about who I leave Lucky with because she is a fearful dog and needs someone who is capable of managing her fear and anxiety. I will happily make the drive from San Jose to do regular boarding for Lucky with Viki because 1) Lucky loves her 2) I trust her and 3) I know that Lucky is in good hands when I'm away. If you are hesitant about doing training with Viki, I'm here to tell you that it is SO worth it because of Viki's in depth knowledge of dog training and dog psychology. Your entire lifestyle will change, but it will change for the better! Viki is the kind of trainer you want, someone who is upfront with you, is confident in her training, and most importantly, loves dogs! read more

Disciplined K9 - Lucky was not happy about being in a new environment and with a new person - Pet Training Near Me

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Viki is a miracle worker. We brought Remy to her after he upgraded to the title of Big Brother. Remy's confidence took a big hit when he went from getting all the affection to sharing. He started barking at every little noise outside, became very fearful of noises the baby made and overall seemed uneasy. He was also unable to control his energy, so for the safety of the baby, we had to put him in a separate room. After we did board and train with Viki, Remy is now his best self! He no longer barks (not even when dogs walk past the window), hangs out naturally with us in the family room and even leaf blowers are no longer a match for him. We've also noticed an overall calmness. Hint, hint: he no longer jumps on people when they come over or barks at the doorbell! The best part, Remy is still silly Remy. Just the best version of himself. Also the amount of compliments we get about him being such a good dog when we are out makes me chuckle. If they only saw him a few weeks earlier because... Doodles. I really can't say enough good things, Viki gave us the ability to be one big happy family. read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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We are so grateful to have found Viki and Disciplined K9! Our dog, Momo is a 2 year old Samoyed. She barked excessively, had unreliable recall, pulled on the leash, not crate trained, and experienced separation anxiety. It was very difficult to take her anywhere without it being extremely stressful. We had experienced working with a few different trainers, but finding a trainer that we could trust and was our biggest hurdle. We had previously tried board and train with a different trainer when Momo was still a puppy. In so many words, we found out the trainers were abusive, used unapproved practices, and put her in unsafe situations (she was bit, needed stitches and they didn't tell us about it) . Trying to find a trainer to trust again was very difficult, until we met Viki! Viki is very professional and knowledgeable. She is highly recommended by many local Samoyed owners with very similar behavioral issues. During our consultation she was very open and honest with with training methods, schedules, and upkeep with training. We felt very confident in Viki's expertise and background, that after 4 weeks, Momo would be returned to us as a safe, healthy and well trained dog! When we picked up Momo she was a completely different dog in the best possible way! We could tell her state of mind was calm, obedient, and the well mannered pup we knew she could be! She is still her silly self, so don't worry about your dog "losing" its personality. She was still her happy self, just a better version! We're now able to take Momo everywhere we go without us or Momo feeling stressed. Viki also teaches and demonstrates how to upkeep training and give your dog corrections that allow you to communicate with your dog in a way they can understand you. Momo loves and respects us far more than she ever did before. Sending Momo to Viki is one of the best decisions we've made, and we cannot thank her enough for all the hard work she put into helping us train Momo! read more

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We cannot say enough amazing things about Viki and Disciplined K9! We have a sweet but very stubborn and anxious Samoyed named Elsa and the board + train program changed her mindset and our lives for the better. Viki came with amazing and repeated recommendations from other Samoyed owners in the Bay Area, and my only regret was waiting too long to get Elsa into the program as I was anxious to be away from her. When we finally signed her up, she came back a new dog (while still keeping her sweet and mischievous personality!) Viki has a strict but loving approach to all the dogs in her care, expecting them to follow the rules while giving them the freedom to "just be dogs" when they earn it. With the tools and techniques we learnt after picking Elsa up, we feel equipped to continue to train her. She is by no means perfect and when we get lazy she takes advantage of us, but we feel confident in course correcting now. Most importantly, we feel more in charge of our day to day schedule and lives. Elsa still boards with Viki often when we travel -- we fully trust her with our precious pup! If you are on the fence, we cannot urge you enough to make this investment to improve you and your dog's lives. read more

Disciplined K9 - Elsa and friends practicing threshold control - Pet Training Near Me

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We had worked with a couple other trainers before bringing our 3 year old lab to Viki at Disciplined K9. Barry did a 6 week Board and Train, and it has been one of the best investments of our time and money. After the pandemic Barry had become very leash reactive. While we still have to work with him every day on his reactivity, we learned so much about how to manage it and it has become so much easier. He is better behaved in the house (no more barking at the door or whining when we leave), and his leash reactivity has improved dramatically. He is also great off leash, and loves hiking with us now. We have taken him to places we never thought we'd be able to take a reactive dog, including patios, parks, beaches, and even music festivals. We always get compliments on how well behaved he is everywhere we take him. Viki gave us the tools we needed and taught us how to use them properly. She also taught us that training is on-going, and we've continued this training over the last couple years. We (his owners) and Barry are all more confident as a result. As a bonus, we love boarding Barry with Viki when we leave town, knowing his good habits will be reinforced. read more

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This review is long overdue, mostly because it's been so hard to put into words the transformation our dog underwent. Viki is TRULY the best at what she does. With her, you get a no frills, no BS, straightforward trainer who wants the best for you and your dog. My dog is EXTREMELY shy and timid. There were moments we had only one route on our walk where we knew she would not break down and thrash in her leash out of fear. To give you more perspective, her anxiety and fear overpowered her food drive, prey drive, toy drive, and need for affection. With that, you're basically left with no incentive to train--or so you'd think. When we met with Viki, I had to really change my own perception on what owning and training a dog was going to be. For the first few months of our private training, it was like Viki was training me, and my dog just reaped the benefits of the training! We did private training for 18 months with Viki, and still continue our day-to-day life as if I was still meeting with Viki regularly. And let me be the first to say that our dog is living her BEST life. She now has the structure and guidance from training to be able to cope with a lot of her fears and even overcome quite a few of them! She was an abandoned stray from Korea, so she will never be quite bubbly like some other breeds, but when we look back at the dog we adopted in 2020 and the dog that's resting by my desk as I type this, you would never have thought they would be the same dog. Thanks to Viki, my dog is able to experience the world and enjoy it with her pack leader (me ). read more

We LOVE Viki! My dog Milo used to be so vocal and out of control, and I went through different trainers but no one could help me, until both of my friends recommended Viki. Milo would bark at everything and anything, and he was super leash reactive and had severe separation anxiety, along with a lot of other small issues. After Viki's evaluation, she knew exactly how I was treating my dog, and pointed out what I needed to work on. She told me that I need to hold Milo accountable, and I need to let him know that I am the pack leader. We started private training with Viki, and I saw immediate improvement on Milo. After a year of training with Viki, Milo is a brand new dog. We are happy to announce that Milo just passed the CGC test today and became a caine good citizen, and I am so proud of him! All thanks to Viki. When I went on vacation, Milo also boarded with Viki, and she is the only one I trust to take care of Milo when my family and I are out of town. Viki is a great trainer, and she definitely knows what she is doing, and she's really passionate about her work, and we are so grateful that we trained with her. I cannot recommend Viki enough for anyone who is looking for a great trainer to train your dogs. read more

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I can't recommend Viki enough if you're looking for a trainer. Kygo used to be reactive, fearful, and would pull on his leash while going on walks. Now, he's confident, trusting of us, and looks to us for guidance and our leadership to make good choices. We've even gotten asked multiple times if we're dog trainers ourselves by neighbors who see us training with Kygo, which is a testament to Viki's skills and talent! I recommend her to everyone who is looking for a trainer. Not only does she work with your dog and what their concerns are, but she teaches you how to best communicate with your dog to create healthy habits and behaviors. She is extremely transparent and is always willing to answer any questions even after going through training. There is no one else we would trust to care and watch for Kygo while we go on vacation or go out of town. Thank you so much Viki! We couldn't have done this without you! read more

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Viki is the best to work with! We found her on Instagram after seeing how many jindos she's worked with. We were at the end of our wits with our Korra's behavior problems. She was fearful, had low confidence, no structure, and poor obedience. We signed her up for the six week board & train program and saw miles of improvement, it's like she was a completely different dog! Viki really showed Korra the way and practically taught her how to be a dog. Of course, Korra still needs to continue her training, so Viki was very detailed in training us as well on how to continue Korra's structure. Korra continues to improve thanks to all the how to's and do's & don'ts provided by Viki. During B&T, we got tons of progress footage through disciplined k9's Instagram. Even long after B&T, Viki has been great to check in with if we ever have any questions or need advice for any new issues we run into. Viki does book up fast so we got our spot months in advance, but even leading up to the appointment, she gave us a lot of homework to start practicing with Korra which really helped improve our relationship with her. It was all worth the wait, thank you Viki! read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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If you want a dog trainer who is honest, knowledgeable, not in it for the money and will genuinely care about your dog's well-being, look no further because Viki is your girl! We reached out to Disciplined K9 when our 8mo old Goldendoodle, Benny, continued to have behavioral issues after completing puppy school. He pulled on walks, barked and whined all the time, had leash reactivity, separation anxiety, was overly excited and just did not know how to relax. She recommended the Private 1:1 and it didn't take long for us to start seeing a change in Benny. With each session, Viki helped us understand dog psychology + body language and taught us the importance of structure, consistency, and a calm state of mind. Viki also taught us how to use different tools for training but the absolute game changers for us were the e-collar and prong collar. Benny used to choke himself on the flat collar from all the pulling and lunging that he even developed a cough at one point. With Viki's guidance, Benny is now able to get clear communication from us at all times, boosting his confidence and helping him feel more secure, especially around other dogs. We are so so so grateful to Viki for training Benny and educating us to become better handlers so we can have a healthier relationship with our dog. Our only regret was not finding Viki sooner. Thank you, Viki and the Disciplined K9 team! read more

Disciplined K9 - A calm Benny on his cot - Pet Training Near Me

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I'm a first time dog owner and was having a range of issues with my samoyed including barking, leash reactivity, car anticipatory anxiety, and just always being too excited in general. I had put in a lot of work with puppy classes and 1-1 training which did help but I knew I needed more guidance since samoyeds are notoriously hard to train. I found Viki through a friend who highly recommended her after sending her dog to board and train and after a consult decided to sign up for a 5 week board and train. The difference between when I dropped him off and when I picked him up is night and day. Viki did an amazing job breaking bad habits and correcting his issues as well as my issues as a handler. Although he isn't perfect and still has his moments when he wants to run up to another dog or gets too excited and barks, its a much rarer occurrence and I feel much more equipped to deal with it when it arises. Viki is a very strict but very knowledgable and caring trainer and I've appreciated how much she cares about my dog's progress, even after board and train. Months later I still keep up with his training and have been very happy with his results. Thanks Viki! read more

Disciplined K9 - Practicing his down stays - Pet Training Near Me

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For some context, I'm a first time dog owner and have seen my fair share of misbehaved dogs so I definitely wanted to find a reputable trainer from the start. As soon as I got my puppy, I reached out to Disciplined K9 as a recommendation from a friend that did board and train with them and heard nothing but great things. Viki was extremely informative during our consultation and was adamant on rules like crate training, not letting the dog on furniture and bed, no dog parks, etc while providing explanations to why. She helped in creating structure and a schedule for training and lifestyle which drastically helped with my dog's high energy! She taught us proper dog socialization, thresholds, leash walking, off leash and more during our puppy raising program. I highly recommend Disciplined K9 and Viki for all dog owners as she is truly an expert in handling and understanding dogs of all types and sizes! My life would have been drastically different and worse without Disciplined K9! read more

Disciplined K9 - Koji's graduation from the puppy program! - Pet Training Near Me

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I tried a few trainers before Viki and never quite got the results I wanted. I have an FMD and he was extremely timid, fearful and reactive. We were struggling with separation anxiety and I thought I would never be able to have him offleash. Viki is informative and very direct. She answers all of your questions and teaches you how to work with your dog to give you what you need. Viki has helped change our lives for the better. We have so much freedom and Milo (my dog) has confidence! It has been such an improvement for both me and my dog. I highly recommend working with Viki. My dog graduated about a year ago and I still maintain all of our structure and training. Viki holds group classes at times and we are always more than happy to join! You learn very important commands/skills such as sit, stay, down, place and come. Using all that I've learned from Viki, I'm able to foster dogs and manage reactivity with fosters and ensure all dogs are neutral. read more

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Our friends recommended Viki after we had been working with another dog trainer for almost a year. Our dog Bao was extremely reactive and would bark and lunge at any passing animal, especially dogs. Given she is around 60 pounds and very strong, we wanted to work on this issue for ourselves but also for when older relatives come to stay. We've learned so much from our lessons with Viki. Our 1:1 lessons taught us more about handling Bao and what she needed and the board and train program helped Bao grow so much more comfortable with other dogs. We are now able to take her for hikes and out in public without worrying. We also get compliments from friends all the time about how well behaved she is, both at home and when out and about. If you are ready to work with your dog, turn to Viki! read more

Disciplined K9 - Bao graduating her board and train program - Pet Training Near Me

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We love Vicki! Don't even bother researching other trainers and just go straight to her. We opted for her 1:1 training for our Aussie and had a great experience. We focused on walking, reactivity, place work, recall, and his nervousness with ear cleaning, brushing, and nail trims. After the very first session we saw an enormous improvement in our dog when walking on leash and he's been easy ever since. Each session we tackled a different issue and went home with clear instructions on what to practice on. It's been so nice taking our dog out in public and knowing he'll be better behaved and more obedient than before we started his training. Vicki teaches the owners just as much as she teaches the dogs. She explains things in such a clear manner and really tailors her sessions to fit your dog's needs. Our dog adores her and knows it's time to work when he sees her. That just shows that she knows how to add the proper structure to a dog's life. Be prepared to add more structure to your home life and spend extra time doing active and passive training. Vicki is professional, talented, and overall a kind person. We recommend her and will use her other services in the future. read more

Disciplined K9 - Our dog learning to be neutral around other dogs. Vicki's well behaved dog is on the left and ours on the right. - Pet Training Near Me

I can't say enough about Viki and the whole team. Snowy was always sweet but not confident. Being a larger dog, i wanted to improve the quality of her life and be able to confidently take her to more places without the worry of her being fearful and reacting in ways I wouldn't be able to manage. When I first met Viki, she was straightforward, a straight-shooter - just what I knew I needed to get me out of my bad habits...I knew good change was coming. After her board & train with Viki, I've learned and gained much more confidence because I was able to see how it was more me than Snowy. They showed her a foundational structure which made things easier for me because I could really see what Snowy was capable of. It was encouraging. We're constantly practicing what we've learned, and it's so wonderful to see her grow. I love her more because I am less tired, less frustrated, less defeated, and can now appreciate her for who she really is. It's been just over a year now and we're still going strong. Always a work in progress, we still have our ups and downs, but now I have the tools, structure, and process to pull through. I feel like people we allow to get to know her, can see how sweet, affectionate, goofy she really is. Thank you Viki & DisciplinedK9! read more

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I have recommended Disciplined K9 to all my friends and family who are looking for dog trainer. We sent our anxious golden retriever to Viki, and her and her team taught her how to be in a more calm state of mind. We learned a lot from Viki, it's not about just training the dog but it's also about training the owner as well. One might think that it's a lot of money to send your dog away for 6 weeks, but we feel like it's worth every penny. You are investing in you and your dog's future. And you have to be willing to put in the time to maintain the skills learned, practice makes perfect. read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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Thank you Viki for training Enoki and giving her the structure she needs in her life! Our Aussie shepherd, enoki, came in with a lot of separation anxiety and Viki was able to teach us how to give her structure. We brought enoki in when she was just 6 months old. She is 3 years old now and doing better than ever. read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

If you have a samoyed or any other spritz breed you probably have your work cut out for you. I am a first time samoyed owner and though my pup is a good dog overall she had all the typically samoyed issues; barking, leash reactivity, excitement pee and anxiety. I had put my puppy into a board and train before Viki and it was not successful. Then....we found Viki through my pup's brother's owner's recommendation. During our consultation Viki addressed every issue/challenges I wanted to work on and really wanted to learn about my puppy and her characteristics. Viki is very knowledgeable and caring but firm and direct. We set real achievable goals and expectations together, Viki recommended a 4.5 week board and train....but I also wanted to make sure my pup was able to be groomed without reacting which led me to book a 5 week board and train. Viki is a life saver....Viki really concentrated on confidence building which I had no idea that this was something I had to do. Unenjoyable walks was an understatement, I dreaded taking my pup out of the house because of her leash reactivity (pulling), anxiety and excitement. It was stressful on me and my pup. I really felt hopeless at times. After training, we love going our walks together and I can now take her out to other places like malls and parks without having it be a nightmare. I didn't like having people come over because it was crazy with her excitement peeing but Viki gave me the tools to handle these types of situations with proper calm greetings. I really do see a difference from before and after training. My pup is far from being perfect and she still has moments where old habits may appear, it is much more rare. I keep up with the training and we even go back to the basic commands like sit, stay and come. One thing to keep in mind, you can't expect to send your dog to training and think everything will be magically corrected/fixed. You need to keep up with training and reinforce good behavior if you don't it's only natural your dog will regress and go back to bad habits. If you keep this in mind and have realistics goals, you will find success. Viki really educated me and how I can be a good handler so that we were set up for success. Whenever I need to be out of town I board my pup with Viki, I do not trust doggy hotels anymore and prefer Viki over family as she provides the structure and to me it's like a mini reinforcement session. I can honestly say for me this was money well spent. I highly recommend working with Viki, she will equip you and your dog with the tools to be successful even after the training. Very happy with our results. Thank you Viki! read more

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Ellie completed one on one private training with Viki. This was helpful, as we were working on Ellie resource guarding her people, anxiety, and reactivity. Viki taught me how to properly communicate with Ellie, and Ellie learned so much faster once I was able to do that. Viki also taught me how to better advocate for Ellie and set her up for success. Even though Ellie's temperament is shy and reserved, we truly feel like we have the tools to keep her and others safe, and how to successfully get her through uncomfortable situations. Viki also taught us a lot about what we were doing that was contributing to Ellie's anxiety, so training with her helped us give Ellie the structure and discipline she needed to live a happier and less stressful life. All of this took hard work and effort on our part, but we all feel so much more confident and our communication with Ellie is much better. read more

Disciplined K9 - Ellie on place and relaxing with cats - Pet Training Near Me

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Viki's board and train program is 100% worth it- not only did our pup learn a lot, but we learned a lot as dog owners as well. My husband and I had raised 3 Pitbulls prior to adopting our Covid rescue, Jax. All three were friendly, got along with all dogs and humans, and required very little training. When we adopted Jax at the beginning of the pandemic, we noticed immediately that he was different. He was fearful, and responded to his fear with aggression. There was a lot of barking, lunging, growling, and snapping. It was difficult to walk him, let alone have people over. We had tried a local 2 week training program, and some other training tactics, and nothing was working. After following Viki on IG for a while and watching her success videos, we did a consultation then signed up right away. Jax was boarded for 6 weeks, and we were really comfortable with it because we were able to text for updates, and see stories and progress on IG. Once we did our training session and picked Jax up, we worked on training a lot more at home. This is something I can't stress enough- the work DOES NOT end once you pick up your pup, it takes constant daily training and attention at home to maintain all the good habits. After the board and train program, we were able to actually take Jax on walks in the neighborhood without being terrified he would try to lunge at someone, or embarrassed by his pulling and barking. He learned how to maintain a state of calm, ignore distractions, bark a lot less, and overall just live a less fearful life. We're actually able to have people over now and Jax can either stay in his place, or hang out in his kennel (prior he would have barked nonstop for the entire time they were here). As owners, we also learned a lot. We learned that not all dogs would be like our first ones, and some would require special attention and a different lifestyle and we're very thankful to Viki that we were able to learn how to give Jax the type of life that would make him happy and successful. So, to wrap it up- I highly recommend this program, and if you do go for it, make sure to follow the rules and guidance Viki gives, and make sure to put in the work on your end too. Thank you, Viki!! read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

We have been working with Viki for the last 4 months (training program and boarding) and I can't say enough about how her guidance has changed our lives. We have been to doggy daycares, puppy group classes, and other training programs but nothing solved my Malinois' separation anxiety, leash reactivity, resource guarding, car anxiety, bad manners at home. I thought it was something he would "grow out of" with age but it only became a bigger problem. Viki crafted a customized plan to ensure we touched upon all of his issues. We worked through several real life situations in a safe manner so that we could practice successfully after each lesson. The main takeaway is that it takes 100% dedication from the human to work on these issues everyday, being an advocate for your dog and showing your dog that you're the leader. Everyday is a work in progress for us, but we have a new confidence when we go out for walks, car rides and adventures now. I highly recommend going with Disciplined K9 for all your dog training/boarding needs! She works with all kinds of dogs with a variety of backgrounds. Check out her Instagram to see more of her client success stories :) @disciplinedk9 read more

Disciplined K9 - Completing private obedience training program - Pet Training Near Me

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Our Allie came to Viki with all kinds of issues. Leash reactivity, counter surfing, separation anxiety, pulling, etc. I am so grateful to have found her because she has really changed our lives. Allie is now a wonderfully behaved and obedient dog. Viki has given Allie the freedom to go on off leash hikes sniffing everything in sight (her absolute favorite thing). We take her everywhere and often get complements about her calmness and good behavior. Whoa, I never ever thought that would happen! I'm not going to lie, it does take a lot of effort and practice, but it's all so worth it to see Allie living her best life! We owe that all to Allie's training. Viki has a true passion for what she does, and it shows. As a plus, Allie gets to stay with her favorite trainer when we go on vacation. Viki is the best! read more

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BEST EXPERIENCE AS FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS We were first time dog owners and were looking to get training not just for our dog, Asher, but for ourselves. Asher didn't have too many obvious habits that needed correcting, just basic obedience training mostly. Asher is a rescued pitbull who was a bait dog and had been found in the central valley with a shotgun wound. While he loves people and dogs (despite his sad upbringing) we wanted to make sure we were responsible dog owners. I had learned of Disciplined K9 through Instagram and had followed her training posts for a good amount of time so I had a good idea of her training style. I saw she worked with dogs of different levels who had different personalities and struggles (anxiety, reactivity, etc). I reached out for a consult, completed the application, and scheduled a consultation meeting soon after. The consultation meeting was 1.5 hours of thorough information. Viki wanted to know what we could expect of her and what she expected of us before committing to training. Viki went over our application and identified goals to focus on in our training sessions. She even helped identify areas of training that we hadn't thought about that could be issues in the future. It was determined we would at least need one of the packages of training sessions (I believe it was 8). Depending on how those sessions went would determine if we needed more. It was a very professional meeting and we were impressed! We proceeded to schedule our first training session where we went over basic leash work. We learned quickly that it was us who needed the help to learn to be pack leaders and Asher just needed the playbook. We had homework between sessions. If you are not prepared to do homework and continue training at home, then you are not ready/serious about training. There is a board and train option that you could inquire about. Viki gave us the tools, knowledge, and support to make implementing boundaries and training at home possible. Viki showed us the positivity of a structured lifestyle. It's easy to want to give your rescue dog more leniency and possibly even "feel bad" about following a more structured lifestyle just because they had a traumatic past. She reminded us that dogs don't stay in the past. If we constantly feel bad for their past, it creates anxiety in our dog and stops the ability for them to grow and thrive. Asher was a great boy and graduated after 8 sessions. As dog owners, we feel more prepared, aware and capable of being good pack leaders. We know if we ever need help, Viki would be there. We highly recommend Disciplined K9 if you and your dog need training. If I could give her 10 stars I would!! read more

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I enjoyed training with Viki for the past 9+ months for my K9 named Rosa. I've learned a lot but most importantly have a different view regarding k9 behavior and how to read my dog better than when I started my one-on-one training sessions. I think as a dog owner, it's really up to you to produce good results at home. You have to be consistent and know how to use all the tools provided in training. I highly recommend this trainer if you are trying to control a reactive dog that barks are everything that moves. read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

Working with Viki is awesome! She takes the time to fully understand what your dog needs and helps you apply realistic training goals to everyday life. Our dog would not be where he is today without her training program. We worked on recall, having a neutral mindset when passing dogs on walks, and reactivity when strangers come to the door. After applying structure and boundaries with our dog, we've seen him go from anxious and fearful, to confident, trusting and less reactive. She is also the only person we trust with our dog when we go away on vacation. We recommend Viki to all our friends and family! read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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It's taken me forever to write this because I don't know where to start! I recognize that this is long but if you're researching trainers, I'm hoping this helps you the way I was looking for reviews in all my searching for the right person. Also, I never write Yelp reviews but I feel compelled to let everyone know of my experience and wouldn't do this if it wasn't all true. I rescued my pup, Millie, and didn't expect the reactivity she began to express on a regular basis. I met with a few trainers and she would go to doggie daycare multiple times a week with not much reporting back about her behavior. But the reactivity started getting worse over time and she started reacting to people walking by, so I knew something needed to be done. I watched online videos, read numerous pieces from a variety of reputable sources but didn't have the time or environment to be able to try and do it on my own. Millie is the absolute sweetest and silliest goofball but her reactivity on walks got to a point where it was so stressful just to take her out to the bathroom (we live in a condo). I finally gave in to the idea that I needed direct help and was recommended to check out Disciplined K9 on IG. I reached out to them and once I met with Viki for the initial consultation, I was sold. First and foremost, Viki taught me how to adjust my expectations of Millie given her traumatic past - this unlocked so much of my ability to be able to provide the structure and discipline that Millie needs to be confident, calm, and, ultimately, happy. I immediately put my deposit down for a spot in the next board & train without hesitation, and couldn't stop raving about Viki to all my family and friends - and it hadn't even started yet! She was the perfect balance of informative and supportive, and honest and firm. I told her I knew I was largely responsible for the behavior and she was clear it would require a lifestyle change for me but she held me accountable even when we were just talking about the behavioral issues. Millie went to the board & train and when I picked her up, she was like a different dog! She can be pretty stubborn (Boxer), so I couldn't believe how responsive she was to every command. As part of our go-home session, we had to walk by a house with 2 reactive dogs and when Viki coached me through how to navigate it, I was completely impressed that Millie didn't utter even the smallest sound of a bark back. Working with Viki has been life-changing for Millie and me. Every day is a work in progress but we're 2 months out from the board & train and walks are no longer stressful. We continue to work on all of the things Viki put in place and even if there are glimpses of Millie's reactivity, I have the necessary tools and notes from Viki right at my fingertips. Family and friends are all impressed by the difference in Millie's behavior and knowing the investment I've made (both time and money), they are all on board with being accountable to the rules of the road Viki provided. Millie is still her silly self, which I love, but now understands boundaries a bit more and continues to work on her manners while I work on my confidence as her leader. I cannot recommend Disciplined K9 enough and I am so grateful for Viki's support throughout the entire process. I should also mention that Shirley was also very responsive, helpful, and patient as I was preparing to let my girl go for 5 weeks! All in all, if you're still reading this, you're probably trying to find the right trainer for you. If I could impart anything else on you, it would be to not wait any longer. It took me a few months from first reaching out to Disciplined K9 to then scheduling the consultation and the only regret I have is not doing it sooner. Thank you so much, Disciplined K9 team, and especially Viki who Millie is absolutely obsessed with. read more

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Vicki is amazing! She does a great job working with my nervous reactive dog, and it's wonderful seeing him calmer and more confident. I have total peace of mind boarding him with her when I'm traveling, and I know he'll always have a great time! read more

Disciplined K9 - Dog - Pet Training Near Me

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This review is long overdue! Working with Disciplined K9 has been truly life changing. Our dog Bruno is a high energy dog who struggled with reactivity to practically everything (other dogs, birds, cars, mailmen, etc.) It got to a point where it was stressful to walk him in public spaces. We are so glad we found DisciplinedK9. We met with her for a consultation first before sending him to her home for a 5 week board and train in May of 2023. During this period, she laid a basic foundation of skills and focused on areas that he needed improvement in like reactivity, recall, separation anxiety, and impulse control. We loved that she trained with him both in her home and public places like the park and dog friendly stores. We also appreciated that she kept us updated with pictures and videos throughout the 5 weeks and was very patient in answering any questions we had. So much of dog training is training the owners as well - Viki made sure to give us constructive feedback during our go-home and follow up session where we practiced handling and walking him with the prong and e-collar. She made it clear from the beginning that while her methods are effective, it is only long lasting if the training is continued at home too. Adding structure and boundaries to our daily routine took some adjusting but has improved our quality of life tenfold. Viki gave us all the tools we needed to identify Bruno's triggers and how to work with him in different scenarios. Today, we can walk Bruno past birds and other dogs with no problem thanks to the skills she taught us. She continues to be a great resource for us even almost a year after his training. We love how passionate Viki is about both dog training and their wellbeing/safety. If you have a dog that struggles with barking, lunging, or other behavioral issues, look no further and train with Disciplined K9! read more

Disciplined K9 - Bruno on graduation day! - Pet Training Near Me

We have a fearful dog. The thought of using training tools like the prong and ecollar on him seems counterintuitive, but board and train with Viki was seriously the best decision we ever made. Before B&T, he was extremely difficult to engage and train outside due to him being so scared of people and loud, sudden noises. Overall, he's a sweet and good dog and looks "well mannered" but we knew he wasn't always with us mentally during walks back then. We went with Viki because she knows how to train a dog's mindset. Now, we've been able to take him out more often and engage with him a lot more. Neighborhood walks are no longer stressful for us. It's been really fun training him. We never thought he would get to this stage, and she's shown us that he can. Viki is always willing to help and answer questions. She genuinely cares about the success of the dog and the owners. We love her honesty and transparency. She gives us realistic expectations and really looks at the dog in front of her. read more

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Viki is an amazing trainer! She has helped train my crazy, anxious pup! She is one of the best trainers in the bay area! I can always count on her to take care of my dog when I am out of town. I always have a piece of mind knowing that he is in good hands. My dog loves her!! read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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Vicki is awesome. We have 2 small dogs, well, one small dog and one minuscule nugget who has no clue he is so tiny. She helped us with our older dog Leo and his anxiety and helped Alfred with just about everything. I swear the 'place' command has changed our lives! If you need help learning how to be a better dog owner (because it's all down to us humans most of the time ) call her! You won't be sorry, she is so dedicated and the hardest working dog trainer you'll ever meet! read more

Disciplined K9 - Alfred and Leo - Pet Training Near Me

Thank you so much to disciplined K9 training. I have a pit bull that tends to pull during walking and since his training he has learned to stop pulling with just two training sessions. The trainer is an amazing talented trainer and a good person. She cares about your progress and still checks in with me and provides simple training methods when needed. I was very happy to hear that the trainer was able to train my pit bull dog and does not have breed restrictions. Im happy with the training my dog receives and continues to receive. read more

Disciplined K9 - Training and my dog - Pet Training Near Me

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I'm so glad I came across Vikki when I did. Our old English bulldog had bad leash pulling and seperassion aniexty when we left him at home alone. Now he is good with walking on his leash and great when left at home alone. Vikki is great with for advise aswell and overall a lovely person. We also use Vikki to board Tank for weekends away where we can't bring him. Vikki always updates me on tanks day to day routine when he boards and send pictures throughout the day. It not only helps reassures us that we know he is in good hands we also know he is getting good guidance and training with a professional aswell. We continue to use Vikki over one year later and I would highly recommend her to my friends and anyone on Yelp who is looking for a trainer read more

Disciplined K9 - Pet Training Near Me

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Viki is a lifesaver! My 9 month old husky had so many issues like resource guarding, biting, leash reactivity, and was super aggressive, any problem you could think of he had it. I was so tired of him misbehaving and biting us and was thinking about giving him up until a family friend recommended Disciplined K9 and I decided to send my puppy to her board and train program for 6 weeks where she taught him basic obedience and manners. At first I was doubtful and didn't believe anyone could fix my demon dog but to my surprise he came home a whole new dog in just 6 weeks!. He was so well behaved when he came home I couldn't believe it, he was calm, didn't guard his food and toys, and behaved very well on our walks. Viki changed my dog for the better and I couldn't be more thankful. read more

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