We had a wonderful experience at Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center. Tanner made so much progress over the six weeks of training, and we are so grateful for the support and guidance we received. Kate was an invaluable asset throughout the program. She gave clear examples, helped us understand the challenges that came up, and always approached training with such positivity and patience. She made it easy to ease into the process by providing supplemental reading and exercises that gave us the fundamental tools we needed to keep building Tanner's training at home. Every class was truly a joy. I loved watching the other dogs and owners succeed, and it was so encouraging to see major progress from each dog and their family. Tanner will absolutely be continuing his training with Kate. Karin was also such a pleasure to have in class, and we loved the adorable photos she took of all the pups. Everyone we met at Kindred Spirits was kind, understanding, and patient. Their ability to problem-solve, adjust, and customize each dog's training based on where they were at was incredible. We cannot recommend Kindred Spirits enough! read more

We had a great experience with the Basic Training for our puppy. Kate does an amazing job as an instructor. She explains the how and why behind dog training so that you understand why your dog might be having trouble with specific behaviors. In these classes, you are taught how to train your dogs which seems to be pretty effective when your bring them home. Looking forward to taking another class to hone in our puppy's skills! read more

I had not taken a dog to training before this, and now I will never have a dog without taking him to this team! We learned so much on better understanding our pup while seeing him become more confident and calm! They really also try to make as many aspects of the training fun for both you and your dog. Kate and Karin really care and it shows. read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Marbles the dog in training! - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

Kate and her team are amazing. You can not go wrong with the invaluable skilled gained at such an affordable price point! Everyone needs to bring their fur babies here. read more

Great! Hailee started with Puppy Class and she is now 8 months old. We have taken 4 courses and plan to continue. There is so much to learn and Hailee is very enthusiastic about it all. I don't think we will be the class superstar, but Kate keeps us encouraged. We are progressing. I would have gotten us this far on my own. Having a 58 pound adolescent pup is a lot, a lot of work and fun! read more

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I had a phone appointment with Kate. I have an older dog with separation anxiety. Kate spent a lot of time with me today. I stated, in length, the whole story of my sweet dog's anxiety. Kate gave me fabulous,practical and easy to follow advice. I was able to express several of my concerns. Kate replied in a kind and respectful as well as patient manner . She gave me excellent feedback,insight and encouragement on how to help my anxious pet. I will be able to easily assist my dog with positive reinforcement and easy to deal with ideas ! I am so very grateful for Kate's kindness! read more

Our puppy class was a fun experience with lots of socializing with other puppies. Previous puppy training at box pet store was a joke. We will continue to Basic class next month. I highly recommend this training group. read more

We love Kindred Spirits. Kate is very positive and has a great approach. Our high energy dog stays happy with some of the games and exercises we learned in class. read more

I have had dogs in my life for sixty years and thought I pretty much knew what I was doing. When we brought Wheezer into our home some 12 years ago we decided to "try" Kindred Spirits for dog training. What she (and especially the Royal we) learned those many years ago has stayed with the both of us. I would NEVER bring a dog into our lives again without "dog college." We feel blessed to have discovered Kate and Kindred Spirits...... read more

I am so grateful I brought Dave to train at Kindred Spirits. I adopted Dave from the Oceanside Humane Society and needed training help and more than anything, advice and the confidence to train him further. I loved that the facility is outside and that there are multiple dogs in the group which helped Dave get used to being around other dogs and learn. The trainers, Liz, Kate and Petra were so knowledgeable, understanding and abundantly kind that I find myself missing going to training class on Tuesday nights! #soworthit read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

For the past several weeks, my friend and I brought our pups to Kindred Spirits for Basic Obedient Training, as recommended by our other friend. Out of my past GSDs and retrievers, our husky/malamute is a good boy, but stubborn and goofy. Since Gunner needs firm training with positive reinforcement, this place seemed to be a good fit and it was! Each week, you are with a group of other dog parent's and their pups (our group had about 15 dogs each class) and dogs ranged from small to x-large. Dogs cannot interact with one another and by the 3rd class, the dogs are calmer and not wanting to play or bark at one another. We learned, sit, stay, wait, come with a shaker, listening with distractions, etc. The best part? The agility course they have you do, twice. Gunner did so well and loved it. It's a great way to bond with your dog and have fun. The team of 4 ladies are funny, know what they're doing, and spend time watching you with your dog and giving remarks as to what works &/or how to improve. They are friendly, but are firm as needed, especially when dogs are acting inappropriately or the owners are too relaxed and letting their dog get away with bad behaviors (IE: barking). The dog's owner is what makes or breaks the class, as you need to actively participate in class AND at home. If you don't, you would just be wasting your money. They even send you detailed emails should you need to go back and see more examples, so no excuses to not do well! Parking is a no biggie and cost is very reasonable. Just brush your long haired dog after class to get the grass/hay and stickers out, as they host training on their property/field. Overall, I would be back again and hopefully plan to register Gunner in Intermediate and/or tricks training. read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Gunner graduated basic training with his buddy! What good boys :) - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

My husband and I brought our pup for the AKC Puppy Training when he was approximately 10 weeks old. The funny thing for us is two of his litter mates turned up for the same training which was completely unplanned, but a really cool way to experience a group of Aussie pups being taught together and feeling out different dispositions. In our trainings, we primarily worked with trainors Liz, Kate and Connie. They each have their own personal style and balance each other out. The reason we chose Kindred Spirits as our first choice training facility is several of the traino have a great deal of experience with Austrailian Shepherds and since this is the breed of our pet - we would gain some solid experience and knowledge on best techniques and practices for working with an Aussie. Liz is tough and strict and very knowledgeable - she has written many books on dogs and training. Kate has a wonderful way of explaining things and getting her points across. Connie was more hands on with our testing and how to handle our dog in more difficult situations. We loved the weekly group talks and demonstrations and even the mini award ceremonies for the graduating pups that were transitioning out of training each week. Lots of laughs with other pet owners, etc. Also, there was a weekly drop in puppy playtime in the afternoon that was fun to join - where the pups could just show up and be themselves with less discipline than in training. This was conducted on a donation basis - generally a $5 or $10 recommendation. PS We always had a good laugh when Liz shouted out to her dog "HOWARD!" read more

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Took my chocolate Labrador puppy for their puppy class and puppy play and it was an awesome experience! Really knowledgeable trainers and they make it easy and fun to train your dog. read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Last puppy training class - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

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Amazing trainers! This is the second dog I brought for their basic obedience class; learned a lot and so did my dog Max. Would highly recommend read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Max after 6 weeks of basic training; Graduation Day - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

Great experience! I brought my dachshund puppy for the six week puppy class. I'm so glad I decided to do the puppy classes first. It is also an AKC Puppy S.T.A.R. program. We accomplished a very good foundation that sets us up for success in future obedience classes. It was a relaxed atmosphere. Nothing too stressful for all the puppies. Many helpful tips for dealing with common puppy problems. My dachshund puppy was exposed to many large breed puppies in a safe environment and it really helped socialize him around other dogs and people. He now has basic obedience skills that are making him a happy and good puppy around the house and in public. The puppy obedience course ends with the AKC Puppy S.T.A.R. test which was really fun! Your puppy does not have to be AKC registered...and the classes and test are well thought out and it was so much fun to see all the puppies graduate and take pride in their accomplishments. I highly recommend Kindred Spirits and we'll be back for more training! read more

I signed up my 9 month old pug for the beginner training and it was fantastic. It's definitely more for the human than the dog. There were up to 4 trainers with sooo many years experience you can totally tell right off the bat. They help you understand the mind of the dog. Soak it all in and take it home and put it into practice. It begins with the human and the dog will follow along with persistence and consistency. Anyways that's what i got out of it. My dog isn't the best behaved, but that says more about ME than the dog we're both a work in progress. They Warehouse is in a residential area, behind the train tracks and has a nice outdoor area and a nice inside, each human gets a couple chairs and the dogs get a cot. There's water and potty area. Just a really nice class with great instructors. We went to PetSMart first for their obedience class and that was a joke. Don't wast your money at the big box stores. These ladies at Kindred know what's up and take the time to help you trouble shoot with your pup when you're struggling. I cant thank them enough. Me and Chubbs will be back! read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

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The team at Kindred Spirts is comprised of true dog whispers. My husband and I have been taking our new rescue pup to their basics course for the last few weeks and are so happy to see the growth in his confidence and obedience. Our Aussie Lab mix is full of energy, sweet as can be at home, but nervous in crowds and has deep abandonment issues. Each week the KS team has given him the special attention he has needed. They have worked with us to find the right collar for him, have given great suggestions on healthy ways to get his abundant energy out, and have answered every question we've had as new dog owners. No matter how full the class is, you feel like you are getting a customized class with 1:1 attention. I HIGHLY recommend Kindred Spirits to all dog owners!! At $125 for the 7 week class, it's an affordable opportunity for you and your fur baby to grow and bond together! read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Perfecting the "Stay" so momma can snap a picture any time - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

I'm one of the many people that got a Covid puppy. Pippin arrived in August 2020 and by that fall he was in his first puppy class at Kindred Spirits. Over this last year he's been in 4 more classes ranging from intermediate obedience to tricks. Last week, he passed his therapy dog training, just a little over a year from his first class! The trainers at Kindred Spirits are fabulous. As their name implies, they take a very caring, positive approach to training. The variety of classes has been a lot of fun. The trainers also offer a lot of personalized advice that has been extremely helpful. Pippin was always a sweet puppy but now he is a confident dog ready to go greet the world! read more

I took my Border Collie puppy here for their puppy training class. I did quite a bit of research before selecting a puppy class, from the advice of our breeder I knew I wanted to find a place that did balanced training because Border Collies tend to respond best to that. Most puppy classes in the San Diego area are 100% positive, so it was difficult even finding a class like that. When I found Kindred Spirits, especially with all the articles and information on their website, I finally found what I'd been looking for and I decided to take the drive from Carmel Valley to bring Henry there. All the trainers at Kindred Spirits are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, and I always learned something new coming to class. It was also really cool that a lot of the trainers had herding dogs like mine, they even would bring their dogs out to meet my Henry since they looked so alike! They're definitely strict and if they see a dog (or an owner) not doing what they're supposed to, they aren't afraid to call it out, but they really care about the dogs and doing what's best for them. I really like that the puppy class also has a weekly "puppy play", it's basically like a supervised dog park so puppies can learn to play well with each other. It is also great to support a business owned and operated entirely by women. I definitely recommend Kindred Spirits, especially if you have a herding dog! read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Henry covered in mud and having the time of his life at puppy play. - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

Kate came out to my house today and did a personal training session. I have been having so many problems with my dogs in the way of anxiety with one and aggression with the other. Kate explained simple and practical training techniques to me so that I can now hopefully have control over their behavior and eventually, peace in our home. I look forward to our next session! 8-13-16. This is our second private training with Kate. I didn't follow thru and do my part in the home training and am feeling the consequences of my lack of follow thru. Of course, the original issues have progressed and I'm frustrated and need help again. This time we brought our pit bull, Luna, to the training camp for a private session. Luna has been aggressive with other dogs in our complex and I called Kate in desperation. I thought we may have to re-home her! Kate wanted to see her around other dogs in a safe and controlled environment to determine what was next and to honestly evaluate her behavior as trainable it not. The goal being to keep our baby and learn new ways to teach her the obedience necessary for our home environment. Our goal was accomplished and we left fully equipped with home instructions and the accountability to follow thru along with the hope that I thought was gone ! Kate is an amazing teacher! She is a great communicator and its obvious how much she cares for her students. The lessons were well received. I'm sure Luna learned a ton too! read more

Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center - Pet Training Near Me - Vista, California

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I have used Kindred Spirits to train three dogs over the years. The staff are knowledgable and know when to push a dog as well as when to ease back. Training the owner/handler is the biggest part of the training. Consistent work with your dog brings about the best results. The staff at Kindred Spirits are there to help with both aspects-- people and dog training. The younger you start with your dog, the better, but Kindred Spirits can help you train a dog of any age-- give them a try and take your human-dog relationship to the next level. :) read more

I have trained a number of dogs - Newfoundlands, Corgis, a Jack Russell and now a Golden Retriever with Kindred Spirits. Kate and the other gals are aways positive and upbeat, and know what they are doing. They are excellent, positive reinforcement trainers and wonderful with the dogs and their almost trainable owners! We just went through Puppy training with our Golden puppy, Nikki, and we will continue with the Basic Obedience class with her. So glad that they are in our community. Kerry Dennis read more

Liz Palika has written a lot of books and won a lot of awards, but her training style just isn't for me. She is from the yank-and-thank school of training; very Cesar Millan. If you have a difficult dog and you've tried everything else, she's certainly worth a shot, but I think her methods are completely wrong for most dogs. On the plus side, her helpers are all super sweet ladies and the training grounds also have an agility course and some ducks/geese so you can get your dog socialized to fowl. read more

Im going to make my review as unbiased and honest as possible. This is what I wouldve liked to have known before I took the class. (You can skip the wall of text and go straight to the bottom for bullet points) There are different styles of training and this one is a very strict, alpha dog, yank and thank kind of method. It is called aversive training with negative reinforcement (incase you want to look it up) It is very effective and gets results. However, that being said, its not for me. My dog was taken in the middle of class, by a trainer, and yanked on until he listened. Yes I had given her my permission to take him and yes he listened after she had lifted his feet off the ground about 6 times. However the "pride" she said he was feeling was fear. He was stressed during this class, it didnt help our relationship, and we didnt pass our final test. If anything our communication and performance dropped. We took a similar class at a different location with a different trainer and passed a CGC and community dog test with flying colors before and during the time of being enrolled in this class. The method of this training was reward-based (find a great example of the difference here http://4pawsu.com/trainingmethods.htm )) He took a little longer to get all his training down then with the other class, however in this class he was good because he wanted to be. It made him think about his actions and ultimately I feel like it made him smarter, more happy, and he would listen to everyone (not just the alpha dog who yanks on his leash when he doesnt listen as with the other class). It also had the same effect on me. I was also way less stressed, felt more accomplished and like we made way more progress in the long run. I gave it 3 stars because of 4 things 1. The activities/scenarios at this class were different and very useful. Every class was different and the drills were awesome 2. The trainer helpers were very nice and actually seemed to care about my dog and I passing. The head trainer Liz didnt seem to care and I felt marked off as if we wouldnt pass as soon as we stepped in the gate 3. This class was way too packed 4. It is aversive training methods with negative reinforcement and that isn't how Id like to train my dog. read more

I went to their first class with our new pup, and thought they might be able to help us with our problem dog who we had already done 2 rounds of training. We enrolled both our new pup, and our problem pup. They worked with us, helped us when we dealt with 2 females who were fighting for dominance, and we have found every class worth it. Having done other training they are cheaper than most, and have a better quality of training. One of the things I like best is they don't do the 1 size training fits all. They bring in and use a lot of methods. For example, we were having issues with heel, so we started doing the drop food per their recommendation. That lead to both heel and catch it. My problem pup heels with me for miles now. I never thought that would happen. Now we are looking at passing the good citizen K9 test for both. It's amazing the progress. read more

I am a huge fan of this training center. I am half way through puppy class and can't wait to move on to basic obedience!! Connie welcomed me and my pup with such warmth the first time we walked in. My pup was shy at first and I was worried a group class would never work. I was so wrong. Dawn and Mellissa pulled me aside with the other first timer and just let the puppies get comfy while they talked to us about what to expect from puppy training and some good tips to get us started. They were also super great about answering even our silliest questions. On our first time actually in the group class, I was delighted to see how well they handled all the different personalities of puppies and people. They took their time (even go over class time often) to answer concerns. My puppy has blossomed from this class and I LOVE ALL the trainers. I also just took their pet first aid class with Kate and Liz. I don't think that the people that wrote the bad comments about Liz actually took the time to get to know her. I spent 6 hours with Liz and Kate and Kate is a little more warm and fuzzy than Liz but Liz is funny and super smart and is a lot softer than she leads on. If you want to know ANYTHING about your dog, just ask them. As for the correct and reward or yank and thank.... Well, if you have a dog that is out of control lunging or barking, what do you suggest? Ask them politely? I am a huge believer in positive training and follow those guidelines but on occasion, I need to give my pup a gentle tug to remind him to not pull.... I don't see the harm and we enjoy our walks a lot more now. I plan on continuing all of my dogs training at this facility and I have already recommended it to many friends with pups and older dogs. I can't wait to co train with friends!!! I give Kindred spirits 5 stars because they care about my dog and want to see a long happy life for him and my family. Thank you Kindred Spirits!! read more

Kindred Spirits is simply the best!!! Liz and her whole team are extremely knowledgeable and so helpful... Going into their basic obedience course with my American Staffordshire Terrier, I wasn't sure what was going to come of it. "How will she do!?" "What if she fails?!" "What if she can't sit/stay/lie down?!" These are just a few of the questions that went on and on in my head. I was immediately put at ease. This class is mostly just FUN for both your dog AND you. It's like you're training yourself and your dog and you almost don't even know it, we had SUCH a blast! You will learn SO much and so will your pup! My dog walked away from this place every night with swagger and a huge smile on her face. At the end of the 7 weeks my sweet girl not only knew how to sit, lie down, stay, come, and more... but she was gaining confidence every day, and so was I! She didn't lose any of her bouncy, tail wagging sweetness that made her so special, but instead she learned how to control it better. When I thought for sure she would never stop and just calm down (I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at one point because my dog wouldn't stop bouncing all over the place to just lie down for me) one of the trainers did a one on one and gave me some super helpful tips that worked like a charm. Kindred Spirits also gave us great advice on proper nutrition, which was so helpful! They're always willing to listen to you and answer any questions. They stayed past class to answer them all. The trainers have their dogs there too and I'm sorry but honestly the proof is just in the pudding... their dogs are so well behaved and happy, and you know kindred spirits staff trained them, so how can you not think this place is just amazing? Anyway, I'm all over the board here... basically, Kindred Spirits is extremely affordable and what they offer you is just so above and beyond... There is no better place out there. We will be coming back for all of our training needs!! read more

I've taken both of my Goldendoodle pups through Kindred Spirits and can't praise them enough :) The entire team of trainers are very knowledgeable and ready to help. My eldest pup, Macaroni attended the basic obedience, therapy training and Canine Good Citizen classes, passing them all. We just finished the basic obedience class with our newest pup, Barkley and will return for several future classes, including trick training and therapy. I've found the Kindred Spirits training method to be the best approach yet. They don't jump to the most severe actions but instead start with minimal amount of correction that may work for your pup. Some dogs will need a little more "training" then others. I never worried that my dogs wouldn't pass, not because they are such great students.. lol but because the trainers here will really give you specific attention to your "problem areas" and are open to question after question. They will even pull your dog aside during the class to work with them one on one if needed. In reality, since they don't follow you home (although they do offer private training) they are training YOU on how to train your dog. Some people may not like that they actually need to practice techniques on their own in order for their dog to succeed. Kindred Spirits gives you the tools and knowledge but you will need to PRACTICE! Lastly, they offer drop in classes that are only $5 after you have taken one of their other classes. This is great to hone up on skills, learn new skills, address problem areas and pick their brains... for only $5! Highly recommend Kindred Spirits. read more

The wife and I have taken both our Aussies here. They are very knowledgeable and helpful for new dog owners. Understand that these classes are for you more than they are for your dog. The classes are intended to give you the structure to teach your dog at home. If you don't follow through with anything you can't get upset at a lack of results. If you take your dog that you don't/won't work with outside the classes then you should expect they will look to correct your behavior, some people feel this is embarrassing. We feel it is more embarrassing being the person with dogs they can't control even with a leash. I recommend this place to everyone I talk to about dog stuff. read more

Liz is a great trainer. You will not find anyone with more experience and more dog knowledge than Liz. I took my own two dogs to Liz for puppy training and can say that she does a great job of training the people more than the pet. As a veterinarian in the area, I refer a lot of people to her and her staff. I have never got one complaint back. They also have special trainers that handle the really aggressive dogs if needed- even going to the client's homes for personal training if needed. If you want to do pet therapy with your pets, Liz also coordinates a local pet therapy program too. I recommend you go visit a class and see for yourself. read more

Kindred Spirits was a lifesaver for us and our puppy Mambo! We were recommended to them by two other people who had taken the courses before us and were so pleased with the teaching style, friendliness and care the staff has for the animals and their owners! Our puppy was considered a special needs dog because he was abandoned by his mother at 2 weeks old. We rescued him but he had issues with biting, potty training, separation anxiety, not being socialized, overly hyper, and was difficult to walk on a leash. After attending the 7 week puppy class, we noticed a dramatic and positive improvement (he even passed the STAR test)! They systematically helped us with each of our concerns and spent a lot of time helping us address his behavior issues. We took notes at each class and practiced what we learned over and over as we found consistency and repetition was key for our puppy's training and progress. At times it was trial and error as we had to figure out what was best for us and our puppy. As we learned in the class, everyone's situation and animal is different... We also participated in the puppy socialization hour (weekly) where Mambo got to play with other dogs and found it really helped him learn how to play with other dogs in a safe and monitored environment. We would wholeheartedly recommend Kindred Spirits to anyone looking to train their animals and look forward to our next class in September! read more

Love the team here. They are knowledgeable, reasonably priced, and really care about your dog and YOU as the owner/trainer. They spent extra time with us and answered all our questions. They're very patient but firm--they really have your dog's best interest at heart. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for some help in training their dogs. read more

I can't say enough about Fred and his group. The clinic for Rattlesnake avoidance is excellent. They are very professional and knowledgeable. We always appreciate the time and training. read more

I can't say enough about the fabulous team of trainers at Kindred Spirits. We enrolled our 3 1/2 month Goldendoodle in their puppy class and it was terrific. We all learned so much! Unfortunately we have recently moved out of the area and I think it's going to be hard to find the caliber of training, care and attention that Kindred Spirits offers. read more

Our daughter highly recommended them. We loved the whole experience and all the trainers . They made it fun, entertaining and educational . They were very caring , and helped us with specific things for our puppy. Highly recommend them ! read more

I chose this place because it was close to my house and reasonably priced. It turned out to be a very good experience. Being an old school train my own dog type of person I was reluctant. These classes made a big difference in the quality of life for my dog and family. Walks are much more enjoyable with a non-pulling dog. You could learn much of the same stuff on u tube but its not the same. There is much value in having your dog go to a place where there are a bunch of other dogs learning. Plus They will answer questions and personally help your dog. Plus they have dog mojo that you can get through osmosis. Also the place is cool, and the teachers entertaining. read more

I need to give a big hug to Kate. When hugs are allowed again. She restored my faith and hope in my obnoxious teenager "Harley". He is a Doberman-Lab Mix. We just completed our basic training course. The team at Kindred Spirits are amazing , knowledgeable and supportive. I was feeing so defeated at times but they were always on top of the situation. They hooked me up with the correct training collar which made a big difference. I highly recommend Kindred Spirits Dog Training they have helped me and Harley tremendously. read more

All of the trainers at Kindred Spirits are experienced, and extremely helpful to encourage you and your dog achieve success in training. Many classes are offered, for different objectives, starting with Basic Obedience, Advanced training , Trick class, Canine Good Citizen classes, and testing, K9 Nose work, Agility play, Therapy Dog class, and even Pet First Aid. , The combined knowledge of the trainers is quite impressive, and each one brings their own expertise to different classes. Liz Palika is an award winning author and has penned over 75 books, and has written many articles in magazines regarding dog care, training , nutrition, and more. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and you will learn more more about dogs than most places that only teach commands. I am really happy with my dogs progress from a blank slate, to a confident, happy, well socialized and trained dog. She is also a Certified Therapy Dog now. Thank you, to everyone of the trainers at Kindred Spirits. Susan S. read more

My 6-month-old Welsh Corgi and I just completed puppy class at Kindred Spirits. I was referred to them by a friend who has trained there for several years. Kate, Petra, Liz and the whole team were great. My corgi learned a lot. I learned a lot, too... and as we know, it's as much (or more!) about training the owner as it is the dog. All of the lessons were demonstrated and explained clearly at the beginning of each class. Then we practiced under the trainer's supervision in class. We also learned about pet nutrition, play ideas, and how to be a responsible and generally good pet owner. Highly recommend. read more

I have an adorable Aussie who is naturally dominant and loves to jump and bark at everyone. He went through 3 classes at the SD Humane Society and one with a private trainer in SD but they couldn't help me with his problems. At the SD Human Society, they would move us to one side of the room and ignored us most of the time because of my dog's barking. The trainers' skills were "hit or miss"--some were excellent, others were not good at all. The clicker, positive reinforcement method works for us most of the time--my dog learned to do a lot of tricks. But it was very hard for me to correct him. He also got very spoiled by the constant treats, especially the high-value treats, which often resulted in him refusing to eat his meals. I signed my dog up for a basic obedience class at Kindred Spirits recently, and boy, what a difference! He is finally listening to me, not barking at everyone, and can leash-walk without pulling me around. I disagree with the reviewer below who said that Liz' method is merely "pull and yank". If you have a dominant, hyper work dog like I do, then you need a good leadership program to establish your role early on. Thanks, Liz and the gang for your training! read more