Akina K9

We came to Rich with Akina K9 at the beginning of this year with a 2 year old Cane Corso. Deebo is an oversized powerful dog, so having confidence and control when we’re out with him has always been extremely important to us. We had done some prior training but Deebo complied much better with his trainer than with us. Our walks meant dealing with pulling, guests coming over meant managing his excitement and jumping, and highly distracting environments could make it difficult to keep his attention and be able to recall him. Today, he feels like a completely different dog. He is dialed in! We have full control of him with just a slip lead, proper e-collar training, commands are followed consistently, and the excited jumping on guests is GONE. Even more impressive is his ability to remain attentive and responsive to us when there are high-level distractions around him. I’ll admit, when we were first given the pre-training homework, it seemed daunting. There was a level of structure, discipline, and consistency required from us as owners that initially felt like starting over to puppy stages. But we quickly realized that there was a reason behind every expectation. We did private 1:1 sessions as well as Board & Train while we were on vacation. As we stayed consistent and disciplined with the homework and began seeing the changes in Deebo, everything started to make sense. We understood that successful dog training isn’t just about teaching the dog—it’s also about teaching us, the owners, how to communicate clearly, establish expectations, and follow through consistently. Once we committed to the process, we started seeing those small changes turn into huge ones. What we appreciate most is that the training hasn’t changed Deebo’s personality—it has simply helped bring out the very best version of him. He’s still our sensitive, energy filled, loving Deebo, but now he is calmer, more confident, attentive, obedient, and able to enjoy so many more experiences with us. There’s something incredibly rewarding about being able to walk into a highly distracting environment with a 145-pound Cane Corso and know that his attention is still on us. That level of trust, communication, and control is something we didn’t have consistently, and it’s probably one of the greatest results of this entire journey. Seeing the dog Deebo has become is proof that the process works when you trust it and stay committed to it. We’re incredibly grateful for the time, patience, knowledge, accountability, and guidance from the team at Akina K9 that has gone into Deebo’s training. If you want to gain a better understanding of your dog, better communication, and ultimately a stronger relationship, Akina K9 / Apex is your go to!

We have used Akina K9 and Apex K9 (formerly Happy Pet Tails) for our dog’s training. We’ve been taking private lessons with Rich, and we also utilized the 45‑day board‑and‑train program to address our dog’s reactivity. Rich has been incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and supportive in teaching us how to manage our reactive terrier mix. About a year ago, we adopted a shelter dog who, after her decompression period, began showing reactivity toward men and other dogs. As first‑time dog owners, we had no idea how to help her unlearn these behaviors. Rich helped us build a solid foundation and guided us through slowly and safely exposing her to men and other dogs so we could feel more relaxed on walks and truly get to know our dog. Private lessons are easy to schedule, and Rich is available by text between sessions for questions. We’ve learned so much and have seen significant progress in our pup. Board‑and‑train was also easy to set up. We paid in cash for a small discount and scheduled our drop‑off and pick‑up dates. We chose to do the program during the winter holidays since we were traveling anyway and would have needed boarding regardless. After 45 days, our dog could sit, come, down, heel, and was showing noticeably less reactivity overall. Because we had already worked with Rich, transferring the skills from board‑and‑train to home life was much smoother as we were already familiar with his training style. I highly recommend attending some private lessons before board‑and‑train if possible, so you’re prepared to maintain the skills your dog learns. Dog training is a lot like learning a new language in that if you don’t use it, you lose it. Be ready to hand‑feed and train during meals to keep those skills fresh.

I cannot say enough good things about Rich. He is INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about dogs in general. We brought in our senior dog, and Rich created a custom training plan for our dog's age, abilities, and needs. We needed to focus on muzzle training, tolerance, and the basics too after our dog bit our vet! After working with Rich, our dog will happily walk into a muzzle and it's not scary or annoying for him to do. In busy settings, our dog can still focus on us. Now, when we go to the vet, our dog can get his care while keeping the staff and our dog safe. Our dog had fun and was engaged during training sessions both at the Akina K9 headquarters and also when we did our training at home with our dog. Rich was extremely patient with us and our dog. He paced sessions well so our dog could take breaks as needed. Our dog also liked going in for training sessions with Rich. He would eagerly get out of the car to go inside and meet up with Rich. Rich answered our many questions and also reviewed videos with us to help us understand how to improve. We did a 12 session series with Rich, and we have been able to continue expanding on the techniques he taught us to teach our dog more things. We are so incredibly appreciative to Akina K9 for making our vet visits much easier for everyone involved and giving us a fun way to bond with our dog through training! If you follow the directions rich provides, you will get results. Highly highly highly recommend Akina K9! We would give 10 stars if we could!

We’ve been with Akina K9 for over a year now and wanted to take the time to thoughtfully share our experience with Rich and his team. Before meeting Akina K9, I thought I understood what it meant to be a dog owner. I loved my dogs deeply, but when it came to training, my knowledge was limited to the basics: sit, down, go home, and come. There wasn’t much structure or true obedience. Looking back at our two dogs of 10 years, I now realize I could have given them an even better quality of life—if only I had understood what real training meant. Fast forward five years, we decided to bring a larger breed into our family. This time, we agreed that proper training would not only make our lives easier but also give our dog the best life possible. Throughout our journey, Rich has been incredibly supportive—always available whenever we needed guidance. He’s patient, understanding, and knows exactly when to step in and help redirect us when we’re struggling. Now, more than a year later, we’re still training with Akina K9—and plan to continue. The transformation in our household has been amazing. Our dog is thriving, confident, and his recall improves every single day. We can’t thank Rich and Akina K9 enough for the positive impact they’ve made in our lives. If you’re looking for real, lasting results and a stronger bond with your dog, this is the team you want by your side.