Aspire K9 Academy

We found Aspire K9 Academy through an online search and it has been such a great experience for both my puppy and I. Gary focuses on the dog you have (they are all unique) and works on your specific goals for your puppy. It goes beyond a basic puppy class which tend to be a one size fits all approach and builds foundational skills. Gray is accessible and responsive outside of class time. He is invested in your dog’s progress and growth. We are looking forward to continuing training with Gary as our puppy grows.

We’ve had many dogs over the years and we’re mostly “do it yourselfer” dog trainers. Needless to say, our results weren’t so good. But when we recently got a new puppy that might end up being closer to a small horse than a dog, we knew we needed to get serious about training. We didn’t want to end up in some viral TikTok where our dog drags us down the street. After some research, we located Aspire K9 and took our puppy in for lesson one. Long story short… Gary is an amazing trainer. We can walk with our pup and she doesn’t leave our side. Never pulls the leash. She literally flies to us when we call her special name. She’s worked out some anxiety issues. While we still have work to do, she’s on a great path. We were so thrilled with the results we even took our other dog to Gary and she’s a different dog already! Gary is patient and generous with his time. He may introduce some wild concepts (like getting rid of the dog bowl for certain breeds), but he’s also realistic and if you aren’t going to do something, he’ll work around it. I couldn’t recommend a trainer more highly. You simply have to go and experience it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

The short story: The training is worth the drive & the cost. The long story: In October 2024, we attended a community festival where one of the local shelters had animals available for adoption. He’s a 2-year-old, 50 pound, Pitbull Staffordshire Mastiff mix. Our previous 2 dogs were half that size & didn’t strike fear into anyone. Having a larger dog, who is a Pit, was a totally different experience. Behaviors that aren’t a big deal for a small dog are devastating with a larger dog, let alone a Pit. I would cry when walking him because he pulled so hard. And I admit, I regretted getting him. He is a sweet, loving dog but his behaviors... I thought “what have I done?” I was able to get us into training at a chain pet supply company within 2 weeks of adoption. We had two 6-week sessions which did help but things were still not great. On Facebook, I remembered Aspire K-9 Academy highlighting the great results of training Kyoto, a rescue from my co-worker’s organization. I decided I couldn’t take it anymore & was desperate for help. It was the best decision I have ever made. I met with the owner, Gary Daydov, for our interview. I knew he wouldn’t sugar coat anything when he told me “Your walking is garbage.” I was like “Preach, brother!” His training aligned with our family’s. We didn’t believe in shock or pinch collars and he, likewise, avoids those noting there is a time and place but there has to be a long-term plan. He felt that 6 lessons would work well, so I immediately signed up. We met every 2 weeks, and in that time, Gary changed and improved our life 1000-fold. Gary really gave us an insight to the “dog’s mind.” He helped us understand what a dog needs & what makes him happy. He told us what kind of equipment to have & treats to use. With that said, as the pet owner you HAVE to put the time in; if only for a few minutes a day. And you'll be surprised how many opportunities there are to train just in your regular daily routine. All the work pays off. Everything Gary taught us made sense & worked. My husband and I would look at each other saying “he’s like a completely different dog. Look how happy he is!” In turn, the training has made us happy and has totally improved our relationship with our dog. Consider Aspire K-9. You won’t be disappointed. And you & your pet will be so happy.

This has been a great experience. My dog (Gus) and I have learned so much. Each lesson we go over what we have learned and new skills. I have been able to bring the whole family for lessons so we can all learn together. These lessons aren't just sit and stay but life skills to make Gus comfortable at home, at play and in the world. We will continue our journey with aspire K9 academy as Gus gets older to make sure he is happy, healthy and a good boy.