Big Sky K9

We enrolled our puppy in this company’s three-week board and train program to address one primary issue: leash reactivity toward other dogs. We made this very clear during the intake process and explicitly stated on the intake form that this was our top priority. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. When our dog returned home, he appeared noticeably thinner despite our providing detailed feeding instructions, and his demeanor was deeply concerning. His normally confident and spirited personality was gone. He cowered in corners, seemed fearful, and appeared completely shut down. We were also surprised to learn that our dog had been assigned to a newer trainer rather than the owner, who had personally conducted our intake interview. At no point were we informed that someone else would be handling his training. Most concerning, the behavioral issue we paid more than $4,000 to address was not improved. In fact, it became significantly worse over the months that followed. He became even more reactive toward other dogs and also developed a defensive attitude toward unfamiliar men—something he had not exhibited before the program. When we reached out for guidance after the training, the advice we received was essentially to use the e-collar to correct him whenever he barked. We are not opposed to e-collars when used appropriately and thoughtfully; we understood from the outset that one would likely be used as a training tool. However, using aversive corrections for fear-based leash reactivity can worsen the issue by causing a dog to associate the presence of other dogs with discomfort or punishment. Since then, we have consulted with other highly regarded trainers who have explained that positive reinforcement and careful desensitization are generally far more effective for this type of behavioral issue. We are now spending substantial additional money to undo the damage from this program and to address behavioral problems that are more severe than when we started. This program may be suitable for dogs with relatively straightforward training needs, but in our experience, it was not equipped to handle a more complex behavioral issue in a sensitive, intelligent breed. I take no pleasure in writing this review, but after investing over $4,000 and seeing our dog return fearful, underweight, and behaviorally worse, I feel obligated to share our experience so that other owners can make a more informed decision.

I can’t recommend Sam and his team highly enough. We adopted our dog, Zoey, as a two-year-old untrained and unsocialized heeler mix. She is incredibly smart, stubborn, and highly reactive to other dogs, bikes, and skateboarders. After being severely bitten and shaken by another dog, her fearfulness and aggression escalated, making leashed walks and desensitization extremely difficult—she would go from zero to 100 in an instant when seeing her triggers, even at a distance. We enrolled Zoey in Sam’s four-week board-and-train program, and she came back to us a different dog. She’s still stubborn, of course, but she now has a solid foundation we can build on. Sam gave both Zoey and us the confidence and guidance we needed, and leashed walks are enjoyable again. Her heel and recall are excellent, and while desensitization will be a lifelong process, she can now calmly walk across the street from another dog—something I never thought possible after her attack. Zoey's quality of life has vastly improved, and I can't thank Sam enough!

We did Board and Train with Big Sky K9 while we were out of the country for 21 days. It was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend them for any training needs. Our Lincoln struggled with confidence and anxiety. Sam was amazing, from the moment we met him at drop off. I immediately felt comfortable and was impressed by the knowledge and passion he expressed. I loved getting the daily check-in videos and getting to see her progress throughout while also getting tidbits of information to work on when we return. Upon returning we got to have a learning session of our own, we got to know and understand our Lincoln and her needs even more through Sam’s perspective. We are excited to continue to use the tools we have learned and her growing confidence to progress her confidence and training. We are excited for the journey and excited to be able to check in and share her progress as well. Again, amazing trainer and would recommend 10/10!!