Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center

First off, I am not your typical reviewer, but because of the way this place operates, I just had to take the time to write an honest, and thorough review. It's a tad long , but worth your read, let's go! If you're looking for the absolute best dog training experience in the Pacific Northwest, I cannot recommend Canyon Crest K9 Training Center highly enough. Located in Tacoma, this facility—owned and operated by renowned dog trainer Ron Pace—sets the gold standard for professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for both dogs and their owners. From the very first interaction, Ron’s professionalism stands out. He is direct, honest, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. His understanding of canine behavior goes far beyond basic obedience, he reads dogs with precision and adjusts training methods based on temperament, drive, and personality. His balanced approach integrates positive reinforcement with appropriate corrective methods, creating clear communication, consistent structure, and lasting behavioral change. Ron’s highly skilled Instructors follow these same proven techniques with the same level of clarity, consistency, and professionalism, ensuring every dog receives the highest standard of training. Canyon Crest’s programs are exceptionally well designed. Their 5-week puppy training classes provide a strong foundation in socialization, confidence building, leash manners, and early obedience. For more focused development, the 10 private obedience lessons offer individualized attention and measurable progress. They also offer structured group classes after you finish the 10 private lessons that reinforce obedience under distraction—something many training centers overlook. What truly sets Canyon Crest apart is their capability beyond standard obedience. They provide specialized training for medical service dogs, including support for diabetics and other medical needs. That level of skill requires precision, consistency, and a deep understanding of behavior shaping—Canyon Crest K-9 delivers. Their team to train working dogs is matched by the ability to rehabilitate difficult cases. I’ve seen firsthand how he and his instructors work with aggressive or highly reactive dogs—calmly, confidently, and effectively—correcting bad behavior while rebuilding trust and stability. On a personal note, after receiving a new working line East German Shepherd puppy, I enrolled him in Canyon Crest K 9’s 5 week puppy training class. He is now just over 6 months old and has begun his fifth lesson in the 10 private obedience lessons—which are typically completed within three weeks. All I can say is, wow. The transformation has been remarkable. My GSD started with typical high drive energy and boundary testing behaviors, and under Ron’s guidance he has become focused, responsive, and confident. And this is only lesson number five. The structure and clarity of the private lessons have made a world of difference—not just for my dog, but for me as an owner. I now feel equipped with the tools and understanding to maintain and build on that progress. If you want real results, lasting obedience, and instructors who genuinely understand dogs at every level—from family pets to service animals, Canyon Crest K-9 is the place to go. Ron Pace’s 50 years of experience, balanced methodology, and dedication to excellence are truly second to none. John R

Both my husband and I have trained through Canyon Crest and STRONGLY believe in the training methods! We have worked with boxers through the program and have had incredible success. This is a program that trains the owner and teaches us how to communicate with our dog without the need for clickers, treats, or punishment. We recently adopted a dog through the humane society that was found as a stray, demonstrated resource guarding behavior and significant aggression potential. Through training, we learned she is actually incredibly gentle and intelligent! The issue is that she was never socialized, so anytime she heard a strange noise, saw an unfamiliar person or became overstimulated, she went into flight or fight mode. By learning to communicate with her and being her alpha person, she has blossomed! Thank you, Canyon Crest. We have recommended your services since 2019 and will continue to do so.

I’m beyond happy with my experience at Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center. After only a handful of obedience lessons, my adolescent rescue dog, Finnian, is doing AMAZING! Obedience Experience: We had a great experience working with Ron and Kelli. From the very first lesson, it was clear that they truly understand dogs and have a passion for what they do. They were patient, knowledgeable, and provided clear, step-by-step guidance that made training enjoyable for both me and Finn. Finn responded so well to their techniques, and it shows! Thanks to their expert guidance, he does remarkable on simple tasks such as leash walks (not pulling, etc.) and is confident around other dogs (thanks to the stellar group classes they offer), all the way to recall and heeling like a champ. They also took the time to answer all my questions and provide helpful tips for reinforcing his training at home which has helped tremendously. What stood out most was how they tailored the lessons to meet my Finn’s unique needs and personality. It’s been such a rewarding journey, and I couldn’t recommend Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center enough to anyone looking for skilled and compassionate trainers. Controlled Personal Protection: Finn and I also had the opportunity to complete the Controlled Personal Protection Class with Ron. The transformation has been amazing—Finn is more confident, focused, and responsive. He’s learned how to react appropriately in various situations, and I feel much more secure knowing he's trained to protect when necessary. He's well-balance between protection and obedience; he remains friendly and social but knows exactly when to switch into protection mode based on the commands we learned. Ron emphasized safety, control, and consistency, which gave us total peace of mind. I highly recommend Canyon Crest to to anyone looking for reliable and ethical protection training and general obedience training for their dog! Thank you, Ron and Kelli for helping me build such a strong bond with Finnian!

I brought my rescue Malinois here about 6 years ago. Had we not, he would have had to never be around other people or animals due to his fearful behavior. While the training might seem harsh (the 'hanging up' some mentioned in the one star reviews) that is ONLY EVER used when the dog is biting. You have to understand, biting could 1) harm or kill, and 2) cause the dog to be removed and put down. So while it looks awful, it is not harming the dog. But it IS scaring the crap out of them. Because they need to see biting/attacking as absolutely disallowed. My dog, Chase, bit me twice. The second time I did the 'big out' (that people are upset about, and I get it, it looks worse than it is). He never bit me again. I applied all of the training I learned at Canyon Crest every single day over the course of about 3 years (this dog had been through a lot before me...). I am proud to say he is now the BEST dog I have ever had. He can be left alone with puppies, children, elderly. We use all the same training skills (though have never had to use the 'big out' again) and people ask all the time if I am a dog trainer. I laugh and tell them about Canyon Crest :) Thank you so much for being so patient with my broken boy, and giving me the encouragement to believe that little me CAN train my a big mean Malinois! He's my best friend, and the best and biggest sweetheart with zero fears!