King K9 Academy

Our St. Bernard was becoming completely unruly and due to his size, a danger to our children. He was beginning to realize his sheer size and strength and that it translated to not having to listen. He was a constant stressor on our family. We decided to do the board and stay, this was a bit of a leap of faith due to the significant investment. I can say now that this was some of the best money we have ever spent. After the training although our puppy still needs the e-collar he has become completely manageable. This training has been a huge improvement to our quality of life. We now feel comfortable with him around our children and will bring him in public, things that we would have never done prior. We would highly recommend this training and cannot thank Joshua enough.

Our 7 year old lab is very friendly, but a series of surgeries, 6 months of chemo and a cross country move really set him back. He was reactive to other dogs on leash, and it was very stressful to walk him. Several kennels turned him down after trial visits due to obnoxious behavior. He knew basic commands but he released himself from those commands on his own timeline. A friend recommended Joshua at King K9 Academy and we are so happy we enrolled him. This is his 1st week back at home and we can now walk him on and off leash and even took him to a dog park with no issues. He stays at his ‘place’ while we eat family meals and does not beg. Joshua trained him first and then taught us how to continue that training at home. He is a stubborn dog, and we had not made our behavior expectations clear. After 3 weeks with Joshua, he is the same loveable dog, but he is truly a pleasure to be around. We highly recommend Joshua and King K9 Academy.

Joshua significantly improved the relationship we have with our dog Cricket. She attended the 3-week board and train program when she was 7 months old. Cricket is a Vizsla (high energy, high prey drive, strong headed). We were having difficulty with her running away when off lead, jumping up on people, and nipping. We were very nervous about leaving her for such a long period of time but in the end could not be happier with the results. Cricket knows what we expect, and she is more than happy to deliver. We learned how to communicate more effectively with her. Her recall is consistent and enthusiastic. Although you can tell she wants to, she doesn't jump or nip. She has gained a tremendous amount of confidence and self-control. Since training at King K9 Academy, spending time with Cricket is a dream. Everyone, including her, is happier. Joshua was professional, intuitive, responsive, and reliable. He even, based on her behavior, diagnosed a UTI (later confirmed by test) that we had no idea she had. We are very thankful for Joshua and highly recommend his training program.

Our dog exhibited impulse control issues. King K9 Academy worked with us on a training plan that included a consistent, unified response to correct unwanted behavior. Our dog came home with a solid understanding of what was expected of him and how he could earn positive rewards. Joshua was great with follow-up sessions and questions. He checked in to make sure that both ends of the leash were still on the path to long term success.

I have never posted an on-line review, but I am so grateful for Josh's help. I got my second Jack Russell terrier at 8 months old (I was his second home). I had hoped for one with a similar laid back temperament as my 11 year old Jack, but he has been a challenge from day one. After months of training on my own and numerous group classes at another trainers facility we were making very little progress. He was inconsistent in his basic obedience and an absolute horror to walk. He would bark and lunge at anything that moved, especially dogs. That resulted in my being anxious and stressed every time we went for a walk which only made his behavior worse. My hopes for going on long hikes with both dogs seemed impossible. I was seriously considering asking the breeder to take him back because I felt that my days were consumed with trying to manage Clancy and my other dog was not getting any attention. I was desperate and reached out to Joshua as a last resort. After an initial meeting with Josh I was immediately impressed with his calm and patient interaction with Clancy and how Clancy responded to him. I signed Clancy up for a 3 week board and train and am blown away by the difference in his behavior. I have been able to walk him on the Brunswick bike path, past numerous dogs, and he has remained calm and walking a perfect heel. Josh also spent some time with my older dog Nula to get her to walk better on a heel (something I never focused on very much with her) and I have now been able to walk both of them at the same time while they remain calm at at my side. Plus Clancy is much improved in his responses to other commands such as go into his kennel and remain on his place. I can't thank Josh enough and recommend him without hesitation.