North Star Family K-9

K9SF took my traumatized, distant, and scared dog and brought back her playful pre-trauma self, and we had a blast in the process. Taking Freyja to them for help was one of the best decisions I've made in my life, and not to brag or anything, but I've made a lot of good decisions. One or two, at least. I adopted Freyja, a young German Shepherd, almost 3 years ago, and she was a lovable goofball. But a little over a year ago, she was bitten by another dog and became different, no longer the playful bundle of energy she'd been. She was scared of dogs and mechanical noises and would turn back from walks just a block from home, frantically pulling and doing everything she could to avoid going further. She hid under tables and beds when she saw me with a leash. When lawnmower season started she stopped voluntarily going outside at all except after dark, and even in the house couldn't relax. I can viscerally remember doing dishes one day when a lawnmower started next door. Freyja bolted into the kitchen and wedged herself between my legs and the sink cupboard, shaking like she was having a seizure. I tried for months to help her on my own. We'd make progress for a while, but then something new would freak her out and we'd be back to where we started, or worse. Luring with toys and treats had long since stopped working, as had going on new walking routes and to new parks. After a few times at a location she'd develop a new fear and deteriorate and I'd have to find somewhere new. I ran out of tricks and locations—one of the downsides of having an intelligent dog is you have to be intelligent to outsmart them, and I, sadly, found myself the loser in a battle of wits. I eventually found K9SF and spoke with Milo about Freyja and training goals. He gave me confidence he knew his stuff and understood Freyja's specific issues and I signed up for 10 sessions. My positive impression only increased at our first session. Milo is both a dog-person and a people-person and Freyja and I took to him immediately. He catered to where I was at—if I knew a bit about something, he'd let me tell what I knew, correcting anything I had wrong and adding anything I'd missed; if I didn't know something at all, he'd explain what I needed to start with and add more as it became relevant. I'm an inquisitive person and Milo not only humored me but encouraged me to ask questions. After several sessions, another trainer, Nat, joined to walk, play with, or make bark another dog nearby while Milo worked with Freyja and me. They always had a good number of dogs to work with, so Freyja was exposed to a variety each session. Milo quickly identified the kinds Freyja had the most and least trouble with and would select the next based on how she was doing, whether she needed a break or to be challenged. We then moved outdoors with a few more distractions, then to busy parks with dogs, people, and wildlife, in addition to the half-dozen dogs they brought to each session. Progress was faster than I could have dared hope. After just a few sessions, I decided to add on 8 more. Freyja was beginning to break out of her shell and be playful again, and Milo, along with the results we were seeing and the insight he provided, motivated me to work harder and avoid frustration when we'd hit a roadblock. After 10 sessions, I was ecstatic with the progress. After 18, things were better than I could have imagined possible in such a short time. Our last session was in Loring Park with dogs all around. Freyja was on a long leash listening obediently and walking at my side, completely relaxed—herself again, but a much better trained version of herself. As summer arrived and with it lawnmowers and dogs out in yards barking as we walk by, Freyja began to show a little of her old anxiety, but with the foundation of training she developed and the skills and knowledge I learned from K9SF, we've been able to work through it on our own. I am so happy that Freyja is better and I will be forever grateful to Milo, Nat, and K9SF. If Freyja could speak, I know she'd say the same.

These guys are AMAZING. We took George there because his anxiety and reactivity were getting worse and hard to manage. We’d gotten George (a neurotic pit bull) as a rescue at the age of about 5 years. His anxiety was off the charts and taking him on walks was extremely stressful. K9SF did an intake assessment over a video call and recommended 3 weeks. They handled everything. George stayed at Downtown Dogs for the duration and we got daily updates on his progress, including photos which I REALLY appreciated. Sarah was his trainer and she was A+. At first it seemed like a big investment , but honestly it was worth every penny to have a dog who doesn’t bark and growl at every passerby now. He can also finally ride in the car without losing his freaking mind. He seems way happier and less anxious. He truly feels like a different dog in many ways. I highly recommend this company. They are experts at what they do. It’s honestly some of the best money we’ve ever spent. Very grateful to Sarah and the whole team there.