Sky Soldier Dog Training

Incredibly happy with our training experience and recommend to everyone! I reached out to Sky Soldier Dog Training after almost a year of attempting to train on my own using a variety of sources, but nothing was sticking and I had a partially trained dog who was relatively good inside (assuming no one rang the doorbell) but had zero leash manners outside. My pup quickly reached 100lbs and after getting pulled down countless times and St. Louis nearing winter/icy weather, I reached out for help to prevent future mishaps. What I really loved about this method of training, was we not only corrected the dog's inconsistent training and behavior, we corrected the behavior I, as the owner, was allowing. I was inconsistent and unclear in what I was asking for and Brandon quickly showed me how to create more black and white scenarios. In our 6 sessions together and some diligent work on my end between sessions, Cody will stay on his place bed when we greet visitors even with door knocks and bell rings, Cody understands how to heel on my left side and responds to a simple "no" if needed to correct him showing that he is aware and understands what I am asking of him, and he is much sharper in his commands of sit and down and will hold those until released. I really appreciate and value the education of both dog and owner and the understanding that 6 sessions is not a magic cure, but it absolutely set the groundwork for Cody to be an amazing dog with continued work over the next 6 months. He is still a puppy and gets excited and sometimes forgets his training, but I have the knowledge and confidence to quickly set him straight to use those moments as a training opportunity. I am so grateful for the training as well as the continued support provided!

We adopted our dog Marley from the Humane Society when she was 6 months old. Marley is sweet-natured and eager to please, so we were seeking a trainer to help us reinforce good behavioral patterns while she is still a puppy. We got so much more out of our training sessions than we anticipated! Brandon designs a six-week training curriculum that gave us a broad overview of animal health and behavioral issues, as well as tips on structuring Marley's day in order to maximize cooperative behavior. He also helped us with responses to her negative behaviors such as chewing and nipping. We ultimately were able to shape Marley's schedule and behavior to best meet our needs and desires as busy working parents, rather than vice versa. Marley is a much more calm, confident and predictable dog and we feel like more confident owners. We appreciated that Brandon takes a holistic approach to animal care, and he is very knowledgeable in the areas of dog nutrition and physical health in addition to behavior and obedience.

We have two strong-willed dogs – a Shiba Inu mix and a Jack Russell Terrier mix – who got along great, until they didn’t. Once they decided they didn’t like each other, and neither being one to back down, their behavior with each other was terrifying. We could NEVER have them in the same room. They even reacted aggressively seeing each other on walks. As if that wasn’t enough drama, the Jack Russell was a nightmare to walk. Pulling constantly, her crazed barking startling people and frightening children playing outside. We started working with Brandon to do whatever it would take to prevent rehoming one of them. The current situation wasn’t tolerable. The first time the dogs were in the same room, Brandon experienced how bad it was. But he worked with us and our dogs every week, adding to what was learned in prior lessons. The week between each lesson we practiced consistently with the dogs. By the last lesson, the dogs could not only be in the same room, but at our quiet but firm command, they sat calmly and quietly on their respective platforms, ignoring one another. (Both still on leashes just in case, but a complete 180 in behavior.) When they see each other outside there’s no longer any drama. As for walks with the Jack Russell, now she walks calmly in a heel no matter who or what is around her. I’d say it’s a miracle but it’s not. It’s Brandon’s well-structured training and tools, coupled with consistent practice from us. We love our dogs madly (homemade dog food, sleep on the bed, etc.) and never want to diminish the bond they have with us. We learned that providing stern correction doesn’t negatively impact the bond. It lets the dog know, in no uncertain terms, what's acceptable and what’s not. Everyone is more relaxed now – humans and dogs. We’ve worked with other trainers but never had results that compare with Brandon. He knows what he’s doing and provides support with lesson recaps, videos, recommended reading, etc. We are 100% happy.

When my wife and I brought home our new puppy, we were hoping for a cute and cuddly perfect pup, but he was a wild and crazy boy! After only a couple of weeks, we knew that we needed to make some changes to help mold our new pup into a fantastic family pet especially since my wife and I are expecting a baby in May. I searched and searched for help online, but nothing was helping our case. After a while of us struggling to make any headway on our own, I started looking for professional dog training. After researching many different dog trainers, I kept coming back to Brandon with Sky Soldier Dog Training. So, we booked our online consultation and we were immediately impressed with Brandon’s professionalism and commitment to helping train our new puppy. Our specific concerns with Lando’s training mostly pertained to his predisposition to chew and bite everything, which included us. We wanted to tackle this issue for obvious reasons and especially since we will be having a new baby in the house. We were very excited to start training with Brandon and he immediately started us down the right path. Throughout the six weeks, we saw improvements in not only the biting, but in all of his behaviors and mannerisms. Every session, we learned just as much and probably more than Lando! We thoroughly enjoyed every training session and it was amazing to see our little pup grow in more ways than one. Now, we are constantly receiving compliments from family and friends about how is so good and well behaved. We are so grateful for the path that Brandon led us down. He helped turn Lando the Landshark into a lovely family pet. Thanks again to Brandon with Sky Soldier Dog Training!