X Learning K9s

We are so grateful for the incredible work that Valentina does! Several weeks back, my husband and I took our Mastiff mix, Trooper, to Val for a consultation. Trooper had a history of being reactive with anyone outside of our family group; more so since losing his housemate, Abby. We had tried basic obedience training and home training to curb the behavior but to no avail. At the end of the consultation with Val, Trooper was happily accepting treats from her and even went on a brief walk with her! He was more comfortable with her than we had seen him be with a stranger in a long time. She taught us that Trooper was acting out due to fear and that we had become his safety blanket. We immediately decided to enroll Trooper in the 5 week Board and Train program that Val offers. Honestly, it was emotionally hard to drop Trooper off for 5 weeks. We had never had him away from home before, and knowing he would be away for 5 weeks was a little daunting. Val was amazing about sending us pictures and updates on Troop's progress though. It really helped confirm to us that we had made the right decision for Troop. While Trooper stayed with Val, he learned so much and gained a ton of confidence. (She also helped him lose the extra weight he had packed on from the table scrap treats he had been receiving. He looks great and you can see that his energy level has increased as well.) Throughout the 5 weeks, Val sent us pictures and videos of Troop walking and playing with other dogs, relaxing around people he hadn't met before, hanging out in his kennel without panicking, and even bringing his toys to her husband. All of which were things I didn't think were possible with him. Honestly, seeing the physical and mental transformations Troop has gone through has been amazing. You can tell that he is happier and more at ease. Trooper is now home with us and the next part of the training has begun: training my husband and I how to properly act with Trooper. We have the bad habit of pulling Troop away from dogs and other people when we are out on walks. Val has explained to us that this is partially what led to the original problem with Troop. We had taught him that dogs and other people were to be feared. She has been great at explaining how my husband and I can break the bad habits we have formed so Troop can continue to lead the happy and confident life he has gained. Knowing that I can reach out with questions or even set up a time to have Val help us in person has been awesome. Thanks to Val with X Learning K9s, we now look forward to taking Trooper camping, out to the park, and to farmer's markets; things that we never thought he'd be able to enjoy with us. Thank you, Val, for giving Trooper (and us) a new lease on life.

Not only is Val and incredible dog trainer but she genuinely cares for the dogs she boards and trains. My husband and I left our two working line German Shepherd with Val for a week as we went on vacation. Val was thorough with her boarding paperwork to ensure dogs safety and continued to stay in touch/post updates of our pups. I’ll be honest… it’s scary to leave your dogs with people, especially with having one dog that is trained in bite work. However, I NEVER once worried about my dogs while we were on vacation as I knew they were in great hands. And because I knew Val was more than qualified to board and work with them + Val is an expert, highly educated, and professional! I am so grateful for her services as they are truly unmatched. We won’t be using any one else for future trips!

UPDATE: Our boy has been home for 5 weeks and we've been careful to carry on his training as close as possible to how Val worked with him during the board-and-train. She's helped us along the way as needed and our pup has only continued to improve. He is a happy dog now and we owe it all to Val's expertise and hard work. She took the time to really get to know him and address his issues fully, while also training his people to handle him the way he needs. I highly recommend X Learning K9s to anyone in need of help with their dog! ORIGINAL REVIEW: Our puppy came to us with serious separation anxiety, fear, and resource guarding issues. I tried everything to help him...obedience training, following advice from trainers, books, and websites, but the problems only grew. When I got bit, I took him to the vet for an evaluation and the first advice was to euthanize my 7-month old puppy...or grind down his teeth to avoid injury from a bite. I was appalled and asked for Prozac instead while I figured out what to do. When Val agreed to evaluate him, things had still gotten worse and I wasn't sure how to save my dog from an unhappy life and possibly euthanasia. He's just finished a 5 week board-and-train with Val and the work she's done is amazing. He's still him with his particular issues, of course, but now he's comfortable being confined and alone, has learned impulse control, she's helped him with his fearfulness, his obedience is dramatically improved, and he's happy. We have a lot of work to do going forward, but we're equipped with the right information and tools now to succeed in providing a great quality of life for my boy. Val's hard work has given him a new lease on life and I am truly thankful for her!