Long story short, working with Atlantic K9 was the best decision we made for our dog! 

My husband and I have a Lab mix, Moseley, who was a little over 2 years old when he went to the 2-week training boot-camp at AK9. He is a high energy dog and we were having reactivity problems that were holding us back from meeting his exercise needs. 

I was hesitant about using an e-collar and prong collar. My goal was to make Moseley’s life the best it could be. The last thing I wanted to do was put him through a traumatic experience. I knew a little bit about these tools and I was very concerned about using them the proper way, if at all. 

Once I found AK9’s website, and looked into their methodology and Kathleen’s extensive experience, I knew it would be the right fit. They truly teach your dog while addressing the root of the behavior, rather than using tools as a punishment or to scare as a behavior deterrent.  They only use the most reputable brands of e- & prong collars.  

We worked with Ari, who is unbelievable. She is incredibly knowledgeable about dog behavior. Their love for dogs is so obvious. Plus, the facilities and grounds are beautiful. I missed Moseley, but I knew he was well taken care of the entire time. They shared pictures that were updated each day. When we picked him up, we were given a thorough lesson of what he learned and were taught how to implement it all at home. Ari was very supportive and responsive to questions when we got back home, as well. At AK9, they also teach us (the humans), which is essential to the process. 

The difference we’ve seen in Moseley since boot-camp is amazing. He learned so much self-control and actually learned how to be calm in stimulating environments, which was a major improvement. His reactivity is no longer an issue. Best of all, he is the same goofy, fun-loving, quirky boy that he was when we dropped him off. He seems more relaxed and happy overall. We take him off-leash frequently (family farm & hikes) and I would never not use an e-collar. It makes me feel confident that I can handle and keep us safe in any situation. The next dog we get, I will 100% work with AK9 right off the bat. 

Since boot camp, we’ve done a follow up lesson and had Moseley board for 10 days. It was the best experience being away and knowing he was having a little vacation himself! We will continue doing follow up lessons as refreshers (and because I find learning from Ari really fun!)

I didn’t mean for this to be so long- but when I was looking for trainers, I was very nervous about making the right choice. Reading about others’ experiences was super helpful! 

My husband and I tell everyone- choosing AK9 was the best choice we could have made and we are so thankful to have them as a resource!