Balanced K9 Services

I cannot recommend Ryan and Balanced K9 Services enough. I brought my 9-month-old puppy, Bruno, to Ryan for a two-week board-and-train program because Bruno was an absolute menace in his crate and on the leash. From the very beginning, Ryan stood out for his flexibility and genuine care. He adjusted his schedule to accommodate us as soon as possible, and he was intentional about choosing the training dates—he even avoided a week when he’d be out of town with his kids because he wanted to personally work with Bruno every single day of the program. That level of dedication immediately gave me confidence that Bruno was in great hands. As a full-time graduate student, I was desperate for quality training, but I was working with a tight budget. Ryan was incredibly understanding and worked with me to find a price that worked for both of us. That kind of willingness to collaborate is rare, and it meant a great deal. Throughout the two weeks, Ryan went above and beyond. He regularly sent me videos and pictures to show Bruno’s progress and took the time to explain training concepts clearly so I could carry them forward at home. He also encouraged me to reach out at any time I missed Bruno, which made the whole process much easier. After the program ended, he even went out of his way to bring me a new crate because my old wire crate was no longer a good fit for Bruno’s needs—something he noticed and took the initiative to help with. It’s clear that Ryan is not only passionate about what he does but also incredibly skilled. The way he talks about training reveals the pride and thought he puts into his work. Thanks to him, Bruno is a different dog—calmer, more responsive, and easier to manage—and I feel like a more confident and capable dog owner. Ryan truly transformed our day-to-day life. If you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, committed, and who genuinely cares about both you and your dog, Ryan is the person to go to.

Ryan is absolutely amazing. I was skeptical and unsure of sending our puppy away but the way Ryan explained his process and dog behavior already put me at ease (for example, he wanted a week just to build a relationship with our timid pup.) He sent videos while he had our puppy under his care that demonstrated the trainings. As pick up day neared, I was nervous she’d come home and fall back into old ways and that we wouldn’t be able to work with our dog adequately to maintain the training. This was not the case, in the bit of time I was picking the dog up, he went over a few basic commands that made the transition seamless. He encouraged us to reach out with questions, checked in on us, and continues to visit for at home training sessions for as long as we need. He understands realities of a house with young kids and the need for flexibility. He is very clear he wants to help us and the dog, in the way that is best suited to us and our specific needs. I would recommend Ryan again and again, he has helped my family learn how to best care for our dog and helped the pup understand right from wrong in our household.

I really can’t speak highly enough of Balanced K9 Services. I took my 5 year old, rescue GSD who was highly reactive inside and outside of the house. He spent a month with Ryan working on his anxiety and obedience training. The difference is amazing. We did a follow up this week with Ryan and he taught me how to better communicate with Thor and we are have fantastic results. I highly recommend Balanced K9 and my entire family will go back with every additional dog!!