Deep Connection K9 Academy

Our Shiba Inu, Bowie has always been a playful pup, but over the years has become quite reactive to dogs on walks. We have met with other dog trainers over the years but we left every meeting with the feeling that it was just not the right fit. From either explicitly stating they wouldn't work with us because of his Shiba behaviors or applying their dog training knowledge too generally without actually taking our individual problems into consideration, we were left without guidance or trust. Fast forward to a year later, we met Diana and our experience was a complete 180. Diana was so kind and compassionate from the first meeting, really taking the time to get to know us and Bowie. She was extremely perceptive and we felt that she was really able to understand who Bowie was and appreciate his unique personality, something we had not experienced from other dog trainers. We were able to make substantial progress in our walks in a short amount of time. Diana was an incredible source of information and she really takes the time to explain everything. If at any point we felt unsure or confused about the training, Diana made sure to really address any of our concerns and go through it at our pace. We are so proud of Bowie's progress in our short period of training with Diana, and while our dog is not just magically perfect now, our confidence as dog owners has grown tremendously. We feel that we have the tools to work through issues that come up, which has really improved our relationship with our dog. Even though our training with Diana has been completed, she has always ensured us that the door for communication is always open and we are welcome to reach out to her for any future questions and concerns. Diana was really wonderful for our dog training journey and we highly recommend her!

Diana is the top of the line dog trainer. She’s genuinely has a passion for dog training and will give 100% of herself to ensure that you and your companion leave the sessions feeling fulfilled. She went out of her way to make herself available for questions and provided thorough notes that were easy to follow. I will always be going to her with all my future dogs and is a referral I would gladly give out to others!

What do I love about Diana with Deep Connection K9 Academy? Where do I even start? First and foremost, her calm demeanor. Dogs feed off energy, so she puts out the most easy-going and relaxed vibe, which is clearly why she's able to connect with the dogs she's training. She takes the time to listen to both the pet guardian and even the dog to understand how the achieve the goals set forth. Secondly, and this is a big one, I love that she practices a balanced-training approach. She uses training tools correctly to ensure her method of training is conducive to the individual dog that's in front of her. She uses positive reinforce by rewarding often. With the frequent video updates she sends, you can see she makes the training fun for the dog. Because of her method of training, it's effective and you WILL SEE RESULTS whilst also knowing your dog is happy. Next up, she's patient with the dogs. She gives the dog time to come around to the idea of whatever she's implementing and if they aren't comfortable, she takes a step back for a few days and slowly tries again until they are comfortable. For example, with muzzle training and crate training. (Which are important for the various situations dogs may find themselves in at some point in their lives, like during an emergency vet procedure.) Lastly, she truly cares about the dogs she's handling. The bond she's able to create is genuine. All we want for our dogs when in an unfamiliar situation is compassion and she gives that at every moment. Brisby was my foster dog and he had a bite history. I wasn't sure I would be able to safely place him into another home, but after Diana laid the foundation of obedience and worked with him on being able to tolerate stressful situations, he's now on the path to the best life because of her and I couldn't be happier for him. Now that it’s been months since he’s been out of training, she STILL checks in on him and how he’s doing. Whenever I have a question or need some insight into his doggy behavior, she always comes back with her gentle guidance and voice of calm reason. Thank you for everything, Diana! 10/10, I will have you train again if the situation arises.