IronHeart Dog Training Center

We brought our 6 month Malinois and Husky to be boarded/trained for two weeks. We badly wanted recall on our Husky; Matt lost him despite this warning. Fortunately the Husky came back to Matt eventually but we didn't learn about the loss until pickup. I asked repeatedly for the promised update videos and they were only delivered while organizing pickup. During that time, we also learned that Matt had travelled and that he would need more time to complete the two week training. Though the honesty was appreciated, the lack of communication was frustrating. We picked up the dogs and they had basic training; sit, heel and leash manners so some work had been done but 0 recall on the Husky. The Malinois had chewed through his Martingale collar and smelled like piss. We were given a list of expensive equipment we needed and to schedule our free follow-up in a couple weeks, after daily practice of the skills he demonstrated. We did all of those things; purchased from the vendors he recommended and confirmed the follow-up before making the hour and a half drive (the facility is rather rural). Upon arriving we were told he had "an emergency training session" with the woman who was scheduled before us and to wait. Just us and two dogs; no shade, no water, no bathroom and hundreds of dollars of equipment we couldn't use after the already expensive boarding/training. We left after an hour, realizing we were so mad, we'd not get anything out of the training if he ever did make time for us. Funnily enough; Matt never apologized to me. The only way to get the update videos was to my husband's Whatsapp and that is the only way he bothered to reach out again despite me being the one that booked and organized the training and did 95% of the correspondence. Didn't bother with my email or phone/text. I'm not going to go as far as saying he's a misogynist but it does seem like he preferred talking to my husband. Now looking back and reading all this, I feel like a huge sucker. Still have all the equipment in a dusty box and a Husky that wont come when I ask. Edit: Not being remembered is a bit humorous. This is happening often enough to not make an impression? July 2024.

I had a great experience with iron heart, everything from dog selection and handler training at their facility. They took fantastic care to ensure she was well trained and I could get results with her. They provided a warm and comfortable place for me to stay while at their facility and took care of all the details including accessories and transporting her to her home. Most importantly she has performed very well after her training to detect mold in homes and had made my job so much easier and enjoyable. A big thanks to Matt and Jill who were caring and professional. Thank you so much!

I can’t say enough great things about my experience with Iron Heart! Working with Matt, Malissa, and Jill was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their expertise, dedication, and genuine care for both the dogs and their clients are truly unmatched. I first called Matt telling him I wanted a really small bedbug detection dog. I was only aware of food reward dogs for this line of work and after speaking with Matt for a few hours and sharing with him where we work and the types of buildings I would like to use the dog in, he recommended a dual purpose, Belgian Malinois trained in both bed bug detection as well as personal protection. He explained that he could find the perfect small female Belgian Malinois for me and train her to exactly what I needed. Out of all the dog breeds, the Belgian Malinois was probably the last breed I would ever want to own but Matt assured me he would be able to find and train the perfect dog for my needs. After a few weeks of searching, he contacted me and sent me a few videos of a 43 pound female. I was still a little hesitant at this point as the dog will be around small children and other small pets regularly and the protection side was a little intimidating. Matt assured me this dog will turn out to be a very balanced. After a few months of training and Matt even keeping the dog a little longer than needed due to my schedule, the dog was ready for me to pickup at his facility. The day finally came for me to meet my new dog and boy did she exceed my expectations! She is incredibly well trained and very balanced. Her detection work is spot on and everyone is shocked when they hear she is also protection trained because she is so sweet. I am so impressed with my dog and Iron Heart. They provided personalized training tailored to my needs, and the results have been incredible. Not only is my Malinois highly skilled and effective, but she’s also an absolute joy to work with every day. Matt, Malissa, and Jill made the entire process seamless, informative, and enjoyable. Their professionalism and passion for what they do truly shine through. If you’re looking for top-notch training and exceptional dogs, I wholeheartedly recommend Iron Heart, they exceeded all my expectations!