Purpose Driven K9 Dog Training

Purpose Driven K9 has helped us tremendously with our dog, Reggie. We rescued Reggie at 8 months old, and right away we knew he was incredibly smart but needed help with walking, socialization, and impulse control. He’s a 75-lb bully/husky mix who is extremely strong, and walks were a nightmare. He has a high prey drive, especially for squirrels, and would get so excited seeing people or dogs that he would pull like he was determined to take us with him. At home, Reggie was great with his basic commands, but once we stepped outside, it was like he couldn’t hear us. We spent months trying different harnesses, leashes, and training in low-stimulation environments with little progress. I was initially hesitant about e-collar training because I had never used one with previous dogs, but after feeling like we had exhausted our options, we decided to give it a try through training at PDK9. We did the 10-day board and train followed by group classes, and it was 100% worth it. One of my biggest concerns was that a board and train would somehow change Reggie’s personality or take away his spark, but the opposite has been true. He is a happier, more fulfilled dog, and we finally have the tools to help him succeed! We can now walk him on a loose leash, heel, and use a long line to let him safely sniff and explore—which is truly where he is happiest and something I wasn’t sure we’d ever be able to do. Group classes have also been huge for helping him focus around other dogs, and the social sessions have given him opportunities to interact and play appropriately. Most importantly, PDK9 has taught us so much about Reggie and his behavior. We now have the knowledge and tools to continue training in a way that is enjoyable and enriching for both Reggie and us, rather than something that feels stressful or overwhelming. We’re so grateful for everything PDK9 has done for Reggie and for us, and we couldn’t recommend them more!

My girl, Clover, is a ~2-year-old Beagle mix I rescued this past March. I don’t know much about her past, but it’s likely she lived in a loud, unstable environment where she wasn’t treated well and never got the chance to just be a puppy. She came to me with no training, no sense of boundaries or safety, and was completely overwhelmed by the world. Separation anxiety was my biggest concern, along with challenges like socialization, excessive barking/licking, potty training, and crate training. From the moment I met Margaret and her team, I felt hope. They are some of the most compassionate, intelligent, and genuinely caring people I’ve ever met. They welcomed Clover exactly as she was — nervous, unsure, and overwhelmed — and treated her with such gentleness and patience. And they didn’t just work with her; they worked with me too. They taught me how to read her body language, how to help her regulate, and how to show her she’s safe now. They gave us both the tools to succeed. When Clover came home from her 10-day board and train, it was like a light had switched back on inside her. Like she finally felt safe enough to just be. I will forever be grateful to Margaret and her team. You didn’t just train my dog — you gave her her life back.

Margaret and Melvin at PDK9 are the best (we like to call them M&M) and I would give them 10 STARS if possible! We took our 3 year old rescue pitbull Maggie there based on recommendation of a dog rescue friend who works at the Indianapolis Animal Control shelter. I had rescued Maggie from traffic in Indy in the summer of 2023 after she had been abandoned and we spent over 2 years and thousands of dollars (over $5000) on other trainers to help with her reactive/ agressive behavior towards other dogs and people so she could be permanently adopted. While we made progress with Maggie she still was difficult to introduce to potential adopters, until we took her to PDK9. M&M made an impact on Maggie the first day, I could tell within 15 minutes that their approach was so unique and effective with Maggie. Then she went thru a 5 day Confidence Building training with PDK9 before Thanksgiving which was transformational for her. I think it may have changed the way she perceives her world now, it's not a scary place she has to defend us from and she can relax and just have fun living her best life. After the training M&M helped introduce Maggie to potential adopters at their facility and it was the first successful meeting we had ever had with her. They immediately told us they wanted to adopt Maggie and she has done incredibly well with her new family plus she has a big yard to play in now! I could write so much more in praise of PDK9 and their approach to training, Maggie's new owners made a connection with M&M and are continuing with her training at PDK9 so she can live her best life. I only wish we had met them sooner, we highly recommend the trainers Margaret and Melvin and their facility at PDK9 is excellent for training!