Rising Starr K9 Dog Training

I was introduced to Rising Starr K9 Dog Training by a mutual client when out walking with my lab, Gunnar. I was very impressed with her dog's behavior and knew I had a lot to learn about how to channel Gunnar's energy into acceptable behavior. It was then that I started following Rising Starr on Facebook and was impressed with the results I was seeing. I knew proper dog training was going to be an investment and was ready to do that with the right trainer. Living in a rural area I also knew that driving a distance might be something we need to do and Rising Starr was absolutely worth the commute! I was very impressed with the reasonable fees and in all honesty, was expecting it to be more expensive. Rick ended up being a perfect fit for us. I was more than pleased with his honest and direct feedback. Being a first-time dog owner, I was ready for someone to just tell me what to do/not do without wasting their time or mine, which also made for effective use of our training sessions. Although we just finished up our first three private sessions, I am happy with my own improved understanding of effective training, Gunnar's improved focus, the ease of outdoor/public time and am looking forward to continuing more training. I would highly recommend Rick and Rising Starr K9 Dog Training, he is extremely knowledgeable and has a long history of training model K9's! Our community is very lucky to have such a K9 training resource!

4/21/26: Leo and I have been working with Rising Starr K9 for over 3 years and made a lot of progress. Leo and I were able to pass CGC training, even on the 1st try, with the skills that Rick showed us. We kept up with the training by doing extra classes once or twice a month whenever there was an opening. Doing the work at home and checking in with extra classes has helped greatly. Leo is doing great walking, out in public and listens to me so much more than he did before. Rising Starr K9 is definitely worth checking out whether you have a new addition or a dog that needs some direction. Rick with Rising Starr K9 Dog Training is a great. He did wonders with Leo from beginning obedience training and in reactive training. Rick worked with Leo in group settings as well as one on one training sessions with me and was very helpful and informative. He helped me be more assertive and have Leo respond to me the 1st time and not have to repeat myself several times. If you are looking for someone to help you train your puppy and help YOU train your puppy - definitely give Rick a call at Rising Starr K9

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We started working with Rick at Rising Starr K9 when our Golden Retriever Samson was still young, knowing we needed structure early with three active boys in the house (ages 7, 7, and 5). With both of us working from home, things can get chaotic fast, and we didn’t want to end up with a dog that added to the stress. Working with Rick was one of the best decisions we made. We started with one-on-one training, then moved through Puppy, Intermediate, and CGC. What stood out right away was that Rick doesn’t just train your dog—he teaches you how to handle and communicate clearly. That made all the difference for us. Samson isn’t just “obedient”—he’s calm, focused, and reliable in situations that used to feel overwhelming. He can be around our kids and their energy without losing control, and he’s been great during family gatherings where the house is full and busy. We’ve also been able to take him out in public with confidence, knowing he’s going to listen and stay engaged. That level of reliability is something we didn’t think was realistic at first. The structure Rick teaches actually holds up in real life—not just in class. If you’re on the fence about training, especially with a young dog, don’t wait. Starting early made everything easier, and we’re now continuing toward advanced CGC levels with a dog we truly enjoy living with. Highly recommend Rising Starr K9.

We found Rising Star K9 when our pup Finn was about 6 months old, as we’d been debating on training for a while to gain more confidence handling our dog and building a better relationship. We didn’t know what to expect at first, as we’ve never taken a dog to group classes before, but I am so glad we found Rick! Rick truly cares not only about training your dog, but also you as the handler. Over the course of puppy, intermediate (twice) and CGC classes, Rick was able to help dial in Finn’s skills and our confidence as dog owners. He coached us on how to hold a leash, what leash/collar combination to use, voice changes to distinguish between good and unwanted behavior. One of the things I valued most about Rising Star K9 was the small class sizes throughout. This allowed us to interact with other dogs in a safe and controlled environment, which allowed my husband and I to take turns during class being the handler. We highly recommend Rick and Rising Star K9 to anyone looking to start their dog training journey!

I recommend Rising Starr K9. A few months ago, we put ourselves into a tough situation, caring for a cherished but untrained 7 year old dog who belongs to an elderly family member. We didn't have much experience with this pup, and were honestly in fear with some of his behavior. We went to Rick for his expertise and an unbiased assessment, to learn some basic techniques and advice on how or whether progress was possible. With a set of a few one-on-one sessions we learned how to establish basic trust and boundaries. Slow and consistent training has helped improve our situation immensely. I would hire Rick again.