Spot-On K9 Training

We got our little pit bull when he was 7 weeks. He is a very sweet boy, friendly with adults, kids, cats, dogs… We contact Stephen because he was getting stronger everyday and he just wanted to pull more and more and our walks got very stressful, he was getting a little bit more difficult at home jumping all over as well… After his first session with Stephen he was already better on our walks, after his second session he start listening better my commands and looking for my approval, after the last session he got more confident… Stephen has a natural connection with dogs, your dog is going to feel very safe around him.

My wife, Emma, and I had a great experience working with Stephen from Spot-On K9 Training. We contacted Stephen because we were interested in e-collar training for our 60lbs Shepherd mix, Millie. We were interested in recall training so we can take our dog hiking and go off-leash with a reliable safety net. We had also been struggling with pulling on walks and reactivity when people would come over to our apartment. The package we bought was technically for recall training but Stephen addressed any issue and question that we had. We were so grateful with how responsive Stephen was via email and that he booked all of the sessions that came in the package at the beginning. This was very important to us as we work opposite schedules. Stephen is punctual, professional and a great teacher. He cares deeply about dogs but understands that he is actually teaching the owners. We loved that after each session we received packets with information reviewing the skills we learned in the session and how to build other skills at the same time during our practice week. Stephen really helped Emma build her confidence to be the leader that Millie needs. Millie's recall with the e-collar is solid and her general behavior and compliance to commands has improved dramatically. Her heel command has come along way and that has drastically improved our experience on walks with her. No more running up to dogs without permission and no more zoomies around the house. We are very grateful to Stephen and can't wait to join the group classes that came with our training package.

Before we turned to Spot-On K9 Training, our twin German Shepherds, Jupiter and Pluto, were pure canine chaos. At just six months old, they were brimming with life and energy, which was simultaneously endearing and exasperating. Jupiter and Pluto were always ready for play and exploration, and their zest for life filled our home with lively activity. But the flip side of this was a never-ending wave of puppy energy that knew no bounds. Between the jumping, barking, leash pulling, and their little rivalry, we felt like we were living in a whirlwind. But the day we reached out to SOK9T marked the turning point for our canine companions and us. Fast forward a few months, and our twin tornadoes have evolved into wonderfully obedient, yet still spirited and joyful companions. Their listening skills have improved leaps and bounds, and they've learned to walk politely on leashes. We can now have guests over without worrying about them being overwhelmed by our dynamic duo. Their interaction with each other has also improved, making them not just siblings, but the best of friends. Jupiter and Pluto seem happier and more relaxed, and this has made our lives significantly more peaceful and joyful. We cannot recommend Spot-On K9 Training enough to our friends and family. Stephen approached our pups' training with exceptional patience and understanding. He not only equipped us with the right techniques and tools to manage our dogs' behavior, but he also showed deep empathy for Jupiter and Pluto, considering their individual temperaments and needs. His professionalism and support throughout the process was outstanding. I wish I could post a picture here to show the remarkable transformation of our pups. Imagine two well-behaved, yet still playful German Shepherds with twinkles in their eyes - that's Jupiter and Pluto for you! Thanks to Spot-On K9 Training, we are now one joyful and peaceful family unit!

We can't recommend Stephen enough! We enrolled our 90 lb, 1 year old GSD Bear in the recall program through Spot-On. From day 1, Bear showed amazing improvement in basic leash skills and obedience, and by the end of the program he was able to run off-leash in Central Park for an hour. Bear is still a puppy with a LOT of energy, and we wanted to be able to trust him off-leash in the park. Before Spot-On, he would take off after anything, and his basic obedience needed a lot of work. In each class, there was a goal we'd work towards, and Stephen would send us home with tools and resources to practice on our own. After just the first class, we saw such an improvement. He learned sit, stay, down, place, come, and eventually full recall. By the end, I had full confidence I could trust Bear off-leash, no matter what came our way. The monthly drop-in classes are such a great bonus! We are able to practice our skills with other dog owners, and Bear gets to see his best friend Stephen.

Before starting her classes with Stephen at Spot-On K9 Training my dog Moet was very reactive on walks and we were having difficulty keeping her in heel position. We also wanted to increase her recall skills so that we could all enjoy off-leash time at Central Park. Since training with Stephen, Moet has become much more settled on walks and my partner and I feel confident in how we can support and advocate for her when she is starting to react on walks. We are also very happy with her improvement in recall, both using an e-collar and without. It has made walks much more enjoyable for all of us. I would absolutely recommend Stephen and his one-on-one classes. The sessions were an excellent opportunity for us to ask questions and Moet loved learning new skills with Stephen. The group classes are also excellent and provide an opportunity for Moet to hone her obedience and reactivity control skills.