The Art Of K9 Dog Training & Behavior Modification

Angelo saved our dog's life — and I mean that in the most literal sense possible. Oliver is a rescue who had been surrendered by two families before us. We took him in, loved him, and still found ourselves in crisis — biting, aggression, resource guarding. We were scared of our dog and desperate for help. Oliver was our fifth dog and as a family we were seasoned users of positive reinforcement as the primary training method. We turned to Angelo at Art of K9 and made the decision to board Oliver for 8 weeks. He took on Oliver after a thorough consultation. Angelo worked through Oliver's aggression and resource guarding using the e-collar and other training tools. These methods gave us the ability to communicate with and control our dog in a way positive reinforcement couldn't. The transformation is hard to put into words. Oliver is now relaxed, cuddly, and genuinely at peace. He still has his moments — but now we have the tools to handle them. This has changed everything. If you have a dog with serious aggression or resource guarding and you're at your breaking point, I highly recommend Angelo. He didn't just train Oliver — he saved his life and we are so thankful.

Brady’s story From the beginning, we knew there was an issue with biting and that he did not like to be touched or pet. He marked all over our home, he was biting us aggressively, and you could not put a leash on him. To get a checkup, blood work or groomed, Brady had to be sedated. We knew we needed help. I read multiple dog obedience guides, but we could not change his behavior. Then we found and worked with multiple dog trainers. We did learn skills that could distract Brady when he was guarding, however, we could not alleviate the extreme reaction to touching him. We also tried over the counter supplements such as cat nip to calm him. We found an veterinarian willing to work with us. We started Brady on fluoxetine (Prozac) daily as well as neurontin (Gabapentin) to ease anxiety. We also tried clonidine, trazadone, and even alprazolam (Xanax). While Brady became calmer, he was still unpredictable and still young. One night last year my husband got off the couch and Brady lunged at him and bit him through his shirt, drawing blood. After four years of having this dog, with all our interventions, we still did not feel like this dog was safe to be around. So, I started looking online and I found the Art of K-9. I spoke at length to the owner, Angelo Presto and he gave me referrals to speak with previous clients. I was convinced. Angelo and his wife Katie took Brady for approximately 8 weeks of training. Angelo and Katie have well established methods and instruction that they use. Also, they keep the dogs they train in the home with them. They have a beautiful piece of property, and it was only about an hour away from us. Brady no longer lunges at my husband. He no longer attacks my other dog. He no longer acts aggressively to members of the family for moving around. He does not guard his food or other objects in the home. He is also no longer taking any medication. Was it easy to leave Brady? No. Was it worth it. Yes. One hundred times yes. I wish I had done it sooner. Have hope. There is help out there for you and your dog. Angelo’s years of experience and expertise in working with the most difficult cases has proven to be a god send to us. We are grateful to every day to Angelo and Katie.

Angelo has been a tremendous help for both our puppy and our family. We have a high energy breed and nothing we did seemed to work. We were frustrated. Angelo made everything clear and his training was easy to continue once Griffen was back home. Whenever we have questions or need some advice Angelo is quick to respond. Having the proper training has made all the difference, we couldn’t be happier.

I can’t recommend The Art of K9 and Angelo highly enough. My Jack Russell Terrier mix Trooper, completed the four week training program with Angelo, and the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Before training, Trooper’s recall was hit or miss — classic Jack Russell independence! But through Angelo’s structured, thoughtful approach and consistent e-collar repetition work, Trooper now responds with laser-sharp focus and reliability. Watching him recall from distractions (and some scuffles with other dogs) with confidence has been such a proud moment for me as an owner. What impressed me most was Angelo’s balance of discipline and empathy. He takes time to understand each dog’s temperament, adjusting methods with patience and precision. The e-collar work was never harsh; it was purposeful and empowering for Trooper. Additionally, the use of the prong collar prevented me from going sledding lol. Angelo made sure both of us learned the “why” behind each step, and that knowledge has made all the difference. Trooper came home calmer and more focused. He still has that playful spark, but now it’s paired with control and responsiveness. The progress we’ve made in one month would have taken me dog years to achieve on my own. If you’re searching for a trainer who blends science, intuition, & heart, look no further than Angelo. He’s given Trooper and me the tools, confidence, and a stronger bond that will last a lifetime 🐾 ⚡️☄️

We had our dog Tato at Angelo’s board and train and we couldn’t be happier with the decision. He’s a fear aggressive pup, with some overall anxiety and it’s been a bit of a challenge helping him understand how to navigate the world. After cycling through endless fear free trainers, we decided to give balanced training a try and it’s a night and day difference with our dog. He listens, he knows when to focus, and in general he seems a lot happier because his boundaries are made clearer. We also brought Tato back for boarding several months later and again, Angelo picked up where they left off. We’re so incredibly grateful for Angelo! And we also love how he occasionally checks in to see how Tato is doing. He truly cares about all his clients and that means the world to us. It’s a big investment but if you’re feeling stuck with an anxious or fearful dog, we highly recommend giving Angelo a call.