Success Stories and Reviews

It is the second summer when my Scottish terrier takes courses with Ala. Or, it would be right to say, that the whole family takes courses. We learned to understand our dog, respect his space and teach him to understand and respect us. Ala’s advice is always professional and on spot. This year we took Tracking course and, seriously, are considering it our new hobby 🙂 It is a new level of a quality time with your dog when you learn to work together, trust each other, read each other’s signs. Our dog loves what he’s doing. He gets great intellectual stimulation and feels worthy when he’s on the mission!

My Daughter gave me a gift - she registered me in Ala's very excellent beginner course. Ala and Bernie are very knowledgeable and provide followup written instructions.
Even in a group lesson they focus on individual needs (both owner and dog).
I'm a retired senior - I mention this because its important to know that you are never too old to learn a new skill.
For all the people who watched my daughter and I training my dog in the park and said they wished they could do that - sign up for training with Ala.
I can't wait for my next session...

Ala and Bernie are amazing dog trainers with lots of knowledge and experience. I had my 2 Shih-tzus in the 6 week beginner obedience course and have seen progress with both of them. Ala and Bernie take their time helping each handler in the group with their dog and give great feedback to then practice at home. I am looking forward to continuing with the intermediate course and can’t wait to see how much more my pups progress over time. Definitely recommend taking their class!!

Thank you so so much to Ala! Lorenzo and I just completed our beginner obedience classes with her and I can really see a difference from that very first class to now! Ala is not only an amazing trainer but a wonderful person as well. She truly cares. Lorenzo wasn't listening to me in one of our earlier classes so I privately reached out to her and when I voiced my concerns Ala was very knowledgeable, sympathetic, and responsive in what would help both of us succeed going forward. She checked in with me often after that and made sure we were both doing okay. Lorenzo and I put the work in and had a lot of fun these past six weeks. I highly recommend Ala and her classes! ☺️

Ala and Bernie are the best! I’m so happy to see Kenzo improve and learn so much—his progress has been amazing. I only wish I had taken him sooner! They are patient, knowledgeable, and truly care about every dog they train. The sessions are well-structured, and their techniques are both effective and positive.

AK9 training classes break the steps into manageable but meaningful pieces, and enforce building a strong relationship with your dog. They send out detailed homework to support practices between classes and I've seen great progress in our dog. I opted for my 10 year old to be the dogs primary trainer and she has been very successful through the lessons.

Just completed the beginner training with my 4 year old rescue. He was afraid of almost everything, but steadily improved his focus and comfort as the classes progressed. Now, guests are commenting on how much more relaxed he is! It was a great experience and I highly recommend AK9.

I’m 70 and I was exhausted trying to train my year and a half Springer/ doodle, being pulled on walks. 6 weeks later he knows how to heel, walk properly and has stopped barking and pulling when cars go by. Walks are fun again!

I took my 9 month old Golden Retriever Beau to this fall session. He was very reactive to other dogs, a jumper and a wicked leash puller. We were given great feedback every session specific to our own unique dog in addition to practice homework. Ala and Bernie were very helpful with their tips and tricks on how to work with the dogs.
I’m very proud to say by the end of the session, Beau was no longer dragging me through the neighborhood and comes when called.
I highly recommend them and will return for more sessions.

I highly recommend AK9 (Ala & Bernie)!
I just finished the six week beginner obedience classes with my new rescue 6yo French bulldog “George”.
He can be quite reactive/aggressive towards dogs & people. We are learning recall, heeling & how to appropriately manage the reactivity & aggression.
Both Ala & Bernie have a wealth of knowledge and experience and it shows! They are clear, kind & firm in their teaching. They are absolutely approachable and willing to listen & help. They were very encouraging & reassuring during the classes. I left each class feeling energized & more hopeful that the relationship I am building with my dog will only improve as time goes on.
Nancy Collver (Rigutto).

I’ve owned dogs for over 50 years and I’ve finally met trainers that have helped me make sense of the command “heel”. For me, that’s HUGE! I will definitely continue learning from Ala and Bernie.

Petey and I have learned so much! Ala and Bernie are honest and provide corrections when things aren't quite right—I love that. The price is very reasonable, and it’s been a great experience for Petey to learn how to be around other dogs.

Charlie and I just finished the basic obedience class and what a difference it made! Our 13 month old Aussie is now more confident and very happy that I learned how to communicate with him!
I also want to thank The trainers! They are excellent!!

Ala and Bernie are great trainers because of their extensive real-world experience and style of instruction. They know what works and they teach handlers and dogs equally with encouragement. It was a great experience—I learned a lot!

I am so impressed with the progress made with Oakley thanks to Ala and Bernie over the last 6 weeks! While I knew he was capable, I was more focused on how I could better help him in his training. Oakley now has a solid recall and I feel that I understand him so much more than when I started the course which has been helpful in his training progress.

My dog Talbot and I just finished our first round of obedience classes with Ala and Bernie.   I cannot thank them enough for helping me become more confident with Talbot in situations where he was acting less than desirable!  They took the time to help me with his insecurities and coached me on how to handle them effectively.   I would encourage anyone who is looking for an obedience class to give them a call - you won't be disappointed!

I took my dog Bruce (4 month old Brittany) to Ak9 for obedience classes, and the experience was amazing! The instructors were knowledgeable, patient, and really helped my dog and me build a better bond. My dog has made so much progress, and I’ve learned valuable techniques to reinforce good behavior at home. Highly recommend to anyone looking for effective training!

We are just about to complete our first round of training with our rescue dog Leo. He came to us with very little manners or boundaries. Although not our first dog, he is our first rescue dog, which is why we enrolled in obedience training, I felt like we needed a little  extra support. The training Ala and Bernie have provided so far has been excellent. With some homework and this class Leo has become very attentive and better manners. We can actually enjoy a walk with him now 🙂 ! 
We’ll be continuing our classes! Thank you !

Ala and Bernie are extremely knowledgeable and are amazing at explaining things in a clear and concise manner, through the dogs perspective. They are amazing people trainers and in turn are amazing dog trainers! I noticed a huge difference in my dogs after just a few weeks of class and my dogs LOVED going to “school”. I would absolutely recommend them to anybody looking for help with their pup of any age!

Ala and Bernie are top-notch trainers.  We are so lucky to have found them.  Training outside in a group setting is a game-changer for me and Remy.  Can't wait to continue training with them!

We highly recommend Ala.  She is an amazing trainer.  We completed 6 weeks with our two 1 yr old pups.  She is very knowledgeable, thorough, patient, firm, and fun.  
Chris & Deb

Ala and Bernie are very knowledgeable when it comes to dogs and training. 
I attended their tracking course with my dog and she has excelled and progressed in just a few weeks.
I would recommend any of their classes to anyone with their dogs at any level. They are very committed to helping you succeed!

Ala has given me confidence  to feel that I can properly work with my dog in a loving and respectful manner. She is very knowledgeable and patient with owners and their dogs . I look forward to continuing into next steps so that my Sheppard/ husky and I can live a safe and exciting life together .

I have been to a few of Ala's group classes with my 3 year old German Shepherd and now I have started taking my sisters 2 year old Cane Corso. Ala is not just knowledgeable but also very compassionate in dog training! It shows through the dogs and owners she works with ❤

Ala is a great trainer, knowledgeable, patient and motivating. I have trained my giant schnauzer with her, and results were impressive. I would definitely recommend her courses!

Ala is an extremely knowledgable dog trainer and very passionate about dogs. She’s patient, approachable and helps you understand dog behaviour. Highly recommended!

I highly recommend AK9 and all their classes. Ala is an amazing evidence-based trainer. She is patient and knowledgeable, including about behavioural issues. I've taken obedience classes, agility classed and tracking classes with AK9. All of them made a significant difference with my dog. As a sensitive dog, tracking classes in particular made a huge difference. I saw how it increased her confidence. But all the classed really enhanced the bond I have with my dog - and they are fun!

Ala and Bernie were absolutely wonderful to work with! When we started classes, I never imagined how much both of us would grow and improve. I now have a well-behaved puppy who truly loved coming to these classes.

Thank you, Ala and Bernie — this was such a gift!

Zoey, my 3 year old cockapoo attended the beginner training session, and learned so much. She was a star student, and I highly recommend AK9.